-- Download Lungs...by Knepomuk as PDF --
Mt. Baker is a large volcano in Washington State that looms over the eastern horizon of Vancouver BC. Yesterday I took advantage of a clear day and set out to see if I could photograph the sun rising from directly behind it. I went to the parking lot atop Queen Elizabeth Park and waited in the crisp morning air. Although a thick fog blanketed the city, QE Park was elevated enough to provide an unobscured view of the mountain.
As the sun climbed up the back of the volcano a patch of birches emerged from the shadows to my left. The trees were soon cast in silhouette against stunning hues created from the meeting of fog and the day’s first light. But, as the light intensified so too did mechanical rumble of a city coming to life. I became aware that a crisp view of Mount Baker was a fleeting thing. In a few hours the mountain would be obscured behind the brown haze of civilized society.
I was reminded that this small stand of trees which might normally have been invisible, or at least easily forgotten, were engaged in the process of cleansing the air I was breathing. In this image I can see them as our collective lungs.
More from my site
October 29, 2014 On Ghomeshi
May 2, 2011 PoliticsRespun.org Election Night Liveblog, maybe
April 11, 2011 La lutte continue: Vancouver pulls pay-for-democracy bylaw, but a new one’s coming. (cue ominous music?)
April 8, 2011 Charging $1,200 to democratically assemble, Vision Vancouver looks to China for advice on (anti) free speech laws.
April 7, 2011 I’m voting for the least offensive candidate to try and avoid the most offensive government. I wish.
June 29, 2010 Campaign Stops Corporate Voting in BC Municipalities, Probably
Stephen Elliott-Buckley
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what a great piece.
as i travel up to SFU most days i see the band of smog reminding me of how happy i am to have gotten rid of my car.
and it’s poignant that today the world may move one further step towards considering global warming deniers like holocaust deniers: today’s UN report.
and then there are the dinosaurs: Canada’s new Environment Minister [and champion yeller] John Baird who plans to curb emissions by regulating an increase of emissions, and the American Enterprise Institute, offering cash to researchers to oppose today’s UN report.