Looking at the State of Our Environment
Two years of photos have flowed in from around the world. Inspired by the rediscovery of DOCUMERICA, this Earth Day marks the two year anniversary of EPA’s public call for photographs that together, can show the State of the Environment.
The call has been simple:
Match DOCUMERICA scenes from the United States in the 1970s to have side by side images that could compare the change in our environment.
Photograph the world where you live and travel, to document the current challenges, successes, and way of life in our environment today.
Over 850 of you have submitted more than 2,800 photos documenting our environment today. In celebration of Earth Day, we are sharing some of our favorites. Congratulations to these featured photographers, we look forward to what you share next.
Our State of the Environment Photo Project is about how you see our environment. It’s about your backyard, combined with other images around the world. Photos may be submitted to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
For Earth Day this year: share ‘before and after’ photos of community cleanup projects near you. We will share a collection of the change and celebrations in pictures here, and across EPA social media.
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.
Thinking of Boston
Our thoughts are with Boston today. Our hearts are with those who were impacted by yesterday’s events. Our hopes are with the human spirit to help, and recover.
If you have information or visual images from the explosions in Boston the FBI asks you to email Boston@ic.fbi.gov. Police tips call: 1-800-494-TIPS. No detail is too small.
Charles River, Boston, MA
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.
A Cleaner Creek, A Cleaner Planet
Throughout State of the Environment, we have photos of litter still by the road side, on beaches, down streams. Will there be a day when that kind of scene is something of our past?
It took a small act of letting that bag fly away, emptying that pocket, forgetting about that bottle, to create the State of the Environment today. It will take equally small, but powerful acts to pick up that bag, use less to begin with, and recycle what we can, to create a better picture for our future.
It has been a tremendous pleasure to watch the progress of the dedicated volunteers who have cleaned up miles of the historic Bread and Cheese Creek in Dundalk, Maryland. Surely, there must be more efforts like this that we can help you show off and collectively enjoy, from around the world.
Join us in celebrating our planet Earth this April 22. This Earth Day, we ask that you contribute ‘Before and After’ photos of cleanups, tree plantings, or other environmental and community projects near you. Enter your photos to State of the Environment on Flickr anytime from now through the end of April. We’ll compile the end result for all to enjoy.
Be sure to make note of your project name and note that it is either the ’before or after’ in your title. You can also help us out by tagging your photo with the #EarthDay2013.
During the Bread and Cheese Creek Cleanup Merritt Boulevard to North Point Boulevard 4/6/13.
A note to the progress these volunteers achieved: “we removed over 3.5 tons of trash (227 trash bags!), over 2 tons of metal that has been recycled, 23 shopping carts, 14 tires (one a huge tractor tire), 2 bicycles, 2 lawnmowers, a black and white TV, a section of wrought iron fence, an elliptical machine, and more!”
Imagine what you can do for your community, picture the results this Earth Day.
State of the Environment is about your view. Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
Good luck and looking forward to showing off your hard work for our environment. Best wishes, Jeanethe Falvey, State of the Environment project lead
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.
Today’s Photo: A Backyard Sign
Backyard sign by Carl Fredrickson, April 7, 2013
Before the weekend, we asked you to find small signs of change. Here is one small, backyard, discovery. We hope it inspires you to go on an adventure of your own. Congratulations to Carl Fredrickson for today’s featured photo!
Share your view of life and our environment today on Flickr, and we just may feature your contribution next.
State of the Environment is about your view. Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
*Our apologies for those of you who received two e-mail updates today. Something went wonky! Our Caption Contest for last week ran, and then ran again. We certainly appreciate your creative comments at any time.
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.
Today’s Photo: Caption Time!
State of the Environment Caption Contest, C. Fredrickson, Sanibel Florida, February 26, 2013.
Take your pick – be the voice of the bug, or the bird, and have some fun! We’ll share our favorite comment later today here, as well as on EPA’s Facebook page.
State of the Environment is open to your photos of our lives and environment today. What do your surroundings have to say about our world?
Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
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: Signs of Change
This weekend, use your camera as an excuse to slow down and smell the flowers. What can you find near you, that’s a small sign of change? Interpret this weekend’s theme as you wish. Take a few photos that are pointing to some kind of change in our environment. Whether it’s subtle signs of the new season, or a hint of something larger.
Grass Widows in bloom, Coyote Wall loop trail, Columbia River Gorge, Washington, by Jim and Nina Pollock, March 29, 2013
Share it with our Flickr group, and we just may feature your contribution next week.
State of the Environment is about your view. Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
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.
Today’s Photo: Welcoming Spring
To those of us in the northern hemisphere, Happy Spring! Enjoy today’s photo, captured by Ben Cobb, of a bee about to enjoy some poppy pollen.
What can you show for our way of life and environment today?
Spring, by Ben Cobb, March 25, 2013.
State of the Environment is about your view. Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
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.
Ask DOCUMERICA
History is found in books, touched by archaelogists, discovered by those who seek the mysteries of our past.
But who is lucky enough to converse with history? Those who ask.
Uncover untold stories from DOCUMERICA, simply by asking here. We’ll feature a question and answer each week. Be a part of history, by sharing your photos to the modern project, State of the Environment.
If you could ask DOCUMERICA a question — what would it be?
Is there a photograph that has caught your eye?
I would like to share your thoughts with the photographers and family that made this project happen, as well as bring their stories back to you.
–Jeanethe Falvey, U.S. EPA State of the Environment & DOCUMERICA project lead.
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.
Today’s Photo: Can you spy the comet?
We hope you enjoy this starlit sky by Scott Butner. Taken near Kennewick, WA this scene also captured the comet PANSTARRS.
What can you show for our way of life and environment today?
Comet PANSTARRS and the Nine Canyon Wind Farm near Kennewick, WA by Scott Butner, March 23, 2013.
State of the Environment is about your view. Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
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.
Today’s Photo: A breath of fresh air?
Looking back forty years ago we are shocked. We forget, but DOCUMERICA reminds us.
Black smoke pouring from smokestacks and brown smog so thick you couldn’t see across the Hudson River was a reality then. What was forever preserved in Kodachrome, is back in the spotlight today.
It’s a challenge to photograph ‘air’, but the severity of our air quality back then made it easier.
The George Washington Bridge in Heavy Smog. View toward the New Jersey Side of the Hudson River. Chester Higgins May 1973
Through State of the Environment, we’re asking you to answer: are we better off?
Thermal Inversion Freedom Tower, March 10, 2013 by ken mccown on Flickr
Since 2011, it has been up to you to submit photos that openly show our environmental quality now. How is it: below your feet, in front of your eyes?
Our problems and challenges today may be less obvious. Some we have even overcome. But what can you and your camera show for the new challenges that we face now?
This public documentary is the only time that DOCUMERICA has been revisited in the last four decades. Today, it is about your view of our world; tiny or vast. Share what you see with State of the Environment on Flickr.
This project is collecting current photo contributions from around the world through the end of 2013.
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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