About three years ago I became increasingly interested in a phenomenon known as chemtrails: white streaks left in the trail of a passing aircraft. Normally called contrails, they are a result of the cold atmosphere in the sky, and after a few seconds, vanish. Chemtrails, rather mysteriously, do not vanish, but dissipate into the sky and become wider, mimicking the appearance of a cloud. There are a number of theories—some waved off as conspiracies—about the nature of these trails. What are the planes leaving behind? Is it harmful for our environment? Why won't anyone say what exactly is in these trails?

We may never have answers to these questions, but the beauty and mystery behind them struck me, and I wanted to draw awareness to this issue through photographs.Perhaps one day, these mysterious streaks will be explained. Until then, I have prepared a series of images of these chemtrails throughout the Tucson area. Some of them are very obvious—streaking lonely across an otherwise empty sky. Other times they blend in with the clouds, inconspicuous to the casual observer. Whether you choose to research, reason, or simply be aware, this set of photographs asks you to bring your awareness to this marvel, if only for a moment.