Artists for the Earth
Our Beautiful World Through the Lens
August 19, 2025
Today is World Photography Day, and we want to honor this incredible craft by sharing nature photos taken by our very own EARTHDAY.ORG staff and their reveals about why they love these images so much.
Emily Walker
Education Coordinator
The Trees of Virginia
West Virginia Mountains taken in the late winter at New River Gorge Bridge.
Shenandoah Area, Virginia: Tree tops in late spring taken from the mountain side of quaint Elkton, Virginia which backs up to the Shenandoah Mountains.
I always find myself drawn to the mountains; not for the adrenaline or challenge, but for the quiet moments they offer. Most of the photos I’ve held onto come from hikes and camping trips in the Appalachians, often with close friends or family. There’s a rhythm to those days: being around the mist in the trees and the soothing sounds of the wildlife around us.
Growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, these landscapes are more than just beautiful backdrops; they feel like home. The rolling hills and soft, layered ridgelines have always given me a sense of peace I struggle to find elsewhere.
When I look back at these images, I’m reminded of who I was with, and the ease that comes from being surrounded by both nature and people who know you well. That combination of connection and calm has come to define why I keep returning to these places, and why these photos matter to me so much.
Aminah Taariq-Sidibe
Manager, End Plastic Initiatives, EDO
Pink Waters Run Deep
Pink waters in Lac Rose, Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal.
I bought a 2007 Sony digital camera (Cybershot DSC-W55) second hand, and it’s incredible. The grainy look makes the present moment feel so nostalgic. Even though the camera is “old and used”, it doesn’t detract from its ability to evoke emotions through its unique perspective on the world. It’s a sturdy piece of technology, and I hope it lasts me many more years. It’s this camera that I used to take my two favorite pictures.
Lac Rose is located in the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal. It is known for having a pink glow due to algae (but it wasn’t super pink today) but beautiful nonetheless!
Terran Fielder
Media Specialist, EDO
Costa Rican Creatures
In the summer of 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to visit my oldest and dearest friend in Costa Rica. Over the course of two weeks, we journeyed across the entire country, experiencing its breathtaking natural beauty: from volcanoes to beaches, and deep into the heart of its lush rainforests. The abundance of wildlife was astounding, and although I had only my phone to capture moments, one night stands out in particular.
During a nighttime hike through the forest, we crossed paths with a couple of biologists who were there to study and photograph Costa Rica’s unique creatures. They kindly shared their knowledge and stunning images with us, identifying each animal and explaining their behavior. Now, whenever I revisit those photos, I’m transported back to that unforgettable trip and the deep connection I felt to nature in that moment.
Yellow tree frog
Family of White-headed Capuchin monkies
Photography can reveal the beauty of our planet, it also reminds us of the importance of protecting it. We must ensure that future generations get to see these sights through their own eyes and have the opportunity to capture the natural world in all its glory.
To make that possible, we need to take meaningful action. Reducing our plastic consumption is a crucial step; plastic pollution and microplastics and their harmful chemicals kill millions of animals every single year: from marine life,marine life, to birds, to land animals.
Not only does it devastate nature it impacts our own well-being too, as plastic chemicals have been linked to serious health concerns, from heart disease to cancers to infertility to Alzheimer’s and more.
Investing in renewable energy is another vital move to protect our planet from the harmful effects of climate change. Solar, wind, geo-thermal, today and hydro naturally are finite energy sources that offer a steady supply of power without emitting the harmful greenhouse gases that come from burning fossil fuels.
Finally, climate education must be prioritized to deepen young people’s appreciation of the natural world and equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to protect it.
We all want to protect what is in these images. Right now in the U.S , the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, is under attack from the very man charged with leading it, Lee Zeldin. His actions to limit the EPA’s ability to counter air and water pollution by rescinding the Endangerment Finding is threatening the nature we hold so dear.
We should remember that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by Republican President Richard Nixon in December 1970, just months after the very first Earth Day on April 22nd – which galvanized 20 million Americans to march on the streets. Demanding environmental action to keep their families safe and healthy – with clean water and clean air.
If you care about the environment, and are in the U.S., we need your voice. Add your name to our public comments on the EPA’s intentions to gut the agency’s ability to regulate pollution due to climate change, also known as the Endangerment Finding.
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