Photo Essays

Dog Days

Dog Days: the hottest period of the year (reckoned in antiquity from the heliacal rising of Sirius, the Dog Star). - Dictionary Definition. While traditionally, dog days occur mid August, texas weather does not care and does whatever it decides for that day. At White Rock Lake, this is exactly what one feels when the high temperature for the day reaches 104 degrees. From the perspective of a dog, this sounds like endless suffering but this is not the case, and a little west highland white terrier never ceases to make new discoveries and have fun on a sweltering day at the lake. These photos, taken from the perspective of the dog show it's particular interests in the world such as squirrels in trees, the quiet sound of waves hitting the dock, and convey situations such as the tension between a squirrel and dog, and the intensity it might experience while chasing a flock of idle pigeons.

A Chicago Lifestyle

The city of Chicago is a bustling busy place, the ever present noise of construction and development, people honking at each other in crowded city roads and large crowds of preoccupied individuals. With all the chaos of city life it's hard to step back and notice details of your surroundings and find time to stroll by yourself. Taking a step back you notice intricate empty alleyways, a plethora of homeless people, flags of the city and the nation. Walking alone can be a nice change of scenery too. Some quiet time near the lake never hurt and is quite peaceful in comparison to busy streets. At night when the lights come on, every single one can be spotted if you look hard enough, bright yellow dots on the dark shadow of skyscrapers, with grand theatre signs such as the Oriental rising from the electric sea.

A Sea of Debris

The creatures of the beautiful ocean ecosystem that they have called home for millenia are facing yet another challenge of survival: a new invasive species. This new species has been found in waterways all over the world, tricking creatures into eating it and slowly killing them from within. This creature forms massive groups and masks the once beautiful seascape. The oceans of the world: where life developed from single celled blobs to immensely complex multicellular organisms, each perfecting themselves to master their way of life has been immeasurably polluted by plastic. The sculptures of marine life photographed have been constructed entirely of plastic collected from the seas and put into the exhibit Washed Ashore. This art is aimed at raising plastic pollution awareness and is the project of Angela Haseltine Pozzi, after she witnessed mounds of plastic washed up on, once stunning, beaches of Oregon. According to the project page, over 10,000 volunteers have removed more than 38,000 pounds of single use plastic products to be recycled and construct over 60 sculptures.

Grandeur of Grand Cayman

The Cayman islands, 3 small land masses located south of Cuba, Grand Cayman being the largest and the location of its capital, Georgetown. Despite being known as the largest of the three, Grand Cayman is only about 76 square miles. Nevertheless the island is full of life and culture. Tourism is a large economy, jet ski rentals, dolphin trainers, and sandbar excursions never fail to make a quick buck from a newly arrived cruise ship. Other sources of economy reside in imports, exports, and offshore banking. Others like the man in the pink hut make their money using their skills as artists and others serve tourists as shopkeepers and guides.

Commerce and People

Northpark mall is a place where many things are waiting to be discovered, most of the time they may not be related at all. My younger brother quickly discovered this when I took him to the mall to have fun. He discovered things that he never knew existed, such as an art gallery that piqued his interest, a store that held all the baking and cooking supplies imaginable but the one part of the trip that he never would forget (because it made him laugh uncontrollably and he would not stop talking about it) is when one kid dropped his backpack into a fountain. Random little things like this can brighten anyone's day and what makes these possible is not the countless stores that remain constant, but the flow of people who visit and offer others something new every time.

Rise and Fall of Valley View Mall

In contrast to Northpark mall, Valley View has stood at the top of retail chains only to crumble to a memory of what it once was. Grand extravagant structures reduced to piles of concrete and metal, merchandise pickup docks rusting away with time, freight elevators that will never power on and foliage creeping into the once crowded marketplace. The slow desolation of this place is a reminder to us that nothing physical lasts forever, everything has a rise and fall, and only time dictates when it will happen. Maybe someday something even greater may be built where Valley View once stood, but what will never fade are people’s memories created there. Memories and ideas can last forever, they are not physical and can be passed from person to person. Thus while a childhood hangout has long passed, it still stands tall within your mind.

Echoes of Lost Economy

Buffalo, NY. founded in 1801 and grown from steel and automobile manufacturing, is a place that has had to adapt to changing times. Echoes of former economy can be found wherever you look as reminders of what built the city. Following a Great Recession due to deindustrialization, Buffalo became a center for healthcare, research, and high education to slowly rebound from the loss of its main source of income. Buffalo is recognized for its early usage of electric power, owing to the nickname "the City of Light." photographed here are old relics of the industrial age, mainly non functioning, such as rusty iron drawbridges no longer accepting cargo ships and old dilapidated warehouses. However, the smell of sugar and bread wafting through the air can shift your attention to the General Mills plant, a standing testament to time as it still remains functioning through all the hardships the factory has faced in the past.