Photographer Thomas Schlereth is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘Waves’. To see Thomas ’s body of work, click on any photograph.

The “Waves” series explores a phenomenon that frequently occurs at the end of winter and characterizes parts of the landscape: fields covered and protected with plastic sheeting, which helps a variety of fruits and vegetables ripen faster and earlier. This type of cultivation is now highly specialized and uses black-and-white reversible plastic sheets and overlying polytunnels. While this is a significant effort, the yield seems to justify it.

Plastic waste is a major problem, also because plastic sheets no longer needed in the fields are often not disposed of properly. Sometimes they are simply plowed under, thus remaining irretrievably in the soil and representing a heavy burden. Plastic residues are blown away, and plastic residues in the soil inhibit plant growth or affect the reproduction of soil organisms. Studies now assume that there is many times more microplastic in arable soils than the vast mountains of plastic in the oceans. Even though these coverings do have a certain aesthetic appeal, they sometimes seem like a natural part of the landscape, like water or waves – symbolizing what we do to ourselves and the environment.

ABOUT THOMAS SCHLERETH

His works primarily serve to make the viewer “look” again. It seems that nowadays people have forgotten to look. Information reach people at high frequency and in large numbers, they are short and fast-moving. Visual information has to be special to attract attention, the inconspicuous and every day is hardly noticed anymore. In his working with the inconspicuous and every day,  Schlereth is concerned with social phenomena, environmental issues and the subtleties of human coexistence. A current focus is the relationship and behavior of people in relation to their surroundings, living environment, nature...

After completing his professional career as a manager in the public security sector, the business economist and (business) mediator attended the Cologne Photo Academy in 2023/2024 and has been studying photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich since 2024.

All works were created from 2023 onwards and the series is still ongoing.

All images and text © Thomas Schlereth