SOUP: Mandy Barker’s Images of Ocean Plastic Debris

The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” is a floating expanse of waste and debris in the Pacific Ocean that covers an area twice the size of the continental U.S.  It is comprised of mostly plastic debris that is suspended in the sea.  Designer and photographer Mandy Barker has created a series of images called SOUP which is made of plastic debris collected from the beaches around the world, which presents a unique view of what it would be like to swim through garbage in the sea.

To make the images, she photographed pieces of plastic and beach trash in clusters that she positioned and grouped by color or value.  The pieces are photographed on black velvet, and the debris appears to be deep in the sea with a current of water creating the formation as it floats. Each image’s description lists the “ingredients” which might say for example, “plastic oceanic debris affected by the chewing and attempted ingestion by animals. Includes a toothpaste tube. Additives: teeth from animals.”

The images were inspired by Chris Jordan, who created a well-known photograph of the plastic pieces that were found inside albatross chicks after they died.   Barker’s images have been featured on many websites and blog this year, and you can see the on her website.

Image Source:
mandy-barker.com

Links:

mandy-barker.com

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