Hauntingly Photos of Floating, Plastic-Wrapped Bodies

Oct. 22, 2012

As a kid growing up in Savannah, Georgia, photographer Andrew Brodhead worked in his parents’ health food store. It was there that he came to the disturbing realization that much of what we throw out each day isn’t recyclable. “I began to think about landfills and where everything goes,” he says. “There are islands of plastic taking over the oceans, the earth is suffocating from plastic that never biodegrades, and our water and environment are leaching toxic estrogenic compounds.” The strangely unsettling images in his Floating series — which juxtapose what look like plastic-shrouded corpses with lush, natural backdrops — are his attempt to create awareness around this overwhelming waste. “Visually, I want to convey the sacrifice we have made by our consumption and waste,” Brodhead explains. “The wrapped bodies represent invasive cocoons floating over vulnerable landscapes.” Whether or not they deliver the intended message, we think these creepy photos will stick with you.

Photo credit: Andrew Brodhead