A VISIT TO FLORIDA KEYS

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

Harry Sparke

Recently, my girlfriend and I visited the Florida Keys, an archipelago stretching west from the southern tip of Florida, and finishing 90 miles north of Cuba. These islands, locally known as the Keys, are home to an abundance of land and ocean wildlife The marine ecosystem includes sharks, turtles and the well-known mascot of the Keys, the manatee. By contrast, the land is home to alligators, iguanas, pelicans, and Key deer; all of which have to co-exist and share the limited space with the 80,000 people who call the Keys home. Photography quickly became a major part of our travels, and the images which you can see were taken one evening after driving back from dinner on Marathon Key This bright moon was low on the horizon and glowed a blood red We stopped our drive to take photos of this unique and colourful sunset. As the sun began to set, the colours in the sky deepened and a unique photo opportunity presented itself. These spontaneous photos display the Keys’ natural beauty and the overlap between nature and urban life An interesting connection one can make between these photos is the extremely damaging effect climate change has had on the islands The vibrant coral reefs, which for decades have teemed with wildlife, are recently experiencing a lack of life. The effects of coral bleaching have impacted the sea anemones and corals, just as plastic pollution has harmed hundreds of sea turtles each year. The colourful sunsets remain strong and engaging, but the life under the sea faces struggles to remain vibrant for future divers and visitors