The visual dimensions of green criminology

This chapter describes some analytical, methodological and theoretical principles for the use of the photographic image as a method for researching environmental crimes and harms. The authors begin by discussing and exploring photo-elicitation methods—one technique for a green criminology with images, whereby the interviewer uses images to facilitate responses to questions and to delve deeper into the interviewee/participant’s verbal narratives. From here, the authors turn their attention to possible techniques for a green criminology about images (e.g., visual archival materials, images from popular visual culture, images taken by satellite or aerial photography), suggesting ways in which a green-visual criminology can contribute to the development of new forms of participatory research and praxis, as well as increased criminological insight into the visual dimensions of environmental change and harm, environmental conflict and resistance to environmental harm. The chapter concludes with some thoughts on the broad potential and applicability of a green visual mode of analysis and research.