Vilnöss tal - Val di Funes, ocean waves of flowers in spring

Written By Jeroen Roosen

Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 85 mm F1.8, 1/6400 sec, F1.8, ISO100, 11 June 2021, 11:19 CET

Q2, 2021

As a landscape photographer, it is painful to see that many landscapes are being sacrificed for the needs of our growing economy. More and more, logistic distribution centers, with their box constructions that all look alike, are being build the last decades. Also offices, flats, houses, suburbs are reducing the open space to a minimum. Meanwhile, we are loosing original untouched landscapes. 

Mostly, it are board members who decide on redeveloping open space in landscapes or exploiting earth. With a business or personal interest in mind, decisions are being made, often not with a purpose to protect pristine landscapes. So, where are the "open space landscape" board members? Do they exist? Are they aligned? Do they have a powerful position? What is needed to increase their influence? Where is the countervailing power to balance decision making?

Imagine what would happen if open spaces in landscapes across Europe, for example the village of Santa Maddalena, the alpages, alpine meadows, around San Pietro Süd-Tirol Italy, would become part of a build-up urban ski resort landscape? Via a local referendum the inhabitants of this tiny village had to choose in the 1990's, to exploit the valley as a ski resort or keep it as-is. The decision was not unanimous and divided families and close friends of this village in pro and con groups, until today. The open spaces remained. 

Using my camera as tool and photos as medium, I want to create awareness that we are loosing territory, open territory. In my opinion, the value of open spaces in Europe, often also created by humans, often by farmers, should be reexamined. Do we need to leave open spaces unbuild, untouched? At all times, open spaces in landscapes are like an isle, not only a shelter for social distancing during a Corona epidemic, but also a shelter from the internet, a shelter to withdraw from every day to day routines, a place to enjoy or to feel reconnected to nature and the territory of our roots, to feel and smell the fresh scents of ocean waves of flowers in spring.

Jeroen Roosen https://www.momentsinmountains.com
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