Figure 1   Banlieue ruin. Photograph by author Figure 1 . Banlieue ruin. Photograph by author More

Figure 2   Squatter camp. Photograph by author Figure 2 . Squatter camp. Photograph by author More

Figure 3   Brasov. Photograph by author Figure 3 . Brasov. Photograph by author More

Figure 4   Rats. Photograph by author Figure 4 . Rats. Photograph by author More

Figure 2 Hudson’s Bay Company Trading Post, Mulligans Bay, 1886. Photograph: Vincent Alfred Murray Crichton, courtesy of his estate and Chapleau, Ontario Public Library Figure 2. Hudson’s Bay Company Trading Post, Mulligans Bay, 1886. Photograph: Vincent Alfred Murray Crichton, courtesy of his More

Figure 3 Athabasca oil sands mining infrastructure, 2011. Photograph: Jennifer Grant, Pembina Institute. Figure 3. Athabasca oil sands mining infrastructure, 2011. Photograph: Jennifer Grant, Pembina Institute. More

Figure 7   The international container terminal in Vallarpadam in Kochi. Photograph courtesy of the author 2012 Figure 7 . The international container terminal in Vallarpadam in Kochi. Photograph courtesy of the author 2012 More

Figure 2 Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York , 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable Figure 2. Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York, 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable More

Figure 3 Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York , 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable Figure 3. Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York, 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable More

Figure 4 Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York , 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable Figure 4. Deborah Frizzell, Women’s March in New York, 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable More

Fig. 5 Eleanor Anderson, Sinead , 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist Fig. 5. Eleanor Anderson, Sinead, 2017. Digital photograph, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist More

Figure 1 Karen Finley, untitled from Condoleeza Rice series, 2006 (photograph courtesy of Karen Finley). Figure 1. Karen Finley, untitled from Condoleeza Rice series, 2006 (photograph courtesy of Karen Finley). More

Figure 2 Robert Longo, untitled (Saturn), 2006 (photograph courtesy of Robert Longo and Metro Pictures). Figure 2. Robert Longo, untitled (Saturn), 2006 (photograph courtesy of Robert Longo and Metro Pictures). More

Figure 3 Geoff McGann, Goddess , 2006 (photograph courtesy of Geoff McGann).. Figure 3. Geoff McGann, Goddess, 2006 (photograph courtesy of Geoff McGann).. More

Figure 4 Geoff McGann, untitled set shot, 2006 (photograph courtesy of Geoff McGann). Figure 4. Geoff McGann, untitled set shot, 2006 (photograph courtesy of Geoff McGann). More

Figure 5 William Wylie, Carrara , 2006 (photograph courtesy of William Wylie).. Figure 5. William Wylie, Carrara, 2006 (photograph courtesy of William Wylie).. More

David Levine: HOPEFUL , installation view. Photograph: Claire Laude, Galerie Feinkost, Berlin. David Levine: HOPEFUL, installation view. / Photograph: Claire Laude, Galerie Feinkost, Berlin. More

Figure 5   Even the rats don't come here. Photograph by author Figure 5 . Even the rats don't come here. Photograph by author More