I Travelled Through The Atacama Desert In Chile And The Uyuni Salt Flats In Bolivia To Envision A Future, Humanless Earth

During the summer of 2018, together with my husband, I made a journey through South America, from the Atacama Desert in Chile to Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. There, we explored surreal landscapes that seemed to be almost otherworldly. Wild, arid and void of human life, they made me think of a possible future image of Earth, where us, people, would no longer be a part of it.

The locations inspired me to take these photos, which envision a visit to a future, humanless Earth, undertaken by a “traveller from outer space”, who once knew Earth, but had lost connection with it, thus becoming an alien, an “oddity”.

Along with the pictures, I imagined a letter written by this “outlander”, which goes like this:

“Earth.

You used to be my home. You used to nurture me and keep me alive. I used to inhabit you and keep you alive.

We coexisted until we suffocated each other. Life on you was no longer sustainable. You gradually became a threat to my own purposes and endeavours. So I had to abandon you. To alienate from you. To find another place to call home.

I left you empty. Barren. Inert. I gave you up.

But now I returned to your lands. I travelled a long distance to meet you again. I came from afar just to feel farther than I ever felt before. I was fearful and almost ashamed to disturb the utter silence I found you in. I wondered what you thought of me, after all these ages. Did you forgive me? Or did you forsake me, too? Do you still welcome me? Or do you reject my face?

I miss your motherliness. The way you would comfort my skin, my bones, my spirit. You used to protect me. Now I have to protect from you. You can burn me. Freeze me. Fossilize me. Break me into pieces and send me back to the black void where I came from. I am no longer your child. I am an alien. An oddity. An outlander. Rootless, breathless, homeless of you.

Earth. I quit your love. I deserted you. Will you forgive my trespasses? Or will I forever remain a stranger to you?”

I hope this series will inspire viewers to ponder upon our roles and responsabilities towards the planet we live on, and to not take the richness of life for granted. Thank you.

More info: feliciasimionphotography.com

I Travelled Through The Atacama Desert In Chile And The Uyuni Salt Flats In Bolivia To Envision A Future, Humanless Earth