At the end of 2025, Indonesia faced a serious environmental crisis. It was not only widespread flooding, but also landslides that struck various regions across the country. The most severe impact occurred on the island of Sumatra – particularly in Aceh, Padang, and Medan – where extreme rainfall combined with long-term deforestation led to devastating consequences. Many lives were lost, and the effects did not end when the water receded.
As 2026 began, the aftermath continued to shape daily life. Homes were destroyed, access roads remained damaged or blocked, and several communities were left isolated from essential services. Among the floodwaters and landslide debris, large tree trunks were carried downstream – quiet evidence of illegal logging and weakened forest ecosystems. What unfolded was not merely a natural disaster, but a reminder of how environmental damage directly affects human survival.
This reality became the emotional foundation of a forest-themed photoshoot created by Martha Suherman. The forest fairy was introduced as a symbol of Mother Earth – fragile and wounded, yet still enduring and making space for life to continue growing.
For Martha, photography is inseparable from light. Light is not only a technical element, but a visual language that shapes emotion, depth, and meaning. In this project, light was approached with restraint. It was never meant to overpower nature, but to quietly support the story unfolding within it.
The photoshoot took place in an open outdoor area in Bogor, Indonesia, using large trees as a visual representation of the forest. Working in an open environment meant embracing natural unpredictability – shifting daylight, humidity, and changing weather conditions – while still maintaining visual consistency throughout the shoot.
To support this process, Martha relied on broncolor Satos. Satos proved to be a practical and dependable solution for outdoor work. Its battery-powered system allowed full mobility without reliance on external power sources, while its portable design made repositioning efficient in open spaces. The light output was sufficient to balance available ambient light without flattening the scene or altering the natural atmosphere.
Equally important was its consistency. As environmental conditions shifted throughout the shoot, the lighting remained stable, allowing the creative focus to stay on composition and storytelling rather than constant technical adjustments. This reliability helped maintain a visual language that felt controlled yet natural – respectful of the environment it was created in.
The visual narrative is quietly reinforced by a voice-over: “Yet the earth never stops turning. It keeps making space for life to rise again.”
Much like the lighting approach itself, the light in this project does not seek attention. It exists to serve the story – subtle, intentional, and grounded. A reminder that even the simplest light, when used with care, can carry meaning.
As this project moves into 2026, it stands as a reflection and a reminder – not only for Indonesia, but for the world. Environmental damage does not recognize borders. When forests disappear, floods and landslides follow. When ecosystems weaken, human life becomes increasingly vulnerable.
Caring for nature is no longer a distant conversation. It is a shared responsibility. Because when the environment slowly fades, what we lose is not only landscapes – but the foundation of life itself, everywhere.
