In the background is a paper mill, whose name escapes me, but whose smell never does. I work about one block to the left of that paper mill and when the wind blows that way, well, let’s just say that it is unpleasant. If you’ve never smelled a paper mill, then I cannot describe it to you. If you have, you never forget. I live about 12 miles to the north of the plant, but when the wind shifts that way, you can certainly smell it 12 miles away.
I’ve wanted to take a picture of it many times, and have; however, I didn’t get a shot that I wanted. Sometimes, it actually looks quite pretty, like in the evening when the sun is gleaming off of the polished stainless steel chemical containers. Beautiful, in an industrial type of way.
Today, as I was preparing to take a few photos in Riverfront Park, I noticed this little fellow sitting along the railing. I thought that it would make a good environmental portrait, so I eased around him to frame him between the smoke stacks. I think that it came out well.
I finally got the shot that I wanted. I wasn’t trying to make a statement with this shot, I don’t think, but I do think that it shows what this little fellow has to put up with, from us, on a daily basis. Maybe I was trying to say something …
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4 Responses to “Environmental portrait”
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This is really nice – even the posture of the little bird fits the scene perfectly.
The colors work together wonderfully to highlight the bird. Having the railing the same color as the darker portions of the factory pulls things together for me.
I have that same fascination with factories such as this one. There is a strange beauty in their overwhelming size and the combinations of shapes.
By the way, I am being treated to a marvelous photo of Hobbs, all snuggly a red blanket. What a charmer. I am enjoying the rotating photos and glad you worked out the details. Truth be told, I am jealous of your format.
That is the sweetest little bird and one heck of an image, Cuz’n!!
Such a sweet shot. The little bird calls attention and gives scale to the rest of the shot.
Interesting about the paper mill. I would not have guessed a paper mill would smell bad…I live in NJ…nuf said! lol