The Formation of Hope in the Emerald Triangle by Margherita Loba Amadio

Margherita Loba Amadio‘s work investigates strength in vulnerability, transparency in shamelessness, and wisdom in development. The photographic project “The E.T.” is based in the Emerald Triangle in Northern California and welcomes a complex formation of hope, flooded with extreme contrasts through the incorporation of fashion.

Having travelled with a selection of Vitelli’s collection, Margherita visited the homes and families of traditional cannabis farmers. 300 miles north of San Francisco, lies an untold reality hidden in the hills – the alien world of the farmed “Emerald Triangle”. The Emerald Triangle, E.T., is the largest cannabis producing region in the United States and the legalization of cannabis has brought forth a new wave of hope in California. Traditional cannabis farmers are transitioning from the black market to the white market, marking their emergence out of the shadows.

However, with the legalization of Cannabis, new state farms are rising prominently. This resulting in the questioning of the newly found formation of hope. Cannabis farmers, who had to keep their silence over decades are risking a possible diminishing due to the fast-paced industry.

As a result of the spontaneous setting, Margherita was able to create an ambiguous mixture between reality and storytelling, and researching through the addition of foreign elements to emphasize the unfolding complex environment. Throughout the series, fashion portraits are coupled together with documentary photographs. This coupling of styles shows the significance that each component is intrinsically and symbolically part of the story.

It takes incredible bravery to move into the white market after decades of being silent and in the shadows. But that’s what they’re doing.

Margherita Loba Amadio

Margherita Loba Amadio is an Italian photographer and video artists based in Milan. Focused around Fashion and Beauty, and Editorial and Documentary, Margherita believes in including consistency, curiosity and love in her visual journey through preconception, boundary and taboo.

To see more of Margherita’s work, visit her Cherrydeck profile or her website, here. To see more intriguing photography, have a look at “Trash” by Tania Volobueva or “Spar to Camera” by Richard Cannon. ?

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