A 20-year-old photographer from Massachusetts is using groundbreaking underwater camera technology to document America's rapidly disappearing salt marshes, hoping his stunning images will inspire people to protect these critical ecosystems. Soren Goldsmith, who has been recognized as a National Geographic Young Explorer, is working on an ambitious photography project in the coastal marshes of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, where he faces unique challenges that traditional wildlife photography cannot address.
Goldsmith has developed an innovative solution called IMPACT, which stands for Intertidal Motion Picture Activated Camera Trap. This amphibious camera system represents a significant advancement in environmental photography, as it can function both above and below water for extended periods. "Salt marshes are intertidal environments, which means that half the day they're going to be dry, but the other half of the day, the water is going to come up and cover this landscape," Goldsmith explained. "I had this idea of what if I could build an amphibious camera trap."
The development of this specialized equipment required extensive collaboration and engineering expertise. Goldsmith headed to the University of Wisconsin for engineering support, where he gained access to a diverse team of specialists. "I had mechanical engineers, environmental engineers, civil engineers, computer engineers that were able to combine their expertise onto one project, because a camera trap is a complex contraption," he said. The team spent many months building and refining the system, focusing on making everything waterproof and ensuring all components would fit together seamlessly to prevent flooding when submerged underwater.
While camera traps that use motion detection have long been standard tools in wildlife photography, few options exist for capturing similar underwater images in challenging intertidal environments. Goldsmith's IMPACT system can operate continuously for a week in marsh conditions, automatically documenting the diverse wildlife and changing conditions as tides rise and fall. The device consists of a traditional DSLR camera connected to a large battery pack, all housed within a waterproof casing designed to withstand the harsh saltwater environment.
The young photographer's work focuses on salt marshes because these ecosystems are among the most important yet vulnerable landscapes in America. Salt marshes exist on every coast of the United States and provide crucial environmental services, including preventing coastal erosion and storing large amounts of carbon, which makes them vital for mitigating climate change. These biodiverse ecosystems support numerous species of birds, fish, and other wildlife while serving as natural barriers against storm surges and flooding.
However, salt marshes are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, especially sea level rise. "The salt marshes are very low elevation, practically at sea level," Goldsmith noted. "So the sea level rising only a little bit, like an inch, has a huge impact on that land. And as a result of this, salt marshes are being flooded more frequently and eroding more quickly than they can replenish." The situation becomes even more critical when combined with human development pressures along coastlines.
Scientific projections paint a concerning picture for the future of these ecosystems. "You mix in this problem with human development, and a lot of projections are saying that marshes are going to disappear very quickly, by the end of the century," Goldsmith warned. This rapid timeline underscores the urgency of conservation efforts and the importance of raising public awareness about the threats facing salt marshes.
Despite the environmental challenges, Goldsmith remains optimistic about the potential for technology and innovation to make a difference in conservation efforts. He believes that his generation has unprecedented opportunities to document and protect endangered ecosystems. "Some of the stuff that I have been able to build, 15 years ago would not have been possible," he reflected. "I'm lucky to be young right now, when I have all of these cool technology and opportunities that I can leverage to tell my stories that older people might not have had."
Through his photography project, Goldsmith hopes to create compelling visual narratives that will motivate people to take action in protecting salt marshes. His combination of artistic vision and engineering innovation represents a new approach to environmental advocacy, using cutting-edge technology to capture images that would be impossible with traditional photography methods. The project demonstrates how young conservationists are finding creative ways to address climate change and environmental degradation through interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation.
