Around the world, Coral Reefs are under threat.
Last year, the world’s top climate scientists warned that if we don’t keep temperatures increase to 1.5C below pre-industrial levels, coral reefs are likely to decline between 70% and 90%. If global warming reaches 2C, more than 99% of coral reefs are projected to decline. The outlook for coral reefs around the world is bleak, and without more action globally, we face the risk of losing one of the Earth’s most precious ecosystems.
We protect what we love, so underwater photographers Harriet Spark and Richard Woodgett are sharing their love of the planet’s biggest living organism by bringing the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney.
‘Reef’ is an upcoming photo exhibition in Seaforth, on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The large scale photographs showcase the splendour and beauty of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and the abundance of life that calls this ecosystem home. The show is a hopeful reminder of all that we still have to protect – that it’s not too late to save the world’s largest living ecosystem.
Sydney’s Northern Beaches community is deeply connected to the ocean. Tourists and locals alike love the beaches, surf-breaks and marine sanctuaries. The Great Barrier Reef is not directly accessible from the Northern Beaches. However, the people that can help protect it certainly are.
Harriet and Richard are donating 10% of the show’s profits to the climate-action organisation, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Exhibition Details:
‘Reef’ launches at Sydney Road Gallery on Saturday the 2nd of March, from 3-6pm, with an afternoon filled with turtles, coral reefs and sunlight. Drinks and nibbles will be provided.
If you can’t make the opening, the exhibition runs from Thursday 28th Feb until Sunday the 24th of March.
Gallery open hours: Thursday to Saturday: 10am – 4pm.
Sunday: 9am – 12pm
Sydney Road Gallery. 563 Sydney Road, Seaforth.
About the Artists:
Harriet Spark
Harriet fell in love with the ocean in her early twenties while dive instructing on the Great Barrier Reef. She experienced the beauty of the underwater world first-hand, and learned about the threats this ecosystem faces. Harriet picked up an underwater camera so that she could share the colourful world below the surface with others.
Harriet believes in conservation through creative communication, and now works as a designer, photographer and videographer through her business Grumpy Turtle Design.
She has worked in communications and design for some of Australia’s leading environmental organisations, including 1 Million Women and Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Harriet has also spearheaded several environmental initiatives, the most recent being Operation Straw.
Richard grew up in a land-locked area of the U.K. It wasn’t until his late teens that he discovered the beauty of the ocean. Richard’s love for the underwater world led him to the Great Barrier Reef where he became a dive instructor.
During his time working on the Reef, Richard was able to share the wonders of this ecosystem with people from all over the world. Richard picked up an underwater camera while volunteering with a reef monitoring program. He was instantly enthralled by the art of underwater photography.
Richard jumps into the ocean at every available chance to capture the unique moments that take place below the surface. He believes we need to protect what we love and is involved with local ocean conservation organisations, such as Operation Straw.
