Forum: Photography


Subject: Monthy Challenge-Social Issues

wackiej opened this issue on Mar 19, 2005 ยท 13 posts


wackiej posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 11:25 AM

Attached Link: Tourists-Take The Bus To The Next Destination

Earlier this month we were visiting Ensenada Mexico. The city has worked hard to present a clean and cultured community. New parks, lots of grass, scupltures and trees greet you when you arrive, but just take short walk off the main path and you see not much has changed. These pelicans are beautiful but live amongst the trash of the people. There were 6 or 7 birds sitting there and no angles which I could shoot to minimize the garbage. This bay, where this was taken, is calving grounds for Grey Whales. It lies just a few miles from where the local fisherman catch their haul for market. Repairs on ships are done and every chemical goes directly into the bay. I was amazed at the garbage, oil slicks and the river of sludge that you could follow, almost to the entrance.

cynlee posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 12:35 PM

poor pelican & bay.. sigh... a fine entry!


tvernuccio posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 12:41 PM

arrrrrrg! i was writing my reply and lost internet connection. here we go again.... it made me cry. it made my stomach churn. it made me soooooo incredibly angry!!!!!!!!! how human beings be soooooo incredibly stupid to destroy the world we live in??????????? powerful and gut-wrenching entry!!!!!


ryno posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 1:09 PM

I know the area well as I've surfed almost the entire Baha coast line. I haven't been down there for at least ten years. Ensenada bay was always a polluted mess and shark infested due to the dumping of a local fish cannery. The rest of the coastline waters were actually very clean. I hope that hasn't changed. This is an excellent photo of a social issue. Just one more thing... the Grey whales birthing area is near Guerrero Negro which 584 km south from Ensenada and it is very protected as far as I know.


wackiej posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 1:22 PM

ryno- You are correct. The whales do calve south of Ensenada. They migrate through the entrance to the bay. I will correct that on the posting but I don't know how to on the challenge site. Thank you! J


ryno posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 2:09 PM

Hey no big deal. The real reason I responded is to shine a little positive light on Baha, CA which depends entirely on tourism. If not for the tourist dollars those people would most likely starve which is a whole other social issue:}


Michelle A. posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 3:03 PM

sigh Yes this does make me nauseated too..... shakes head sadly

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com


tibet2004uk posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 3:21 PM

Oh bloody hell! Don't u have anything better to shoot??? Ok, I'm only joking here but really...! This makes me sick, totally!! A definitely sensible entry!!


zhounder posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 3:44 PM

I am a man that picks up trash off the street as I walk by. For me there is little else as disgusting as those who just don't care. Lets move all of them to a garbage dump and then put plugs in our ears as they complain about the oder. Excellent entry. Magick Michael


wackiej posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 7:09 PM

It made me sick too! I did get some great shots of the good side of life while I was there (A couple are posted on this site) but I was compelled to take one of the garbage floating down river just the same. I had this and a few more that I though I would never do anything with because they are so "ugly". When I finally figured out this whole monthly challenge thing, I thought "this is it! I'm going to share". I know it takes a long time to change a city and Ensenada seems focused on doing such a thing. Hopefully the improvements will continue and the bay is next on the list. Thank you all for your comments. J


tibet2004uk posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 7:39 PM

U're most welcome dear! :)


soloshado posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 8:19 PM

Very sad...great entry.


DJB posted Sat, 19 March 2005 at 8:28 PM

added

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."