Redefining photography’s role in sustainability and social justice
24 February 2025
Work by Holly Parsons
In today’s world, where environmental crises and social inequalities dominate global discussions, photography stands as a powerful medium capable of influencing public opinion and driving change. In this article, lecturers from Falmouth University’s Photography BA(Hons) (Online) degree, provide an insight into how photography can intersect with sustainability and social justice, while nurturing a new generation of ethical and thoughtful practitioners.
Photography beyond awareness
Photography is often viewed as a tool for raising awareness about issues like climate change, conservation and human rights. However, in a world that’s already saturated with information about pressing issues, it’s time to move beyond the notion that awareness alone is enough. We must challenge this concept and ask whether simply raising awareness on an issue truly drives meaningful change. Instead, photographers can aim to bridge the gap between awareness and action, using their work to inspire tangible impact. This can take place in many ways, including consciously deciding who to collaborate with and how, as well as looking for broader ways the visions, knowledge and practice of photography can be disseminated or used as a tool of learning and engagement by diverse communities. As photographers, we need to ask questions like, “who and what does our creative labour serve?”
Critical, ethical and realistic, practical approaches are central to Falmouth’s online Photography degree, where students explore how photography is and can be involved in perpetuating, criticising and changing societal values.
One example is our first year Reflect module, which confronts advertising and consumer culture head-on. By critically analysing how visual strategies often perpetuate consumerism - which in many cases is at odds with ecological values - students learn to navigate the complex relationship between their creative practice and the broader systems it operates within. This critical lens empowers them to use their work consciously, as a force for meaningful change.
Credit: Henning von Jagow
Ethical considerations in photography
Ethics form the foundation of our online photography degree, with modules designed to encourage students to consider the ethical implications of their work. Whether analysing the ecological impact of photographic equipment, unpacking advertising imagery, or engaging in documentary storytelling or fine art practices, students are taught to think critically about their choices and their ethics. For example, is becoming a facilitator and collaborator who empowers communities to tell their own stories a richer practice than documenting as an outsider?
Material sustainability and creative practices
From the potentially harmful chemicals used in film processing to the resources and waste involved in manufacturing digital equipment, there are many ways that photography equipment and materials can negatively impact the environment. Photographers should be working to become aware of the industries involved in producing the equipment they use in their practices. Consciously considering equipment and materials can be part of more sustainable methodologies, which can in turn unveil creative possibilities, aesthetics and visions that may be otherwise missed.
Active hope and personal values
In the final year Futures module, students bring together their values and visions for the future, planning a practical route forward. They create a personal manifesto, helping them align their creative practice with their values, whilst considering the wider world. This manifesto can become a navigation tool, helpful in the sometimes messy or complicated decisions involved in ethical practice. If your work isn’t deeply rooted in your values, it’s unlikely to be sustained in the long term. By looking inwards and really asking what your motivation is, you can lay the foundations for a more sustainable and long-lasting photography practice.
We promote the concept of “active hope”. Unlike passive hope, which relies on external forces to drive change, active hope empowers individuals to take direct action. For photographers, this could mean choosing projects and collaborations that align with their ethical beliefs or advocating for systemic change within the industry.
Addressing social justice through visual storytelling
Photography’s ability to tell stories makes it an invaluable tool for social justice campaigns. However, photography is complex, with the potential to be both powerful and problematic. Photographers should be cautious against oversimplified approaches that can inadvertently reinforce harmful power dynamics. For example, traditional “poverty porn” imagery, which highlights the struggles of marginalised communities, often serves the photographer’s career more than the subjects themselves.
By teaching students to critically and ethically assess their practice, we encourage them to make informed decisions and identify methodologies that align with their intentions, as well as those that do not.
Credit: Beth Morey
Navigating the industry
For students aiming to balance ethical practices with financial viability, our online Photography degree offers practical guidance. From critically analysing a brand’s sustainability statements to identifying greenwashing and bluewashing tactics, students gain the tools to make informed choices on whether their own values align with that of potential clients.
Networking and working with others are critical components when using your photography practice to drive positive change. The course encourages students to build a support network of peers and mentors who share their values. We also encourage students to explore collective models, or alternate business structures such as cooperatives, which can provide both creative and financial support.
The future of photography
Photography’s role in sustainability and social justice is multifaceted, encompassing everything from physical resources to ethical storytelling and imagining the future. At Falmouth University, students are taught to use their craft according to their ethics and values within broader cultural-socio-environmental-economic contexts, as well as the reality of their particular circumstances and responsibilities. The goal is to empower students to make realistic choices that align with their values, ensuring their work contributes meaningfully to the world. In doing so, they embody the transformative potential of photography in driving positive change.
Lead image: Holly Parsons
You might also like
Interior Design tutor Claire Arnott moves her art to a gallery
Design advice from five sector-leading creatives
‘Design is Play’ Symposium: A Look into our Collaborative Graphic Design Event
Falmouth lecturer publishes new poetry book
