A photographer found a cow grazing in a dumpsite to be an impactful message about the environment

ACRA, Ghana (AP) — Misper Apawu is a photographer based in Accra and works across West Africa. She focuses on exposing social issues with an emphasis on narratives about women, sports and the environment. She’s been making photos for The Associated Press for two years.

Here’s what she has to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why this photo?

This dumpsite is in an informal settlement, a low-income community called Old Fadama in Accra. It is the largest dumpsite where textiles and other waste are disposed of. I have read about this place and heard stories, but I have never visited it myself. To highlight how second-hand clothes pollute our environment, I decided to visit this community to share its story.

What struck me at the dumpsite was the contrast and irony of the scene. Cows, typically associated with green pastures and rural landscapes, were seen feeding off the waste at the dump. I spoke with the dumpsite manager and asked why the cows could graze there. He explained that there were no green pastures available in the settlement.

How I made this photo

I asked the dumpsite manager if I could climb to the top of the dumpsite, and he permitted me. Once there, I counted about eight cows and some men who brought in waste. I took some photographs, but they turned out boring. I wanted to capture the vastness of the dumpsite, so I descended and continued to use my wide lens, but the images didn’t stand out when I viewed them on the back of my camera. I switched to my 70-200mm lens for a different perspective. I patiently waited for a moment when one of the cows would raise its head. In a split second, it happened! I captured just two frames: the first was when the cow opened its mouth slightly, and the second was this photograph. After that, the cow bowed its head again, and I waited for another moment, but it didn’t happen. Eventually, it moved away.

Why this photo works

The photograph sparks conversations. I intentionally made the cow stand out. Although my goal was to highlight the harsh reality of the environmental impact of second-hand clothing, the scenes of cows feeding on a waste dump instead of a green pasture raise significant concerns for both animal and human health. These cows will ultimately be slaughtered and sold to consumers.

For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.