Here is the St. Louis area we have been thinking a lot about water, flood water. I am grateful that we have not had much in the way of damage or inconvenience in our house, but there has been a lot of damage in the surrounding area. Earlier this week, I was driving in an area that had just been reopened to traffic and took this shot:
ISO 250 50mm 0ev f/5 1/125
Usually, being in the water makes me feel weightless. But standing on the side of the road the other day, I was thinking about the power of water to displace people and things. This photo is just a small view of the amazing amount of debris I drove past. Most striking were all the plastic bags waving in the trees and the brush. So much for feeling weightless, more like being weighed down by all the trash.
For this photo, I pulled over to the side of the road, just before a posted road closure sign. I would say when I am taking photos, I tend to err on the side of caution, try to pay attention to my surroundings and not get into trouble. What kind of photographer are you, would you have driven past the posted sign in hopes of getting a different or better picture? Have you witnessed the aftermath of a flood? I find it to be incredibly humbling, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Cheers!
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I am a very cautious photographer. I would not trespass on property or go into unsafe areas to get a better photo.
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I’m with you on this.
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This is a very different and most thoughtful take on the challenge. We were very lucky not to get hit by the floods in England this winter. East Norfolk on the coast stayed “dry” and got soaked only.
I try to behave like a sensible and cautious photographer. Most of the time. 😉
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I’m glad you were spared, since photos showed some pretty devastating things.
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The world’s gone mad, Amy. Floods just 100 miles north of Sydney this week, while hundreds of homes have been destroyed by fires in three states. It is turning into quite a summer down under !!
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It just seems like that is the story around the world for the last several years.
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In 2013 Calgary, and much of southern Alberta, had a devastating flood. We live by the river but our home was untouches. We were os grateful. We spent a couple of weeks helping people who were not so fortuante. The devastation of basements filled with mud and water, the debris, seeing the height to which the water had risen, just stunning. Visions that will stay with me forever.
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Yeah, I don’t think it is something you ever quite forget if you have seen it in person.
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Hope no one got hurt in those waters. Mother Nature is much stronger than we think. It depends on how I’m feeling. If I wasn’t in a rush, I’d probably stop and see if I could get photos. But in general I not very careful when it comes to taking photos. I’ve almost tripped jogging to get shots, especially when chasing sunsets 😊
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Yes, part of my tendency towards caution is that I do simple silly things like stumble.
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This was a very thoughtful interpretation of the challenge. Wonderfully done! 🙂
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Thanks!
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I haven’t witnessed the aftermath of a serious flood, but the forces of nature can really make us feel small and vulnerable (which we are).
On a side note I can mention that I once witnessed the aftermath of a terror bombing: wounded people and dead bodies being transported on vegetable carts, people in shock etc.
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In my mind that would be worse in that it could have been prevented as it is a disaster created by people, forces of nature are a bit more unavoidable.
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So sorry for the people affected by the flooding. No I wouldn’t put myself in danger to get a better photo. I zoom in on Mr A with my camera and not my feet. 😃
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Sound plan you have in place. You get some lovely photos without becoming lunch.
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As a former reporter, I often went in areas where I wasn’t supposed to tread. Now, though, when taking photographs, I think I’d be more cautious.
Years ago, heavy snowfall took its toll on one of my favorite parks in Liverpool, N.Y. Or, at least, that’s what I think was responsible for the flooding. The watermark on the trees was very high. Certain portions were closed off to traffic. I’m just glad that there was no human displaced because of the flooding.
I have witnessed damage done by hurricanes in Florida, and by an EF5 tornado in Oklahoma in 1999. That was devastating. In Moore, Oklahoma, buildings were ripped open by the storm, people died and lost their homes. Mother Nature can be very violent.
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Yes, the photos from Moore were intense;nothing like being there in person though.
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I have never witnessed a flood or the aftermath in person. I dread it but I can see that exposing myself to he circumstances in order to record them could be necessary in order to motivate others to help the victims. I’m still impacted by the images from Indonesian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the Japanese tsunami.
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That’s a good point, powerful images from disaster can be a strong motivator, they do make you want to reach out and help.
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good shoot
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Thanks!
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It must be a terrifying experience….
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To me it would be that sense of helplessness.
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