Submission 2025
| Submitted by: | Sofia Moreno Piña |
| Department: | Earth + Atmospheric Science |
| Faculty: | Science |
Water is life—for people, and for the forests that keep our planet alive. As droughts become more frequent and severe, the focus often falls on human impacts, while the effects on natural ecosystems are overlooked. My research investigates ecological drought, when ecosystems are pushed beyond their limits by a lack of water. Using satellite imagery and historical data, I track changes in vegetation and other important environmental factors over time, especially during drought events. The image of a plant in a glass of water may seem simple, but it tells a deeper story. The glass represents not just the water we drink, but also the water forests need to grow and support life. It also reminds us that forests filter, store, and release the water we depend on, among other amazing things they do. And the hand holding the glass symbolizes our responsibility: forests help provide the water we rely on, and it is in our hands to help protect them in return.
Was your image created using Generative AI?
No.
How was your image created?
This image was created using photography to construct a visual metaphor for ecological drought and the elements that my research usually analyze (aquifers, soils, vegetation and climate). To build the scene, I placed a plastic bag filled with water inside a clear glass to symbolize underground aquifers. Gravel and soil layers were added to represent the ground’s capacity to store water. I then placed a small plant I had rescued years ago to represent forest vegetation. Finally, I poured water into the glass, symbolizing the potential water forests absorb, filter, and store, later used by humans. I photographed the setup in a nearby community garden, using a background of natural greens and browns to reflect the contrasting states of drought. Natural light was used to represent real forest conditions, and I asked a friend to hold the glass. I captured the image using a Canon EOS 60D camera with a Sigma 105mm macro lens. No digital manipulation was applied beyond basic exposure correction and improvement of the image resolution.
Where is the image located?
I took the photograph in the Spruce Avenue Community Garden, Edmonton, to display some vegetation in the background that refers to the forests.