Stephen Lambeth, 100 seconds to midnight (PLACES 2022)

The title is from the current count of the doomsday clock and reflects the current state of inaction and rhetoric around climate change. Walking home, I noticed these plants had managed to grow through the cracks in the road and, through sheer luck, had so far survived being trampled by cars and humans. The spectre of oncoming traffic reminded me of how close so many species are to extinction. Yet the remarkable determination of the natural world to survive gave me pause to hope not necessarily for humanity but the planet.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.