The photograph, created during his exploration of environmental vulnerability, transforms storm clouds into a powerful metaphor for cosmic disinterest.

Through sophisticated analogue techniques, Hughes achieves a remarkable painterly effect, where colour and light dissolve into ethereal layers. The storm clouds symbolise what he describes as "mere scratches upon the surface," representing humanity's fleeting attempts to impact the planet against the universe's immense timescale.

Inspired by the dissolution of matter and our collective insignificance, Hughes creates images that suggest we are "temporary layers that shift, change, combine" - momentary splashes of colour before returning to dust. The work embodies his philosophical stance that while "we continue to evolve our resource-dependent lifestyles rapidly, the Cosmos shrugs its shoulders, completely indifferent to the mesmerising mess we make of this planet."