In Our Hands: Stories of the Environment
RPS Women in Photography
🌍 In Our Hands: Stories of the Environment
A photography project for the RPS Women in Photography group
In Our Hands: Stories of the Environment, a photography project for RPS Women in Photography
This thought-provoking project invited photographers to explore the complex relationship between people and the planet—capturing powerful visual stories that reflect both environmental fragility and resilience. RPS Women in Photography members responded with striking submissions across four categories: Hope & Renewal, Nature & Wild Places, Everyday Earth, and Human Impact.
From moments of quiet care to urgent warnings, these images highlight the beauty of the natural world and the consequences of human action—reminding us that the future of our environment is, quite literally, in our hands.
Why These Images Matter
As part of the In Our Hands project, we were delighted to collaborate with Greenpeace, who shared their insights on the powerful role photography plays in environmental activism....
"The relationship between people and the planet — explored in the photo project “In Our Hands: Stories of the Environment” — has been central to Greenpeace's mission since its founding in 1971.
Exposing environmental injustice and bearing witness through powerful photography and visual storytelling have always been at the core of Greenpeace’s approach to environmental activism. Some of the most iconic images from Greenpeace campaigns have been captured by women like Marizilda Cruppe, Kate Davison, Suzanne Plunkett, Elizabeth Dalziel and Abbie-Trayler Smith.
In 1973 Ann-Marie Horne, one of the first women to sail on a Greenpeace ship onboard the Vega, secretly captured the beatings of David McTaggart and Nigel Ingram when French commandos stormed the vessel during a protest against nuclear tests. Her photos not only proved that the French government lied about the attack, they also stoked the debate over nuclear testing.
Photographers like Anne-Marie continue to play a crucial role in exposing and investigating environmental destruction, advocating for policy changes, mobilising public support, and taking direct action to safeguard the environment.
The images captured by the RPS Women in Photography group are thought provoking, powerful visuals showcasing the natural beauty of our planet’s fragile ecosystems as well as documenting the destructive, environmental impact we have. Crucially, they also present sustainable solutions and inspire hope".
Angela Glienicke -- Picture Editor, Greenpeace UK, London