We protect what we love, so underwater photographers Harriet and Richard are sharing their love of the planet’s biggest living organism by bringing the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney.
Around the world, Coral Reefs are under threat.
The world’s top climate scientists have 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.
‘Reef’ is an exhibition that will showcase the splendor and beauty of coral reefs, and the abundance of life that calls this ecosystem home. It’s 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.
The Northern Beaches is a community deeply connected to the ocean. Our beaches, surf-breaks and marine sanctuaries are loved by tourists and locals alike. While the Great Barrier Reef is not directly accessible from the Northern Beaches, the people that can help protect it certainly are.
10% of the show’s profits will be donated to the climate-action organisation, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Harriet Spark
Harriet fell in love with the ocean in her early twenties while dive instructing on the Great Barrier Reef. Experiencing the beauty of the underwater world first-hand, and learning about the threats this ecosystem faces, led her to pick up an underwater camera so 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.
Harriet has worked in communications and design for some of Australia’s leading environmental organisations, including 1 Million Women and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and has spearheaded several environmental initiatives, the most recent being Operation Straw.
Richard Woodgett
Richard grew up in a land-locked area of the U.K, so 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 Great Barrier Reef, Richard was able to share the wonders of this vibrant ecosystem with people from all over the world. He first picked up an underwater camera after volunteering with a reef monitoring program, and 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. Richard believes we need to protect what we love and is involved with local ocean conservation organisations, such as Operation Straw.