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Unseen

Words and images by Matt Bagley

By August 7, 2024The Collective

Free-diving at night off the coast of San Remo, Australia, with only a handheld torch, I search for forgotten debris. Carefully extracting these objects, I photograph them suspended above the ocean surface in a low-range light spectrum invisible to the human eye, using ultraviolet light and long-exposure techniques. The resulting images reveal an unseen ecosystem, showcasing how the ocean absorbs our discarded waste. Vibrant, microscopic life forms reclaim these objects, creating a mesmerising surge of colour. These otherworldly, surreal images depict both beauty and devastation, highlighting nature’s resilience and the impact of human carelessness. My work serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to change our relationship with the environment, blending art and environmental awareness to convey a crucial message about sustainability and responsibility.

Photo Collective

Photo collective represents photographers, advocates, educators and curators working towards the collective goal of celebrating and contributing to the changing ecology of Australian photography. We achieve this through award recognition, publications, exhibitions, community engagement initiatives and educational programs.

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