Photographer Michael Forsberg speaks on water issues at Lied

The multimedia presentation Michael Forsberg brought to the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Dec. 6 took people in the audience on a journey of the migration of animals and the cycles of water through photographs.

"People need to be connected" to water and nature, Forsberg said.

Forsberg, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumnus, holds a degree in geography with an emphasis in environmental studies. With the E.N. Thompson Forum's theme on water issues in mind, Ian Chapo, a sophomore political science and economics major, said Forsberg, "has a special ability to speak about water issues with his background in geography."

Chapo is also on the E.N. Thompson Program Committee, which plays a role in selecting speakers for the E.N. Thompson Forum.

Forsberg quoted noted Nebraskan photographer Joel Sartore when he said, "Nature photography is photographing a butterfly on a flower. Conservation photography is photographing a butterfly on a flower with a bulldozer in the background."

Before the lecture at the Lied, students in the E.N. Thompson learning community were able to ask Forsberg questions in a private session. At that time, Stephanie Emodi, a sophomore political science and environmental studies major, said she wasn't sure how much of an impact Forsberg would have. "His profession speaks for him," she tried to explain, referring to his role as a conservation photographer. Emodi is a teaching assistant, along with Chapo in the learning community.

Throughout the Q&A session, Forsberg related to the students. When he was going to the university, he said he didn't think he would end up being a photographer. What led him to photography was working at UNL Outdoor Adventures. He went on trips but didn't bring anything back. One trip to the Rocky Mountains made him fall in love with the Great Plains. He borrowed a camera, took a photograph of two light rays shining through the morning clouds on the rocky terrain and knew photography was what he wanted to do.

A class he took from professor David Wishart at UNL also led him to study geography. The first half of the class started out with the textbook and, in the second half, Forsberg said Wishart taught the geography of rock ‘n' roll. It was the human aspect of geography that interested Forsberg.

The marriage he made between the geography and photography really happened when he started working for NEBRASKAland magazine.

"What I do is just geography veiled in photography," Forsberg said.

His work at the magazine led him to photograph the Sandhill cranes. The birds migrate every year through the Sandhills and, like "freight trains" in rural communities, people can hear them coming and see them for a time. Their stopping places along the Platte River attract thousands of birdwatchers each year and the recreational activity is on the rise. Forsberg said this is an opportunity for farmers and ranchers. By maintaining grasslands, "neighborhoods" for the birds and other animals can be kept healthy and rural communities' economies can be stimulated.

Forsberg explained that some things everyone can do to be more connected is to plant something that you can eat. "Even if it's celery in your window sill," he said. Or, he said, you can go camping and bring your own water, something to make you appreciate water more.

After the lecture, Emodi said her impression of Forsberg changed. He had given people a positive image of the water problems we are facing and gave some explanations of what can be done about them.

"It's not just water, it's the soil," Forsberg said. He gave an example of dust storms in New Mexico. "How can we do more with less and keep the natural ecosystem?"

Demetriastephens@dailynebraskan.com