Italian Magazine Thinks We Should Get Rid of Photography to Save the Planet from Climate Change

The debate around climate change is a real thing whether people think the phenomenon itself is or not.

What that means is that you have a lot of hard opinions one way or the other and that often makes dialogue nearly impossible.

Not to mention the number of publicity stunts that go on around climate change that only heightens the circus around what should be a serious discussion.

Now, whether or not you think this next suggestion is just more of a clickbait publicity stunt or an actual conversation starter probably depends on how strongly you feel about both climate change and photography but, Italian Vogue, thinks we should get rid of photography entirely to save the planet.

That’s the conclusion many are drawing from the following missive from the magazine’s Editor-in-chief, Emanuele Farneti.

He writes about the production of an issue: “One hundred and fifty people involved. About twenty flights and a dozen or so train journeys. Forty cars on standby. Sixty international deliveries. Lights switched on for at least ten hours nonstop, partly powered by gasoline-fuelled generators. Food waste from the catering services. Plastic to wrap the garments. Electricity to recharge phones, cameras.”

As Photoshelter notes, international flight is considered the highest carbon-output activity any person can undertake.

The Italian Vogue issue proceeds to use illustrations in place of photographs in an effort to make a statement. It’s a pretty beautiful issue, however, the idea that the international fashion industry is going to change its stance towards photography so drastically is, of course, absurd.

The piece is meant to start a conversation, and it seems to be doing just that.

What do you think? Does international travel for fashion and other industries ruin the planet? Or is it all a publicity stunt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Also, check out some other photography news articles on Light Stalking by clicking here.

[Photoshelter]