POTN G-Series Speed Challenge #54 - Pollution

[rpolitsr]

Thank you, in Japan. It is certainly an honor to be one step below alans220’s shot and share the top with RAW. Congratulations!

Thanks for the kind comments about my picture.

I was amazed by the colors of alans220’ picture, but the IR filter is not the only amazing thing there. The size of the cooling towers compared to the tiny trees adds to the sense of harming power present there.

Originally Posted by in Japan

Thankfully not titled “Apocalypse”. Dare I ask what the heck is happening in your beautiful city of Quito?

Originally Posted by BottomBracket

rpolitsr, I think your pic is outstanding. That cloud really looks ominous. What the heck is that?

My picture shows the result of an evil contest among some people (if they deserve the name).
In the dry season, they start fires in the slopped hills surrounding the city just to see if the fire grows big.
Usually the Major’s Office, the Fire Department and the Police deal with the fires, but seldom find the people who started them.
On August 2005, the fire caught the woods in a windy slope east of the city and the fire went out of control. The picture shows the start of the ominous cloud that lasted three days above the usually clear sky of Quito.

[BottomBracket]

Originally Posted by BobbyT

If I could be allowed a small threadjack. Since the contests are the main place I hang out and post I thought this would be the best place to put this. I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.

Bobby, that is no threadjack at all. Congratulations!

Rpolitsr, thanks for the explanation. I'm just shaking my head in disbelief at how some people could do what they did in your city.

[rpolitsr]

Congratulations, BobbyT, you have plenty of time for new born pictures rehearsal

BottomBracket I do not want to create a false impression of the people here. There are very few of those guys here, but when they strike the damage is always big.

[BottomBracket]

Originally Posted by rpolitsr

BottomBracket I do not want to create a false impression of the people here. There are very few of those guys here, but when they strike the damage is always big.

No worries, my friend, I understand. Here in NYC we have more than our share of mischief makers. It is still appalling how some people can be so inconsiderate, wherever city they may be.

Looking at your pic again I was reminded of the fires that raged in Indonesia a few years ago, the ones started by 'slash and burn' farmers. The smoke generated was so bad that it descended in Manila and other South East Asian cities, hundreds of mile away. Indeed, environmental effects know no political boundaries.

Again I must say that this is a most thought provoking challenge, great pictures by all. For full effect, I played Albinioni's Adagio on the CD player while viewing the pics.

[RAW]

I just got back from work and I had to read all comments before I post so I don't repeat something someone else said... .

I liked all the entries and I have to agree with the first place and the second one. Great captures that really show the power of pollution.

Thank you all for your comments and congrats...My best to all of you.

Regards,

[marie]

Congratulations to the winners

# 1 Alans 220

# 2 Rpolitsr

# 3 Raw

thank you In Japan for the wonderful summing up
it is appreciated

the entries were so very interesting

Rpolitsr's picture was first class pollution

horrible to think what happened.
it did look like a huge fire blazing somewhere

and Boutty's. it really is a worry about what is going on
great shot

Damian's shot shows 'powers of pollution '
I guess it's the times we live in
there is no avoiding some 'fall outs' of our everyday demands

some shots were more or less of heavy 'litter' but all are pollution being caused by carelessness
loved 3darts and others
it's amazing what goes on
(and out)



regards my shot
this water was contaminated . some fish were found dead on the banks
that very week the town's ( it's about 30 mile from here) people had a bad case of diarrhoea caused by drinking water
many were ill
no one drank water (unbottled) for some time

not sure how it actually happened but it was very serious at the time
inquiries and big measures were taken
I just put that shot in as you mentioned ' looking for artistic interpretation''

pollution and artistic..not really companionable

I see some rivers with scum like it and worry about what is running down into the water from some farmlands (waste)
it has been known. and the fish are the first to suffer

Congratulations all
terrific shots
and thanks Brandon
great choice of subject



congratulations to you and your wife BobbyT

[in Japan]

Originally Posted by BobbyT

I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.

CONGRATULATIONS! I hope your wife has a smooth pregnancy. Post some pics in September.
Best Wishes,
Brandon

[rpolitsr]

Originally Posted by marie

Rpolitsr's picture was first class pollution

It is a doubtful honor to have 'the worst pollution ever’ close to home.
Near the top of the hill it was apocalyptic as in Japan suggested, but I also was impressed by your picture, a small amount by the still healthy flowers looking down, but mainly by the color of dead in the underwater plants. That was also first class pollution, unfortunately. Nice job.

[BottomBracket]

Marie's shot is very nice, very subtle. Great contrast between beauty and trouble, as rpoltisr said. The stream seems to have algal bloom, a situation where runoff of nutrients such as excess fertilizer or sewage leads to overpopulation of algae. It is a precarious situation, as it upsets the underwater environment. If the algae overpopulates the water, and dies off suddenly, it will stagnate the water, deprive it of oxygen and kill all fauna in it.

Great shot.

[in Japan]

Originally Posted by rpolitsr

My picture shows the result of an evil contest among some people (if they deserve the name). In the dry season, they start fires in the slopped hills surrounding the city just to see if the fire grows big. Usually the Major’s Office, the Fire Department and the Police deal with the fires, but seldom find the people who started them. On August 2005, the fire caught the woods in a windy slope east of the city and the fire went out of control. The picture shows the start of the ominous cloud that lasted three days above the usually clear sky of Quito.

Thanks, rpolitsr for the explanation of your incredible photo. It truly is unconsciounable behavior. Hopefully it doesn't happen again, but if so, let's hope they at least catch the perpetrators. Yes, Ecuador certainly doesn't have a monopoly on arson. Thousands of acres of forests burn each year in the Western states of the U.S. due to arson.
Brandon

[rpolitsr]

Interesting info in the post above, BottomBracket.

Originally Posted by BottomBracket

Again I must say that this is a most thought provoking challenge, great pictures by all. For full effect, I played Albinioni's Adagio on the CD player while viewing the pics.

Great pictures and challenge, I agree. Albinioni’ music certainly enhances perception, particularly the organ behind the strings in the Adagio.

[rpolitsr]

Thanks again in Japan for your kind comments.

There is also an ancestral practice, initiated by pre-Hispanic settlers and reinforced by Spaniards that is still in use: to burn the local forests and make room for agriculture and cattle.

[BobbyT]

Thanks for all of the congrats, I will be getting lots of practice and learning from you guys/gals between now and Sept

[Boutty]

Originally Posted by BobbyT

Thanks for all of the congrats, I will be getting lots of practice and learning from you guys/gals between now and Sept

Congrats Bobby!

I can tell you he/she will be a clever one!

I was born in September.

[rpolitsr]

I returned over the pictures, this time with the Albinioni’s Adagio in the CD player as BottomBracket did.

Each time I look at the ‘Cloud Factory’ by dewmuw it seems a better picture! I suppose it is a power plant. Are those Nuclear reactors?

RAW the depth of field in your picture enhances the main subject dramatically. I wonder if you could tell me if it is natural or was achieved later in post processing.

I was comparing the smoke columns in several pictures and I just realized that the ‘Steel’ picture by partridge9 and his entire post have been removed.