Ice to Protect Orange Trees from the Cold, California 2015

In his series Human Nature, photographer Lucas Foglia examines the relationship between humans and the natural wilderness, starting from the observation that the average American spends 93% of time indoors, while climate change is severely impacting our life environment and food security. As extreme weather conditions are forcing farmers to protect their crops, this photograph shows a brightly coloured orange, surrounded by luscious green, all covered in ice. It is an almost surrealistic image, since growing oranges is generally associated with a warm and sunny climate. Using ice is however a tried and tested method applied by farmers in California to protect their oranges against the cold – however paradoxical that may seem.