Where am I?

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted June 4, 2011254 views6 comments

Nikon D200
Nikon 80-400VR
1/500 @f/14, ISO 100
and... ehhhmmm... -2 stops (forgot to reset the camera, embarrassing)

I took this picture earlier today while exploring deserts and coasts of Western Qatar. The places are fantastic and virtually deserted: no cars, people, noise. The water is turquoise and crystal clear. The sad part is what's on the ground: one cannot find a single meter without at least some type of garbage, particularly on the beaches. Plastic, metal, sacs of rotting meat, construction material, bitumen everywhere, and... this little toy head. The absurdity of its existence in such a place struck me.
Thanks for watching. C&C welcome.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 4, 2011 at 1:59 PM

Sadly absurd. Very pathetic to see that mankind has managed to contaminate almost every place in the worlld.
Striking image.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on June 6, 2011 at 9:56 AM

What a powerful, enigmatic image Esme'! For purely EPJ it would be made stronger with a wider lens to show some of the scenery you mention along with the head, helping emphasize the incongruity you describe. The fact that it is a "human" face with such a cheerful expression provides innate connections with any viewer, which furthers the impact. It's almost as though the doll is "up to its neck" in the problem.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 7, 2011 at 9:17 AM

I know what your talking about. We impact every place regardless of whether or not we even go there.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on June 11, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Interesting image to make your point. As Hank said, a wider view would add to your statement, whether it showed only scenery or more of the garbage you talk of.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 14, 2011 at 11:56 AM

Well captured, with the limited DoF working wonderfully. Very sad commentary on mankind that we allow this type of behavior to spoil beautiful areas.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Manoj Vallati on June 20, 2011 at 11:24 AM

Esme, Interesting documentary..Sad to hear the plight of the coast up there.. I was excited when u described the place abt its silence, crystal clear waters ..but hearing abt the damage done by humans totally wiped out that excitement..
The presence of this smiling face that ironically shows the destruction of a habitat is heart touching..
I would have included little more info abt the place by going more wide.. showing water or the desert.. I dunno if it was possible.
Thanks for sharing

Registered on February 24, 2011, 49 Posts, 148 Comments