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Monarchs hanging from a tree

Climate Storytelling Contest

2026 Photo Essay 1st Place Winner

"Picturing the Change I Want to Happen"
By Matsu Wilson-Straus, Oakland



Text: Picturing the Change I Want to Happen, by Matsu Wilson-Straus
Text: Climate change, also known as global warming, is the overall rise in temperatures on our planet. Most of this process is caused by greenhouse gas buildup in our atmosphere, which can cause weather patterns to change drastically, habitat loss, extinction, sea level rise, and more. In my photo essay, I address how the effects of climate change show up in my life, and how I feel about them. Throughout my community, I feel the impacts of heat waves, and atmospheric rivers that cause extreme flooding. While those effects seem more close to home than others, I know that animals and entire ecosystems are also largely altered by climate change. In my photos, I tried to show a diversity of effects, to better overview the entire problem. Additionally, I wanted to address my feelings around global warming, which can range from sadness and guilt, to a sense of hope. Overall, my photo essay shows my point of view on climate change, and how I believe that with collective efforts, people can reverse the problems climate change has caused.
Photo of a hazy sky during sunset with an airplane seen in the distance. Caption: El Cerrito Hills - El Cerrito, CA. Text: Anxious Skies. As it flies, the plane emits toxic greenhouse gasses, turning the air we breathe and the skies above a smoggy grey. Despite that, the tightness in my chest doesn’t come from pollution, but from my anxieties about climate change, and worries that I won’t be able to protect my community.
Photo of a small brown and white cow standing behind a barbed wire in a grassy field. Caption: Hiking Trails - Mürren, Switzerland. Text: Barbed Wire Ecosystem. When temperatures rise, many animals lose their homes, their habitats being reduced to small patches of grass, the metal fences trapping them in a world they cannot change. This calf looks through the barbed wire, catching a glimpse of the future it could inherit.
Photo of a rainbow above the ocean. Caption: Paia- Maui, HI. Text: Disintegrating Beauty. While the beach is somewhere that showcases the Earth’s natural beauty, it also paints a picture of coastal erosion and sea level rise. When melting glaciers cause sea levels to rise, coastlines crumble, our hopes wearing away with the sand.
Photo of raindrops on a window. Caption: Cleveland Heights - Oakland, CA. Text: Rainy Day Thoughts. My disappointment clouds the street outside the car window, making the whole world seem grey. The hollow claims that climate change would “get better” linger, mixing with the fresh smell of rain.
Photo of cargo container movers near the water. Caption: Ferry Ride, Oakland Harbor - Oakland, CA. Text: Drowning in Guilt. Guilt sometimes feels like an ice cold ocean, the waters almost drowning me as I realize how much my actions have contributed to the warming of our seas and skies. Things like taking a ride on a ferry that leaves a trail of pollution in its wake or mindlessly unwrapping layers upon layers of plastic, each one a weight on my conscience.
Photo of a monarch butterfly flying among tree branches. Caption: Northeastern College Campus - Oakland, CA. Text: Lost. Sometimes I feel lost, unsure of where to go or how to address the problems our earth is facing. Like a butterfly, who’s migration pattern has been affected by melting glaciers and extreme weather, one who is unsure of the things they were always supposed to know.
Photo of green vines growing in the cracks of a concrete wall. Caption: Northeastern College Campus - Oakland, CA. Text: Growing Through Concrete. From between the cracks of concrete walls, bright green ivy, an unexpected glimpse of nature. A sign of hope, that people and nature can recover from the effects of climate change on our world.
Photo of a single white calla lily. Caption: El Cerrito Hills - El Cerrito, CA. Text: Persistently Regenerating. Calla lilies, plants that are able to sprout from the ground, seeming almost magical in their persistence. This flower is just one example of the beauty of nature, showing that even with limited resources, we can create change.