Photojournalist Bryan Anselm on Climate Change Photography

Photojournalist Bryan Anselm on Climate Change Photography, Storytelling & Changing Minds

The 10 Frames Per Second podcast (new episodes every Tuesday) brings together photojournalists who turn complex stories into powerful images. In this episode, host Molly Roberts (Joe Giordano was out for this one) sits down with Bryan Anselm, a New‑York‑based photographer whose work chronicles the long‑term impacts of climate change across the United States.

If you’re a:

Photojournalist looking for inspiration on climate‑related assignments
Emerging visual storyteller seeking practical career advice
Editor or curator interested in the intersection of documentary and fine‑art photography

📚 Who Is Bryan Anselm?

Detail	Info
Base	New York, USA
Education	Western Kentucky University (graduated during the recession)
Specialty	Long‑term climate‑change documentation (hurricanes, floods, wildfires)
Publications	The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, ProPublica
Awards	Finalist – 2021 Aperture Portfolio Prize
Fellowship	Center for Contemporary Documentation (worked with Alice on a plastic‑waste project)
Gear	Canon 5DSR (full‑frame, 35 mm) + tripod + portable lights
Books	Sound the Sirens (2025, Overlaps Images) – a slow‑crafted photo book on U.S. climate disasters

🎥 Bryan Anselm Career Highlights

1️⃣ From the South to the North – How Brian Anselm Got Started

Grew up in Carmel, Indiana; discovered a love for photography in high school.
Chose Western Kentucky University after a campus visit; drew inspiration from the South (Faulkner, Appalachian stories).
Graduated during a recession, forcing him to be resourceful: freelance gigs, a Getty grant, and an Alexia Foundation student grant.

2️⃣ Early Career: Uganda, Africa, & Post‑Conflict Work

Internship with an NGO in Kampala, Uganda (rehabilitating former child soldiers).
Covered the Somali famine (2011), Boko Haram insurgency, and the Rwanda genocide aftermath.
Preferred a slow‑photography approach—spending weeks in a place to capture nuanced, human moments rather than breaking news speed.

3️⃣ The “Slow” Aesthetic – Light, Mood & Film Influence

Uses high‑resolution digital (Canon 5DSR) with tripod and portable lights to shape mood.
Inspired by film lighting, especially directors like Gregory Crewdsen and photographers John Divola, Josef Koudelka, Viviane Sassen, Luc Delahaye.
Works at dusk/twilight (≈ 10 min window) to combine natural light with subtle artificial light—creating a claustrophobic, tactile feel.

4️⃣ Sound the Sirens – A Book That “Sounds” Like a Disaster

Published 2025 by Overlaps Images.
Format: ~9 × 6 inches, French‑fold pages with solar‑flare‑style prints under images, plus inserts.
Designed to be portable, interactive, and accessible—a deliberate move away from bulky coffee‑table books.
The book doesn’t overwhelm with data; instead, it uses historic meteorological illustrations as visual clues to evoke the climate‑change malaise.

5️⃣ Climate‑Change Narrative: From Ephemeral News to Persistent Storytelling

Media coverage spikes during disasters but fades quickly.
Bryan aims to return to affected communities later (6–9 months or more) to capture the lingering trauma and displacement.
Discusses the concept of “Solastalgia” (Glenn Albrecht) – the grief felt when cherished landscapes change irrevocably.
Calls attention to the looming climate‑refugee crisis (250 M displaced, many internal).

6️⃣ Ethics, Advocacy & the Photo Market

Gallery sales vs. human suffering – he wrestles with commodifying tragedy.
Believes NGO collaborations must be thoughtful; political neutrality is key.
Emphasizes that photographs should spark curiosity, not replace scientific data.

7️⃣ Advice for Emerging Photographers

Get out there: “Just take photos.”
Be adaptable: As a student, Bryan worked from his car, bringing food, and staying flexible.
Focus locally: Start with stories in your own community before chasing distant assignments.
Embrace slowness: Spend time, build relationships, and revisit locations.

🛠️ Bryan Anselm – Practical Takeaways (Bullet List)

Gear: Canon 5DSR + tripod + portable LED lights ⇒ high‑resolution, controllable lighting.
Workflow:
1. Scout location days in advance.
2. Shoot at golden hour or twilight for mood.
3. Use f/11‑f/16 for deep depth of field and detail.
Book Design:
- Small, portable size → easier to transport.
- Interactive folds & printed solar‑flare layers add tactile depth.
Storytelling:
- Pair visual clues (weather illustrations) with human narratives.
- Return to sites to document long‑term impact.
Career: Leverage grants (Getty, Alexia) and freelance work during economic downturns.

✅ Final Thought

Bryan Anselm’s journey shows that patient, purposeful photography can turn fleeting disaster headlines into lasting visual narratives. By marrying film‑inspired lighting, compact book design, and a commitment to revisit stories, he offers an actionable roadmap for any emerging visual storyteller who wants to make a meaningful impact on climate‑change discourse.

Ready to start your own slow‑photography project? Grab your camera, hit the road, and remember: the story is never truly over. 🎞️📸

____

photojournalism, climate change, climate disasters, climate refugees, climate displacement, plastic waste, sub‑Saharan Africa, Uganda, child‑soldier rehabilitation, Somali famine, Boko Haram insurgency, Rwanda genocide aftermath, Aperture Portfolio Prize, Canon 5DSR, 35 mm digital, cinematic lighting, John Divola, Josef Koudelka, Viviane Sassen, Luc Delahaye, Solastalgia, Glenn Albrecht, FEMA trailers, UNHCR displacement data, climate policy, IPCC, fossil‑fuel transition, climate activism, PTSD in photographers, photo‑book design (French fold, solar flares)

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Episode 178: Bryan Anselm (Climate Photography)