Climate Change & Health

Climate Change & Health Photography

Total Credit Hours:
2 Hours

This category focuses on documenting how climate change affects public health, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals and communities. The goal is to capture the human side of climate-related issues, showing how they impact daily life and well-being. Here are some ideas for what to photograph:

Heatwaves and Extreme Heat:

  • People seeking relief in shaded areas, using fans, or cooling off with water.
  • Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, or outdoor workers, struggling with high temperatures.
  • Community efforts like hydration stations, cooling centers, or free water distribution during heatwaves.
  • Paramedics or healthcare workers responding to heat-related illnesses.

Air Pollution:

  • Individuals wearing masks or protective gear due to poor air quality.
  • Smoky or hazy environments caused by wildfires, vehicle emissions, or industrial pollution.
  • People with respiratory issues, like asthma, using inhalers or seeking medical care due to polluted air.
  • Children playing in areas with visible air pollution or wearing protective masks.

Extreme Weather Events:

  • Families preparing for or evacuating from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or droughts.
  • Damage to homes, hospitals, schools, or infrastructure caused by severe weather.
  • Communities coming together to rebuild after disasters, such as clearing debris or repairing homes.
  • Emergency responders rescuing people or providing aid during floods, storms, or wildfires.

Water and Food Insecurity:

  • Communities facing water shortages, such as long lines at water trucks or dry riverbeds.
  • Farmers dealing with crop failures or livestock losses due to droughts or unpredictable weather.
  • Families struggling to access clean drinking water or nutritious food due to climate impacts.

Mental Health and Well-being:

  • Individuals or communities experiencing stress, anxiety, or grief due to climate-related disasters.
  • Support groups or counseling sessions for people affected by extreme weather or displacement.
  • Children or families adapting to life after losing their homes or livelihoods to climate events.

The focus is on capturing moments that show the real-life health impacts of climate change, emphasizing the urgency for action and the need for support and solidarity. Look for scenes that tell stories of resilience, struggle, and community response in the face of climate-related health challenges.

Instructions and Credits:

We are looking for all types of images that you believe will help us in our courses, blogs, and social media. Photos tell stories, give us glimpses of others’ lives and show us parts of the world we have never seen. Your photography will help us raise awareness about the environmental challenges that we all face in our communities.

We are looking for original photographs. You do not need any special equipment and you can take images with your phone. For every 5 images, you will get 1 hour of credit.

We accept a variety of content/subject matter as long as it pertains to our work. Do NOT send multiple JPEGs of the same photo, but you can take multiple shots of the same subject. For example, if you are taking pictures at a park, capturing different angles of someone picking up trash—showing the scenery, trash bag, and garbage—are all acceptable. However, if you take 5 similar photos of a person sitting at a desk, we will only be able to use one image.

Ready to start capturing images through a camera lens? Don’t worry if you’re a beginner – it’s all about trial and error and finding your unique style. Experiment with different angles, lighting, and subjects to discover what works for you. Your effort is all that is required, and once we verify your images, we will give you credit.