dj.tigersprout's photoblog
Respect Nature (Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska)
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 5 September 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.
Hello! Hello! I am back, and what a great trip! :) It is so crazy how fast it went...! It was really only a long, 'long weekend', but it was wonderful, enlightening, personally fruitful and very very beautiful! I am still quite busy getting back into the swing of things... unpacking, catching up on sleep, uploading all of my pics, processing them and then organizing everything... and i am still digesting the experience, not to mention catching up at work... so, i won't write anything of substance. originally, i had been wondering what sort of picture to start with: a picture of fairbanks? of anaktuvuk? how would i begin? i had no idea, but when scrolling through the photos i had managed to process so far, this one just stuck out as a perfect opening shot and a great underlying human sentiment, especially in these current times of ecological stress and worry.
can't wait to get caught up on all the great images i have missed since i have been gone! be speaking with you all soon! cheers!! :D
all work protected by Creative Commons
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Welcome back DJ! This opening photo is really great, I like the earth colors very much and I hope people will pay attention to the message on this bright yellow container!
5 Sep 2008 5:46am
@Monique: Thanks Monique! Great to be back! :) Yes -- this was certainly an eye catcher for so many reasons! A bit out of place in such a majestic landscape -- but quite handsome all the same!
@Zygene: Thanks mate! Cheers! :)
Kylie Greenan from Australia
Welcome home DJ! So lovely to see you are back, and here to share with us a cracker image, such an earthy nature scene to go with such a bold and dramatic statment on the yellow "recycle" bin? How appropriate, great work!
5 Sep 2008 5:59am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks for the warm welcome Kylie! Great to be back! :) A great trip to be sure -- can't wait to start detailing some of my experiences! I will get to that for Sunday's post! Have a great weekend!
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
Welcome back DJ! Love the colours, especially the orange grass. Hope people take note of the message
5 Sep 2008 6:04am
@jamesy: Thanks Deb! Great to be back! :) I thought this was an appropriate (although also quite obvious) message... and coming from the arctic circle, thought it had a bit of an exotic flare to it! And on a dumpster no less! And in bright yellow! ;)
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Good to have you back, DJ. Great start! I look forward to what you will treat us with over the next few weeks.
5 Sep 2008 6:11am
@dobbino: Thanks Rob! Great to be back! :) My first true post will be for Sunday! Have a great weekend!
lisa v from Gawler, Australia
Great message, great photo, can't wait to see the rest, good to know you're home safe and sound.
5 Sep 2008 6:14am
@lisa v: Thanks Lisa! Great to be back! :) Thanks for the well wishes!
@Vink: Cheers Mate! Thank you! :)
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
An excellent message in this sharp crisp image.
5 Sep 2008 6:45am
@Michael Skorulski: Thanks Michael! :)
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Welcome back again DJ. Hope you enjoyed your trip...
Excellent way to re-start over again. A strong image and a very important message to all. It's the only House we all live in, so we have to respect it and take care of it.
The colors and framing are awesome. Good work. Looking foward to see the rest...
5 Sep 2008 7:07am
@Rui: Thanks Rui! Great to be back! :) I echo your sentiments exactly -- i only hope the human race as a whole figures it out...! And in time to fix things!
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Hay you're back, you're back...YEAH!!! I was wondering when you would be:-) Good to have you back safe and sound mate:-)
What a great shot to start with....great contrast yet similarity with the bin and the natural landscape. Awesome landscape dj :-))
5 Sep 2008 7:08am
@Linerberry: Thanks Liners! Great to be back! :) Such a great trip... still digesting, but can't wait to start writing about it! Will be back with my second posting on Sunday! Speak soon! :)
Peter Mannfolk from Landskrona, Sweden
A very nice image, and one with an important message! /Peter
5 Sep 2008 7:49am
@Peter Mannfolk: Hello and thanks Peter! Cheers! :)
Morgane from Laroque Timbaut, 47, France
happy to re-examine your photographs. cheers, this one is superb!
5 Sep 2008 7:50am
@Morgane: Merci Morgane! Great to be back back! :)
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
Welcome home, DJ! We already missed you, your pictures and stories and nice comments. I am happy to hear you had a good time and can't wait for your pictures. This is a great opening for sure...
5 Sep 2008 7:54am
@Mirko Herzner: Thanks Mirko -- glad to be back! Was only a week, but it was a nice break and a wonderful return to a far away place! certainly have some stories to tell -- starting sunday!! (will take tomorrow off) ;)
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Excellent indeed, I think we need that reminder a lot more than they obviously do! Very glad you're back D.j., looking forward to more of your sensational photos and writing ;)
5 Sep 2008 8:01am
@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine! Great to be back! :) Hope your hellish house cleaning experience has passed! ;)
@Dhini: Thanks Dhini! Great to be back! :)
Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Welcome back dj and with a good strong image and message. Look forward to your new batch of images and your ever so interesting narratives.
5 Sep 2008 8:11am
@Mary: Thanks Mary! Great to be back! :)
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Welcome back DJ. A good start for your new series. How different the landscape looks!
5 Sep 2008 9:18am
@António Pires: Thanks Antonio! Great to be back! :) And yes, i was certainly struck with awe at the landscape! I didn't expect these intense color combos! So much red!! And in the arctic?? Surreal! :D
Erik from Amersfoort, Netherlands
Hey your back again.. nice....Have to totally agree with this shot and the statement... nature is there for US and we need it more then we think.
5 Sep 2008 9:36am
@Erik: Thanks Eric! And yes -- the relationship between man and nature is so uneasy... so problematic! Even here where the population is so thin! Still, it is a universal message -- i was not expecting to find this message so emblazoned here on this dumpster -- pulled at my heartstrings in a surprising way! :)
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Jay... welcome back :) looking forward to those wonderful pics. Nice bright yellow with an obvious message, magnificent mountain behind.
5 Sep 2008 10:08am
@Observing: Thanks Mike! Great to be back! :) Yes, the message is certainly obvious to us -- but up in the Arctic? ;) It was a radical discovery! More on that soon!
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
Lovely colour and composition.
But what does the container contain?
Is the message an ironic one,
from the state of the 'hockey mum'?
5 Sep 2008 10:18am
@grouser: Hey mate! No real irony here -- however it was the last thing i expected to see... In an era of modernization, change is felt most heavily at the poles of society -- excuse the pun. The Eskimo town of Anaktuvuk is one such pole... And this is a beautiful reminder from the young Eskimo children!
Veronelle from Lens, France
ça fait un peut idiot cette poubelle mais bon c'est mieux que rien !
5 Sep 2008 10:33am
@Veronelle: Thanks Veronelle! Yes -- it is a bit strange... an enigma of sorts... but the message along with its unique juxtaposition caught my eye -- it was captivating! :)
Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States
Hey, DJ! Glad you enjoyed your trip, and I'm looking forward to all of the great photos you brought back.
5 Sep 2008 10:47am
@Eric Fry: Thanks Eric! Great to be back! :)
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
just awesome, and worth perhaps the whole trip in and of itself. great way to rev the engines again here. welcome back!
5 Sep 2008 11:49am
@paulski: Thanks Paul! Great to be back -- and i agree w/ you -- this juxtaposition of the dumpster w/ the message against mother nature's amazing and majestic background could be the sum of all my experiences for this trip -- enigmatic, elusive, beautiful, ominous... i will try to explain more on Sunday w/ my second post! :D
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Hello DJ, welcome back, happy to see you again... but for you it was a short break... :-(
About the shot i agree of course with the message but i find that it's not very discreet & esthetic in such a wild landscape. May be something in wood for exemple would be better integrated in the landscape, i've seen that in the moutain in France.
5 Sep 2008 11:58am
@Evelyne Dubos: Thanks Evelyne! Great to be back! yes -- it was a very short trip, and in an ideal world i would have spent much much longer... but alas we only have so much time off here in the USA and i have already spent all my holiday time this year! ;) This was a nice break to get me through to the holidays!
As for aesthetics, i certainly agree -- but this is an example of a very poor area, struggling to assimilate to the western ways that have been imposed on it. There is a mental and physical struggle that these people deal with on a daily basis -- and usually with terribly depressing results. These people are being quickly modernized and are not completely ready for the result mentally or spiritually -- the loss of most of the truth they know. This invigorating sign on the dumpster stands for (in my opinion) the silver lining of the dark rain cloud that drenched this community in all the grief of modernization and all the new rules and anxieties it brings. There is hope that these troubled times will dissipate in generations to come -- but hopefully these people will retain some form of their original and beautiful culture once everything is said and done. A new page of history, for them, for us, for the entire human race. :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I love the message here, and how it seems to fit with nature so well. Colours for the upcoming season...I hope you had a nice break, it's good to see you back once again.
5 Sep 2008 12:35pm
@bluechameleon: Thanks BC! Great to be back! It was a wonderful trip -- and so different to the previous experience! It was great to be able to explore the territory without any need of warm clothing... i didn't have to wear much! All the clothes i brought were hardly used! It was warm! :)
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
The message is conveyed very effectively with this composition. I am surprised by the lack of green here. I would have expected more lush green at this time of year.
Welcome back and I am looking forward to the photos.
5 Sep 2008 12:36pm
@Laurie: Thanks Laurie! Great to be back! Yes -- i had no idea what to expect color wise... i certainly didn't expect it to be so red in nature!! It does get very green here in spring -- but fall comes early -- snow began to fall the weekend i was there... the long winter is coming again!
marianne from Toulouse, from France, France
je suis désolée de voir à quel point l'homme est irrespectueux de la nature !
j'ai bâte de voir tes nouvelles photos !
you had a very short trip ! but a very nice trip, hope !
glad to see you again !
5 Sep 2008 1:40pm
@marianne: Merci a toi Marianne! It is great to be back, thank you! :)
@amy: Thanks Amy! :)
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Welcome back DJ! What a great opening shot... awesome picture and message!!!
5 Sep 2008 3:11pm
@hugo poon: Thanks Hugo! Great to be back! Welcome back to you too! :)
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Excellent message. I love the background of the message. Welcome back DJ!
5 Sep 2008 3:21pm
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks for the warm welcome Ana!! It's great to be back! :D
Namaki from Bordeaux, France
hey you are back ! with a nice slogan and a beautiful colour pic ! Enjoy your new pace ...
5 Sep 2008 4:01pm
@Namaki: Thanks Namaki! Great to be back! :)
Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom
Welcome back dj good to have you back. cracking image, a good statement
5 Sep 2008 4:05pm
@Alun Lambert: Thanks Alun! Good to be back! :)
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Hi mate! Excellent choice to start with this one. You've got the eye! ;)
5 Sep 2008 4:10pm
@Thomas Griffioen: Thanks Thomas! ;) Hope all has been good with you! My return trip to this part of the world was very different from my first -- but just as awesome! Will begin revealing my adventure on Sunday!
@gbe: Thanks Grant! How's things? Good to be back! :)
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Glad you made it back ok... I am sure you had a good trip with lots of pictures to show... as for what is written on the Dumpster... amen brother...
5 Sep 2008 5:32pm
@Fliss: Thanks Fliss! Great to be back!! :)
@Seb!: Thanks Seb! Cheers!
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Though the sentiment is appreciated, the bin seems out of place to me --though apparently not to many of the others leaving comments.
5 Sep 2008 7:06pm
@Twelvebit: Thanks John and yes -- that is certainly what struck me -- although beautifully so! Being up in these isolated mountains and against such a majestic backdrop, i had this insane feeling of nature and man / co-existing... sometimes harmoniously and sometimes not. This bin, though large and quite 'ugly' has been made into an icon of 'beauty' by an endorsement in eco philosophy and brilliant paint. It is a tiny reminder -- an awakening on a level of sorts -- something that cannot be forgotten, no matter how beautiful the natural backdrop... after all though nature itself seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate, man isn't going anywhere very quickly! ;)
@Cia: Cheers Cia!
Laurent from Lyon, France
welcome back DJ.
Funny and good Picture. The way you took it it looks like as if it is lost in the middle of nowhere. Not a place where you expect a bin.
Love the vivid colors and warm light on this one.
5 Sep 2008 7:48pm
@Laurent: Merci Laurent! Good to be back! Yes -- this bin was a beautiful enigma, and as soon as i saw it i was captivated by the visual nature of it as well the message behind it. It was located in a perfect place for this type of shot -- stay tuned, more to come! :)
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome back, and a great shot to start with, look forward to hearing/seeing more of your trip
5 Sep 2008 7:56pm
@Graham Russon: Thanks Graham! Great to be back! :)
alex centrella from California, United States
stunning and sharp detail... can't wait to see all of your trip images.
5 Sep 2008 7:58pm
@alex centrella: Hello and thanks for the comment Alex! More photos and detail to come on Sunday! :)
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
That's a fine motto to begin with! :-) Looking forward to your travel pictures, as I don't have an idea how it's there.
5 Sep 2008 10:10pm
@MadScientist: Thanks MS! :) Check my blog from the 28th of july to 18th of august -- this is the same town only in the fall... so it was much warmer and more conducive to taking photos! :) More to come from this Arctic village!
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Great choice - great image - great sentiment. And, above all - welcome back! - Stephen
5 Sep 2008 10:10pm
@Stephen Phillips: Thanks Stephen! Great to be back! :) Hope the long weekend was prosperous for you!
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
"..after all though nature itself seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate, man isn't going anywhere very quickly! ;)"
I hope you're right, but if the Dr. Strangelove team of lunatic all-war-all-the-time McCain and his nutty bring-on-the-end-times female version of Greg Stillson get into power, you may be able to count our remaining years on one hand --even if it's missing a couple fingers.
5 Sep 2008 10:50pm
@Twelvebit: hehe -- well, when you put it that way! ;)
@ghorse: Thanks for the comment mate! It was an amazing place! Cheers! :)
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Wellcome back. A strong picture using the colors to give this essential message.
6 Sep 2008 2:59am
@akarui: Thanks Olivier! Great to be back! :)
@Ma: Cheers! :)
@Zing: Thanks mate! :)
callemie from Belgium
I would say welcome back but I've never been here !
but I'm pleased and "émerveillé" (sorry my english is bad) with the pictures I saw
(I came through Monique from thailand)
6 Sep 2008 6:19am
@callemie: Hello and thank you Callemie!! :) I can say 'welcome' to you! And i will check out your site too! Cheers!
saeed from ahwaz, Iran
Oh Yes! really a great shot! I think it is a duty of each us! excellent!
6 Sep 2008 7:46am
@saeed: Cheers mate! :) Hope all has been well with you?
Marhilde from Geraardsbergen, Belgium
Welcome back !! I'm wondering what we'll gonna see next....
6 Sep 2008 5:35pm
@Marhilde: Thanks Marhilde! Great to be back! :) Just uploading more pics of this amazing region now! See you tomorrow! Cheers!
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
A good message! An ecological photo... colors are warm and beautiful.
Thank you for your fidelity and all your comments!
6 Sep 2008 8:38pm
@Francesc B.: Merci Francesc! The colors were so warm and vivid -- it was a wonderful surprise! :)
Scotfot from Kabul, Afghanistan
Good to hear you are safely back dj! This is excellent... the mountains look magnificent - great colours
7 Sep 2008 10:04am
@Scotfot: Thanks mate! Great to be back! It was a super short, but sweet trip! :)
willow from Chelsea, United States
I'd have to agree it's a great start - can't wait to see the rest. This one makes me wonder if the animals there have picked up the graffiti habit and are maybe trying to tell us something????
7 Sep 2008 12:55pm
@willow: hehe -- thanks Willow! well, i guess you never can tell right? nature has some surprising mysteries! ;)
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
good message here! perfectly placed amongst a fantastic landscape - welcome back DJ!
7 Sep 2008 1:29pm
@DarkElf: Thanks mate! Great to be back! :)
Riccardo from - Lyon - Isola Liri -, France
Ciao Dj, welcome back!!!! How are you after this holiday in Alaska? Very nice and sharp picture! Great message!!! When we like other images of Alaska? Seee iaaaaaa
7 Sep 2008 8:04pm
Denis from Martinique, Martinique
This is a great nature. of course I am OK to respect it ! Nice picture, thank you.
7 Sep 2008 11:16pm
Luis A. De Jesus R. from Mexico City, Mexico
I can see why this stood out: whoever wrote that on the yellow box wanted to drive the message home. You did just as well with this fine composition. Nicely documented moment.
8 Sep 2008 2:00am
danthro from Suburbia, United States
a great sign and scene. love that bright yellow next to the blue sky and beautiful mountain.
10 Sep 2008 2:47am
baobab from Cambridge, United States
nice! just back from a trip of my own I am looking forward to reading / seeing your most recent experience in Alaska. must have been an interesting time to be in the state.
14 Sep 2008 6:19pm
Jean-Benoît Maréchal from Dinant, Belgium
Thank you for this message.
Respect nature !
16 Sep 2008 8:48am
JJ from Jersey City, United States
beautiful capture lovely landscape lovely colors and an important message
8 Oct 2008 1:02am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/20 second
F/22.0
ISO 100
18 mm