Mangrove, Everglades, Since Destroyed (2017) © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — Mangrove, Everglades, Since Destroyed (2017) © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

When looking at the crisp black-and-white images in Bil Zelman’s new book, And Here We Are: Stories from the Sixth Extinction, it is difficult to see past the striking beauty of nature and understand how what is pictured is, in fact, detrimental to the environment. Zelman’s photographs are evidence of the Holocene extinction, the sixth consecutive mass extinction in the world’s history.

American Alligators (2017) © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — American Alligators (2017) © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

One of the causes of this extinction is the introduction of invasive and non-native species into the new habitat, like Asian carp in the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers and honey bees all across the continent. We all blame the deterioration of the natural world on human activities such as pollution and poaching, but we forget about indirect and historical causes that are are also negatively affecting wildlife.

Only Existing Grove of Natural, Native Palms in Arizona, High in Mountain Ravine, 2018 © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — Only Existing Grove of Natural, Native Palms in Arizona, High in Mountain Ravine, 2018 © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

In the preface of his book, Zelman talks about “shifting baseline syndrome,” which he defines as an establishment of “norms with our recent memory as opposed to giving them an accurate historical value.” We have come to accept so many things as true simply because we were told so or because it’s just what we stubbornly believe. This idea begins to explain our limited understanding of this sixth mass extinction that we are currently surviving while other species are not. Global travel and exploration introduce new plants and animals, even if the travelers don’t intend to bring them along. Honeybees, a non-native species to North America, are one of the animals that Zelman highlights for its effects on the environment.

“Despite the rallying cries of a thousand bumper stickers, this is the last insect that needs to be saved,” he said. “Currently, the honey bee spreads pathogens and agricultural pesticides harming native bee populations and competes with them for resources.”

European Honey Bees in Western United States, 2017 © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — European Honey Bees in Western United States, 2017 © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

Dead Trees and Ash in Burnt Area of Drought Stricken San Bernardino Mountains (2017) © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — Dead Trees and Ash in Burnt Area of Drought Stricken San Bernardino Mountains (2017) © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

Without this context, these images are dark and ominous. The subjects are almost too obvious, illuminated by the flash of the camera. But there aren’t animals present in every shot, and after the images are presented, Zelman briefly describes the environmental situations that he uses visuals to convey. While discussing his process, he said,

“Many of these creatures are threat naive and unaware. This is why I shoot in the dark and why so many of my photographs might be reminiscent of Weegee’s black and white, hard-flash murder scenes. Because they are just that.”

These invaders and foreigners are murdering the natural ecosystems of the North American landscape, but Zelman’s stunning images almost mask the evil, using the flash to erase the darkness.

Invasive (Asian) Silver Carp, Mississippi Delta (2018) © Bil Zelman, And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction, 2020. — Invasive (Asian) Silver Carp, Mississippi Delta (2018) © Bil Zelman, *And Here We Are: Stories From the Sixth Extinction,* 2020.

It is one thing to take a glimpse at Bil Zelman’s photographs; it’s another to understand his contextual mission. This is evidence of a major issue, a mass extinction that is overtaking many native species and engulfing ecosystems in North America; but one might have never seen such breathtaking documentation of such serious problem. His presentation allowed the photographs to speak for themselves, but his words are just as powerful as his images.