American Photography 42 Winners

Central to Indigenous cosmologies worldwide is the belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings. Humans are part of, rather than separate from, the natural world. Awe is a visual project that connects us with the intricate but nurturing relationship between humans, nature, and the other-than-human kin. In this contemplation of Mother Earth, the project seeks to portray the deep connection between diversity and nature from a female gaze. Photographer, Tatiana Lopez is interested in creating images that are collectively interpreted as visual poetry. Images that connect us with the rhythms of nature and the primal desire to return to the origin. Through symbolism and myth, she delves into how humans perceive, interact with, and are represented within natural environments. In collaboration with Sani Montahuano Ushigua, and Mukutsawa Montahuano Ushigua from the Indigenous Sapara Nation, the project addresses an imaginary territory connecting human experiences and sensible encounters with the land and the bodies we inhabit. Awe is a poetic, intimate visual narrative that evokes a brief conversation with Mother Earth through imagery. Embodying the human body and natural elements, the photos recreate intertwined landscapes or territories that make us reflect on the vulnerability and sacredness of nature and the need to recognize the environment as an archive of living memory while embracing a sense of belonging and respect for the symbiotic dynamic between humanity and Mother Earth.