MELANIE JENKINS
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
My work is a collaboration with my daughter Bella, (model age 11) based on a speech she wrote. She encourages her audience to imagine she is a plastic bottle, and what follows is a vivid description of her life. The excitement she feels when born, the lifelong best friend she will make when purchased, then the disappointment she feels when discarded in the bin. She then describes her journey from bin to sea and her never-ending life deteriorating in the ocean. She finishes her speech saying she wished she had never been born.
This work is not only about raising the awareness of plastic in our oceans, but also recognising the stress and eco anxiety that is building in our children. The distress from feeling like they are not making enough of a difference, while learning to push forward and be the eco warriors they are encouraged to be.
MELANIE JENKINS
Melanie is an Auckland based photographer and established Flash Studios in 2000. Specialising in photographing food, interiors, products, fashion and jewellery, Melanie is living her dream. "Every day is an exciting challenge, and I absolutely love my work”.
Shooting on large and medium format cameras, she captures a remarkable level of depth and detail in all of her imagery. She works primarily in her studio, creating lighting to achieve the look and feel that perfectly suits each project. Melanie is not bound by her studio though, so when the photoshoot requires a specific location, she is able to incorporate an array of technical equipment and skills to accommodate the shoot needs.
“My photographic career has always been about photographing things I personally love and enjoy being around and involved with. Running a busy studio came to an abrupt halt for me when Covid caused full lockdown, and gave me some time to listen more to my children and hear what they have to say. I decided to collaborate with my daughter Bella, and highlight an issue that she based her school speech on. Our work is not only about raising the awareness of plastic in our oceans and the pollution of our planet, but also recognising the underlying stress and eco anxiety that is building in our children. It was a wonderful experience to include Bella in the whole process, from the planning stages of how to shoot in the water, her being the model and what we wanted to project in the images, to the editing of the final files to be submitted.”