Breathtaking…haunting images of people underwater embody the consequences of climate change

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Akisa stares straight ahead with a look of extreme exasperation. The 15-year-old young woman is sitting on a rickety chair, her hands clasped in her lap, while her white skirt flutters slightly in what may seem at first glance to be the matter. The product of wind.

The scene looks almost normal until more detail comes into focus: the background is a strange shade of blue that you wouldn’t see on Earth. Thousands of broken coral fragments cover the bottom, while coral reefs loom behind them.

This stunning image is one of a series of images titled “SINK / RISE”, the latest project from fine art photographer Nick Brandt.

The images show South Pacific islanders representing people who are on the verge of losing their homes, lands and livelihoods to climate change.

Although it was difficult to photograph them at the bottom of the ocean, Brandt knew that was exactly what he had to do.

Brandt says the significant and devastating impact that sea level rise will have on the lives of millions of people may be difficult to see and understand in real time. So Brandt came up with a creative way to show this symbolically, noting that some people described the images as being completely post-apocalyptic.

Akisa and the other Fijian coastal residents photographed in this project have never seen the world they know sink underwater, yet. But the photographer says many of them may actually see it happen if climate change continues at its unprecedented pace and water levels continue to rise.

Brandt says the Pacific islands contribute just 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they face the alarming prospect of losing everything to climate change anyway.

“They are the most vulnerable to the consequences of the ways of the industrialized world,” Brandt explains.

The photographer hopes that these images embody what he fears will happen in the future, and help others see the devastating impact of their actions in the present.

The complex photo shoot took weeks

Before embarking on this project, Brandt says the only underwater photos he took were shots of tropical fish that caught his eye.

Photographing people underwater, and helping them feel comfortable and appear normal despite strange conditions, is a much more difficult task.

Brandt tested about 200 people in about 20 places. Diving professionals and instructors will be called upon to ensure safety and assist with character training.

Among the challenges he faced was having to wait for several days when muddy runoff from heavy rains made the waters off the coast of Fiji so dark that taking photos was impossible.

Brandt points out that when the water became clear, he had limited time to prepare the scene and film it while the character stood still, removed the device that supplied him with oxygen, and held his breath.

During the first days of the six-week shoot, Brandt says most of the characters could only hold their breath for about 15 seconds before needing an underwater oxygen supply.

It took about 30 minutes to set up each shot. Eventually some were able to hold their breath for more than a minute, and it only took a minute or two to prepare the shots.

Brandt points out that good communication also helped.

In order to provide guidance to the characters as he filmed, Brandt and his assistants used hard-wired connections to relay information to the boat. From there, someone repeats it into an underwater speaker.

During the entire filming session, Brandt confirms that the characters and supporting crew brought a spirit of support, enthusiasm and dedication to the project, which contributed to the project’s success even on the most difficult days.

“We were really amazed,” he confirms. “The crew was so involved, that even when we finished filming them and they could have relaxed and gone back to the boat, they would come back to help their colleagues.”