In June 2014 Theresa, Molly, Mircea and Carol created a photography show displayed in Juneau, Alaska. The photographers combined images from the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska with photos taken in the tropical rainforest of Equatorial Guinea in West Africa. The images compare and contrast life in both places, life which thrives due to the drip of precipitation.
TROPICAL TEMPERATE
Opportunists:
Both the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus poensis) and black bear (Ursus americanus) are large dominating mammals of their respective ecosystems. The two are opportunistic omnivores and sometimes considered pests by Homo sapiens. They live mostly on the ground, but climb trees to feed or sleep. The elusive drill of Bioko pulls a fig from the tree, while the bear of temperate rainforest chews upon dandelion.
Theresa Soley
Carol Lanhum
Rain:
Water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight are all that plants need to produce their own food. As autotrophs, or food makers, they can feed themselves with very little. These plants feed other organisms that can't make food so easily. At all latitudes, leaves collect water droplets, recycle carbon dioxide, and absorb sunlight to photosynthesize and radiate life.
Theresa Soley
Man’s best friend:
Loyal, energetic, and curious dogs seem to prefer a leash-less lifestyle. Loose and free to enjoy the land with or without their humans.
Theresa Soley
Water:
In northern latitudes one may cross water in solid, liquid or gaseous forms. At the equator, one will only find water as liquid or gas. Water is the most essential part of any rainforest, providing for a wide array of life. Whether ice, liquid or vapor it will continue to flow.
Theresa Soley
Stages:
Beginning as an egg, a caterpillar will next hatch, roll into a pupa, and eventually spread its wings in mature flight. The yellow weed attracts a pollinator, while the spikes on the tropical caterpillar repel predation.
Theresa Soley
Facial expressions over words:
A child likely exposes more with facial expressions than words. From Ureka to Juneau, mothers stay close to their children, preparing them for the challenges local climates bring unto young fragile bodies.
Theresa Soley
Petals:
The color of these pink and purple petals attract pollinators, signalling that each plant wants to spread its seed. The most common reproductive structure of a plant is a flower, often containing both reproductive organs: a male’s stamen and a female’s carpel. Across oceans and latitudes, color attracts aesthetic attention.
Theresa Soley
Majestic Giants:
Humpback whale, scientifically named Megaptera novaeangliae, means “large-winged” whale. The name was selected for their enormously long pectoral fins at fifteen feet length. A leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), another marine giant, also spreads its fore-flippers heading for her oceanic home. Some biologists describe leatherback diving adaptations to be similar to whales: they conserve oxygen in their muscles, can slow their heart rate for long dives, and adapt to immense pressure changes with collapsible lungs and a soft shell.
Theresa Soley