Original caption: The Polluted Lake Charles which has a dangerously high level of mercury. Olin-Mathieson Plant in background, 06/1972. Photo by Marc St. Gil.
High levels of mercury, you say? I’ll race you into the water!
Now let’s turn to water pollution photos by Marc St. Gil. St. Gil did his DOCUMERICA assignments in South-central Texas. Remember the hippies from my past feature. St. Gil took many of those in Leakey, Texas. But it appears St. Gil also worked in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area in June 1972.
If there were no people in these photographs, it would be a whole different story I think. The context of people swimming, actually immersing themselves in water so close to pollution producing industry is just unthinkable. Yet the swimmers in these photos don’t seem to be worried at all, and seem to be enjoying their time in the water.
Original caption: Olin Mathieson Chemical Plant on Far Side of Lake 07/1972. Photo by Marc St. Gil.
Can you image that people still might be visiting the shores of Lake Charles for recreation? Well, here’s your answer: http://on.msnbc.com/JdMMJb
Troubled Waters: a Special Feature of DOCUMERICA Photographs of Water Pollution.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. -official tagline from the movie Jaws 2, 1978
Well, it’s Summer and all I can think about it going swimming in the ocean. I love a nice pool, but having grown up on the Georgia Coast near Savannah, cultivated my love for swimming in the ocean. I do it as often as I can, and each time I feel so thankful for clean, safe water to enjoy. When I began researching DOCUMERICA and saw so many horrible images of polluted water, I realized how blessed I was to have grown up in a place where clean water was and still is abundant. I’ve also recently become that 40-something guy who yells at kids who are wasting clean water. What’s wrong with kids today!?
Last week I was interviewed by Sarah Linn, journalist with The Tribune/SanLuisObispo.com about my DOCUMERICA research, and we talked a great deal about some of Arthur Tress’ photographs from that collection. When I think “filthy water”, I think of Tress’ photographs. They are, for me, the most shocking and disturbing images. They are so troubling to me because the depict what I image to be some of the worst examples of unchecked water pollution. It makes it worse to know that these polluted waters were so close to residential and recreation areas in the greater New York Harbor area. As you will see, in several of these examples, people were not afraid to be near of even swim in these contaminated bodies of water. After my interview with Sarah Linn, I was inspired to share a feature on the troubling images. You can find Sarah’s article about Arthur Tress here: http://bit.ly/MlXBax
Sharks were not the only dangerous agents in the waters around New York in the early 1970s. Forget the sharks! Humans were making it dangerous enough. So, when you go swimming this summer, watch where you step! Somebody’s rusted out ‘68 Volkswagen Bug might be right under foot!
Special note: Because they are equally horrifying, I’m including a number of Marc St. Gil’s photographs of Lake Charles, Louisiana. You’ll understand why when you see them.
