Jeremy Skirrow, Surrounded by Neglect (LANDSCAPE 2025)

This project examines the harsh realities surrounding Cerro Campana in La Libertad, Peru—a region defined by water scarcity, environmental strain, pollution, and insecurity. In rural Peru, where 40% of the population lacks reliable access to clean water, this daily hardship marks both the land and the lives of those who inhabit it. Communities rely on expensive and sporadic water deliveries, and the landscape bears the visible signs of limited resources. Salt farms with polluted water, barren fields, and dusty roads speak to the environmental challenges faced by the region. Pollution and inadequate infrastructure further exacerbate the strain on the land, while water shortages leave agricultural and economic potential untapped. Cerro Campana stands in the distance, a silent witness to the resilience of its people, as the environment and infrastructure continue to show the impacts of neglect. As Peru gains global attention, particularly through events like APEC 2024, rural areas like La Libertad remain largely ignored, with limited investment in addressing these environmental and infrastructural challenges. These landscapes offer a stark view of a region where the interplay of resource scarcity, environmental decay, and limited infrastructure shape the lives of those living in its shadow. Photographed September-October 2024 on Kodak Gold 200 and Fujifilm Fujicolor 200 35mm film.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.