NMSU grad student wants water photos

Hardt Bergmann, a graduate student in New Mexico State University’s Geography Department, is asking for help from Las Cruces photographers for his desert hydrologies project.

Bergmann wants photos “depicting the role of water in local life and society” for his project.

“Water issues have come to the forefront of the environmental conversation in the arid American Southwest over the last several decades, and my research aims to explore the role photography and participatory art can play in advancing that conversation,” Bergmann said.

Participating in the project will include emailing one or two water-related photos to Bergmann and completing a short survey about the photos, he said. Participants also will have the opportunity to be interviewed by Bergmann about their photos and possibly be featured in a virtual art exhibit that will go live in the spring of 2022.

Those eligible to participate must be at least 18 years old and current residents of Las Cruces. Eligible photos include ones that have been taken in the Las Cruces area – no more than 40 miles outside of the city limits; depict something having to do with water and/or water issues; have been taken by you and not in violation of any copyright law; do not contain any sexually explicit, obscene, violent or generally objectionable content; and have not involved putting the photographer or anyone else in any danger.

To indicate your interest in submitting photos, email Bergman at hardtb@nmsu.edu, and include “Desert Hydrologies Participation Inquiry” in the email subject line. Bergmann will reply with detailed instructions for taking photos and linking for submitting the photos and survey responses.

The deadline to submit photos is Jan. 9, 2022, Bergmann said.