Almost 40 years ago, the Documerica project captured thousands of images for a visual baseline of the human and environmental conditions as EPA’s work was just beginning. Now it’s your chance to mark the progress.
On Earth Day 2011, EPA put out a global call for current photos of life and our environment, PLUS a challenge to take ‘now’ photos of Documerica images. The project will be active through the end of 2013.
Join In!
Share photos through Flickr!
Use our themes for photo ideas or match a Documerica photograph near you!
2011 Student Contest Winners
EPA Traveling Exhibit
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Featured Photo: Potomac Paddler
Congratulations to Flickr participant Robert Mooney for his May 12, 2012 featured photo from State of the Environment!
How’s this for a change? Compare this current scene to an August 1972 Documerica photo by Erik Calonius.
Original caption: Citizens of Arlington, Virginia are warned to avoid all contact with the polluted Potomac River. This sign advises immediate medical attention if prolonged exposure occurs. 08/1972
Side by side, these two photos tell a story of environmental change.
What’s the story where you live or travel? Share a photo taken from 2011 through 2013 of our world, our environment as you see it.
All of the featured photos from State of the Environment, as well as highlighted images from EPA’s historic Documerica project, can be seen on EPA’s Facebook page.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Through May 30, the Documerica, State of the Environment traveling exhibit is live at the U.S. National Archives in Kansas City, MO 400 West Pershing Road, next to Union Station. Check it out and we hope you take on the location challenge right there! Can you match this 1974 Union Station photo by Charles O’Rear?
Last Monday, we challenged you to match Documerica photos from White Cloud, Kansas. Today we’re going back 39 years to Memorial Day around Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri. Take a moment to reflect on the lakeside litter as you make your picnic plans. How far have we come from what we carry out and recycle?
If you live nearby, or are headed to this area in the future, try to match these scenes today and submit them to State of the Environment on Flickr. Let us know which Documerica image inspired you, as the best entries will be considered for a side by side display in the U.S. National Archives Exhibit: Searching for the Seventies: EPA’s Documerica Project planned for March – September, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Original caption: Pleasure craft on Memorial Day sail near Bagnell Dam churn lake water, already muddy from heavy spring rains. Private homes and resorts line the shore. May, 1973 by Bill Kuykendall.
Original caption: Sublime indifference? Tourist sunbathes on Lake Ozark shore within yards of unsightly rubbish heap. 6/1973 by Bill Kuykendall.
Original caption: This dump at sunrise beach is scheduled to be covered over. 6/1973 by Bill Kuykendall.
Original caption: Dusk over the grand glaize arm of the Lake of the Ozarks at Osage Beach. Lights from commercial resorts and private vacation homes are reflected in the water. Largest reflection in middle background is from “Osage House.” Streaks of light in water are from cruising boats. 6/1973 by Bill Kuykendall.
These images give a sense of our choices while on vacation enjoying the great outdoors in 1973. What does it look like now?
Telling the story of change is up to you. Share photos of the landscapes, the people and the way of life for State of the Environment. For a fun challenge, if you aren’t living nearby to match one of these scenes, search the full Documerica collection to locate and match images closest to you. Then and now entries will all be considered for the larger exhibit.
When you follow that link above, you’ll come to a search page like this. Simply type in your town or state to see images of the past. Enjoy, have fun, and we can’t wait to see your contributions to this historic project!
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Featured Photo: Fishermen in Hawassa, Ethiopia
Congratulations to Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton with the U.S. Air Force for his featured photo from State of the Environment!
From the photographer: “Two fishermen guide their handmade boat toward the fish market in Hawassa, Ethiopia, December 8. The fish caught from the adjacent lake are sold to residents both in town and in the surrounding villages.”
What stories of our environment today can you share where you live, work, or travel? Enter photos taken from 2011 through 2013 of our world, our environment as you see it.
All of the featured photos from State of the Environment, as well as highlighted images from EPA’s historic Documerica project, can be seen on EPA’s Facebook page.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Congratulations to Flickr participant Bob Berwyn for his featured photo from State of the Environment!
This May 5, 2011 photo tells a larger story about our environment today. From the photographer: “This lone chinstrap penguin on an ice floe in the Weddell Sea may be symbolic of the fate of the species. New studies show their populations have dropped by 50 percent in the last three decades, and the research links that decline to rapidly climbing temps along the West Antarctic Peninsula in sort of a ‘smoking gun’ for climate change.”
What’s the story where you live or travel? Share a photo taken from 2011 through 2013 of our world, our environment as you see it.
All of the featured photos from State of the Environment, as well as highlighted images from EPA’s historic Documerica project, can be seen on EPA’s Facebook page.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Location Challenge: White Cloud, Kansas
The Documerica, State of the Environment traveling exhibit is live in EPA Region 7!
Here is where you can take a peek over the next few weeks:
Through this Wednesday morning (9:30 a.m.) in the EPA Region 7 building plaza located at 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, KS.
Wednesday, May 16 – 30, in the U.S. National Archives Kansas City, MO building located at 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City.
EPA’s Region 7 office more locally serves Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and nine tribal nations. Each Monday we have been posting location challenges within this area of the United States.
Last Monday, we featured Documerica photos from Nebraska. Today’s Location Challenge focuses on a little town called White Cloud, Kansas up in the northeast border of the state. If you live nearby, or know someone who does, give it your best shot to match one of these scenes as they exist today and submit them to State of the Environment on Flickr. Let us know which Documerica image you matched in your photo caption, as the best entries will be considered for a side by side display within the U.S. National Archives Exhibit: Searching for the Seventies: EPA’s Documerica Project that is planned for March – September of 2013 in Washington, DC.
Original caption: White Cloud, Kansas, schoolhouse, near Troy in the northeast corner of the state. There was an auction in progress sponsored by the Ha Hush Ka (WHITE CLOUD) Historical Society to raise money for the local museum housed in the school. The town was named after the last great Iowa Indian Chief, and the Iowa-Sac-Fox Indian Reservation is nearby. Some people would like to see White Cloud restored as an example of a 19th Century Kansas River Town. October, 1974 by Patricia Duncan.
Original caption: White House, Kansas, grain elevator near Troy in the extreme northeast corner of the state. It keeps the town alive economically, but it is a depressed area with many people on welfare. White Cloud is named after the last great Chief of the Iowa India Tribe which was given this land by treaty in 1836. The town is located at the edge of the Iowa-Sac-Fox Indian Reservation and has a population of 200. October, 1974 by Patricia Duncan.
Original caption: Flea market tables lined up at White Cloud, Kansas, near Troy, in the northeast corner of the state. It is sponsored by the Ha Hush Ka (Iowa Indian language meaning White Cloud) Historical Society to raise money for the local museum housed in the 100-year-old schoolhouse. Area indians participate in the flea market in which native crafts as well as antiques are featured. September, 1974 by Patricia Duncan
These images give a sense of the way of life and by that, a sense of the environment of the midwest in 1973. What does it look like now?
Telling the story of change is up to you. Share photos of the landscapes, the people and the way of life for State of the Environment. For a fun challenge, if you aren’t living nearby to match one of these scenes, search the full Documerica collection to locate and match images closest to you. Then and now entries will all be considered for the larger exhibit.
When you follow that link above, you’ll come to a search page like this. Simply type in your town or state to see images of the past. Enjoy, have fun, and we can’t wait to see your contributions to this historic project!
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Photo Theme: Window Seat Please!
Last weekend, we had you consider the view of our environment from the bottom up. Next time you find yourself jet setting, try the opposite.
Hydroelectric Power by florescrow on Flickr for State of the Environment January, 2011
Ask for the window seat and share the view of our planet from above.
May, 2011 State of the Environment entry by colleen1956 on Flickr
From your phone or your camera, share your perspective with State of the Environment on Flickr. We look forward to sharing your view!
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Congratulations to Flickr participant Angela Sevin for her featured photo from State of the Environment!
This February 6, 2011 photo shows one view of the environment in Dindefello, Senegal. Near home, or while on travel, what does the environment look like where you are?
Share a current photo of our world, our environment as you see it.
All of the featured photos from State of the Environment, as well as highlighted images from EPA’s historic Documerica project, can be seen on EPA’s Facebook page.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
1,900 Photos and Counting!
There are birds and bees, tires and trees. Each photo represents a moment in our environment today.
These individual moments are creating a collective picture of our challenges and our successes from 2011-2013; this snapshot in time.
Forty years ago, Documerica began collecting stories and images that would become the visual baseline that would forever after, show the environmental conditions and way of life in the United States at a time when EPA’s work was just beginning.
Today, State of the Environment is your chance to tell the stories of change, progress, and current challenges: globally.
What’s happening where you live? Is your city or town creating more green space? Less? Can you eat the fish from a nearby waterway? If not, why not? How healthy is our air? Where does our food come from?
Every place, is part of our shared environment. Every one of us are making daily choices that impact our surroundings, one way or another. Grab your camera, even a camera phone, to document today’s picture.
Forty years from now, what will we have to show for the State of our Environment?
Submit up to two photos a week through Flickr.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Congratulations to Flickr participant Mark Adams for his featured photo from State of the Environment!
This January 7, 2011 photo shows one view out in our environment today, what’s going on where you live? Share a current photo of our world, our environment as you see it.
All of the featured photos from State of the Environment, as well as highlighted images from EPA’s historic Documerica project, can be seen on EPA’s Facebook page.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Location Challenge: Nebraska!
The Documerica, State of the Environment traveling exhibit is now with EPA’s Region 7 office, which more locally serves Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and nine tribal nations. Throughout the month, we’ll be posting location challenges within that area of the United States.
Last Monday, we featured Documerica photos from Kansas City. Today’s Location Challenge focuses on a few spots in Nebraska. If you live nearby, or know someone who does, spread the word to match one of these scenes as they exist today and submit them to State of the Environment on Flickr. Let us know which Documerica image you matched in your photo caption, as the best entries will be considered for a side by side display within the U.S. National Archives Exhibit: Searching for the Seventies: EPA’s Documerica Project that is planned for March – September of 2013 in Washington, DC.
Original caption: The Immanuel Lutheran Church marks the state line between Kansas and Nebraska, 05/1973 by Charles O’Rear.
Original caption: Lincoln, the capital city, seen from the air. In foreground is the University of Nebraska stadium, 05/1973 by Charles O’Rear.
Original caption: Big sports event of the year is the annual spring football game at the University of Nebraska. This is an intra-mural game, and many fans wear red in honor of the team, nicknamed “Big Red.” 05/1973 by Charles O’Rear.
Original caption: Highway 77 and farmlands near village of Hallam, 05/1973 by Charles O’Rear.
These images give a sense of the environment, the people, and the way of life in the midwest in 1973. What does it look like today, four decades later?
Telling the story of change is up to you. Share photos of the football games, the landscapes, the people and the way of life for State of the Environment. For a fun challenge, if you aren’t living nearby to match one of these scenes, search the full Documerica collection to locate images closest to you.
When you follow that link above, you’ll come to a search page like this. Simply type in your town or state to see images of the past. Enjoy, have fun, and we can’t wait to see your contributions to this historic project!
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
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