Can We Change the World Just by Changing
Our Own Actions?
A Look at
Littering
Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100
million people. That’s comparable to global diseases like malaria and HIV.
In 1975, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that ocean-based
sources, such as cargo ships and cruise liners had dumped 14 billion pounds of
garbage into the ocean. Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every
year.
Recycling and composting prevented 85 million tons of material away
from being disposed of in 2010, up from 18 million tons in 1980.
Human activities contaminate ecosystems around the world,
from pole to pole, from the highest mountains to the ocean deep.
Toxic chemicals can be found in pristine forests and the blood of
Arctic animals. Litter floats beneath the surface of oceans miles away from
land. Even excess noise and light are interrupting natural patterns and
disrupting the lives of animals and people.
When toxic chemicals and metals enter the environment, organisms may
absorb them through their skin or ingest them in their food or water. Animals
higher in the food chain accumulate these toxins in higher and higher
concentrations, a process called biomagnification.
Top predators—including fish, birds, and mammals—can have much higher
levels of these toxins in their bodies, making them more likely to experience
the diseases, birth defects, genetic mutations, and other deleterious effects
of these poisons.
Increasingly, there is particular concern lately about three
types of chemicals: chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in
the bodies of wildlife and people, endocrine disruptors that can interfere with
hormones, and chemicals that cause cancer or damage DNA.
Changing a societal norm like littering begins with each of us. Each
person must accept responsibility for their actions and influence the actions
of others around them at home, at school, in your place of business, and in the
community at large.
Littering is an individual behavioral problem or a business problem
that can become a problem for your community. By modeling proper trash and waste
disposal, you will cause others to consider changing their behaviors and
embodying appropriate actions, too.
HOMELESS SHELTER
4/20/15
A homeless shelter was not something I expected myself to ever photograph. It was definitely a neat experience compared to all of the other trips we have taken, but I think it was good that we got to photograph a different type of place then we are used to.
This was a room for newborns in the facility, or very young children. The baby toys and books looked fairly new and in good condition which made me feel positive about the things they were providing the children and families.
A playroom was designed for younger kids to play with each other. It was very safe and child-oriented. The room had a cozy feeling to it which I am sure was very good for the children.
This playground was kept very clean, as was the rest of the facility. It looked like it was recently put in as well. I particularly loved the amount of activities they had for children to do.
Their mission statement was something that stuck out to me when a representative was talking to us about their program. I love how much they want to help people get back on their feet. It is very admirable in my opinion.
They had a room dedicated to holding gifts they were planning on auctioning off at an event soon. They also had a few blankets hanging on the wall and a piano. I am assuming this room was used for gatherings, meals, or just storage in general.
Botanical Gardens
4/15/15
I had not visited the Botanical Gardens since a field trip in 5th grade. I do not remember it being anything like it is now. It is so much bigger, and there are so many more cool features. Now that I know how much it has changed and how beautiful it is, I will definitely be visiting it again soon.
This gazebo had a tiny pond inside of it but it was not filled with any water. I was disappointed about that, but everything that surrounded it created such an incredible background for it.
There was a tower along a path in the garden that we went on top of. Once on top, the view was breathtaking because we could see so much of the garden, including all of the blooming plants and trees since winter is over.
At a part of this large pond, there was a tiny dock on the water surrounded by these logs. There was a great view of the rest of the pond looking off of this. The sky was incredibly blue that day and the clouds provide a good contrast for that.
On the large pond, there was a waterfall that cascaded down one side and was surrounded by an array of multi-colored plants and trees.
This was one of the most abstract, unique, and awesome bridges I have ever seen. It was very well crafted, and I loved how they put tiny flower beds at every corner in the water.
LITTLE ITALY
4/13/15
I had never been to Little Italy before, but I had always heard cool things about it and how amazing the food is. I was excited to explore it for myself and see what the hype was about!
This tulip was truly breathtaking. I had never seen anything like it, and they were everywhere. The light rain coated the flowers in such a beautiful way as well.
This part of Little Italy was so mysterious to me, and I was instantly intrigued. The chains looked new, so I was wondering if there was anything going on behind there or if they were just blocking it off.
This was the most beautiful part of the city in my opinion because it was secluded from everything else. From atop this degrading bridge I saw the tops of a few buildings and a tower along with the slightly cloudy sky.
This bright pink/purple tree accented the plain white house very well. They both stood out because of the contrast. I also admired the immense detail of the deck.
This metal dog fountain immediately caught my eye as soon as I saw it. It had a bright red collar around it and consisted of a background having bright tulips. I love the way the water was coming out of it.
The brick work on this wall was perfectly done. It was only customary to have an Italian fountain in Little Italy as well. The fountain was very detailed and had 2 little houses along with a light at the top, and an Italian-colored water wheel.
LUMIERE PARK
4/3/15
The Lumiere Sculpture Park was very unique. I had never been there before, and some of the art I saw inspired me and brought about different emotions.
I am most attracted to the abstract art around the park, and naturally I was drawn to this piece. It was a maroon color and was made of bent metal. The bright grass provides great contrast.
This piece was simple, but stood out because of its bright orange color. This sculpture gave me a calm feeling. It was smooth, organized, and stable.
This sculpture was one of my favorites. Even though it was black, it gave me a happier feeling than some of the others because it looks bubbly and active. It contrasted very well with all of its surroundings.
This is another angle of the simple, orange sculpture. It is weird when you realize how something can completely change your attitude or feelings if you look at it from a different angle. Instead of seeing a smooth stable sculpture, from this angle I saw a pointy, dangerous, and random piece.
This piece caught my eye immediately in the park. It made me think about how things in life can get intertwined and become confusing. However, this piece is so simple at the same time. It brings order to complexity, and that is what I love about it.
ST. LOUIS ARCH & GRAFFITI WALL
3/25/15
I had never been to the graffiti wall before this, and I was blown away by the incredible artwork that was spray-painted on the wall. We did not have enough time to explore the entire wall because it was so long. However, the parts of it that we did view were breath-taking.
I loved how blue the sky was on this day. The bright white clouds stood out as well. I took this photograph from the edge of the river looking up at it and the city.
This bridge contrasted with the white sky very well because of its dark color. It almost looks like a silhouette. There was also a boat at the bottom of the photo cruising along the river.
I noticed a large metal cylinder with a Star Wars character sprayed on it, and it really caught my eye. It stood out from the rest of the wall because of the bright colors in it. I am also a Star Wars fan, so there was no question I had to capture it.
These "rasta" colored skulls and boar were so bright color and clearly stenciled, I knew they would show up nicely if I focused on the gravel in front of it. It is a unique image because of the different kind of focus. I love taking unconventional pictures because they tend to turn out cool like this one.
This part of the wall was definitely the most detailed. Looking up close at these fighting people allowed me to see just how much detail was put into each part of each person. The detail from the faces to the clothes is incredible and caught my eye instantly,
SCULPTURE PARK
4/1/15
The sculpture park in St. Louis was beautiful. It was a very nice day, only a few clouds in the sky, and the light shone on everything very nicely. I had been to the park once before, but I did not take the time to photograph and look closely at them.
I got close to the ground to take this picture, and focused on the sculpture. The blurriness of the ground surrounding it draws attention to the dark sculpture.
We went to the top of a SLU Law Library onto a balcony used for eating, studying, relaxing, etc. It had a great view of the arch, surrounding buildings, and the sculpture park.
I have personally never seen a movie theater with this kind of layout in person before. I have seen them in many movies and TV shows, but I was neat to find this particular one while exploring the city of St. Louis. The human sculptures provide great accents for the movie times board.
This sculpture caught my eye because it stood very tall. I loved the sculptures that were particularly dark colored because they stood out from the rest of their surroundings. With the bright green grass and deep blue sky, this sculpture does this exactly.
My favorite photograph of the day was this one. The granite acts as a mirror, projecting the image above it. Everything is centered and focused on the dark sculpture and the building sticking out from behind it.
