Dr Lauren Smith Marine Biologist - Turning the Plastic Tide Project Manager
Angie Volunteer
Lauren Turning The Plastic Tide Officer
Fiona Volunteer
Ray Volunteer
Site & Method
My 'Environmental Portraits' is a documentary photography project that explores the connection between people and the landscapes they care for. Moving beyond traditional portraiture, the work brings people and place together to show how environmental responsibility is lived through everyday action.
The project was developed at Craigewan Beach, Peterhead, Scotland, in collaboration with 'Turning the Plastic Tide' and Project Manager and marine biologist Dr Lauren Smith. The charity organises regular beach clean-ups along the Scottish coastline, from Fraserburgh to East Haven in Angus, addressing marine pollution through community-led action.
Portraits are made on site, during clean-up activity. The landscape is not a backdrop, but an active part of each image.
The Encounter & Reflection
Participants are photographed as they work. There is no staging or performance. The images record real moments of effort, care, and presence—often marked by the weather, the shoreline, and the material traces of pollution.
These encounters are quiet and direct. They reflect the shared responsibility between individuals and the environment, and invite viewers to consider their own relationship with the places they use and impact.
Aims & Relevance
The aim of Environmental Portraits is to make environmental action visible and human. By focusing on people rather than statistics, the project highlights the vital role of local, collective effort in environmental protection.
The work supports community engagement, environmental awareness, and socially engaged practice. It demonstrates how documentary photography can strengthen the visibility of grassroots initiatives while encouraging wider reflection on care, responsibility, and sustainability.
More information about Turning the Plastic Tide can be found at:
https://www.egcp.scot/ttpt
https://www.egcp.scot/ttpt