Reflection

Reflection

My stop motion video centers on how climate change is threatening Atlantic Salmon, and with it, biodiversity. It may seem like only one species, but in an ecosystem, each organism relies on each other. Threatening one species threatens all species. Atlantic salmon are a metaphor for how endangered all species are, and with it, us. I want people to see, through my video, how awfully Atlantic salmon die and to realize the consequences of the status quo; to think again when they shake off the green new deal as Democratic propaganda, or when they dismiss climate change. Atlantic salmon is an indicator species; they are our canary in a coal mine. There is no simple way to fix it, but if we don't start taking action now, there will be no future to fix. My video is eight frames per second and is animated by combining traditional stop motion techniques as well as Adobe Photoshop to create smoother animation. (For example, the background is a lot more stable.) I focused on three main concepts: increased water flow blowing eggs away, temperature mismatches forcing Atlantic salmon into the ocean before plankton blooms, and ocean acidification lessening blood viscosity (not to be confused with suffocation). Throughout the entire piece, I tried to balance science with intelligibility and understanding with detail. I wanted to show with visuals instead of spouting facts at the viewer, and hopefully convey the dire consequences we are facing and the urgency of taking action, now.