Michele Borgarelli

January 2025 - Plastic on the Beach

Original

About the Image(s)

Background: The Reserve Naturelle Courant d'Huchet, France is a beautiful natural reserve in the Southwest of France. Is a bird oasis, because there is a river ending in the ocean and creating beautiful ponds. More there are beautiful sand dunes. I was there at the end of November and when I got there, I was alone (because the off season) . The place was fascinating and I was just enjoying the beauty of the landscape with the ocean sound and some clouds moving fast because the wind. Then….while approaching to this pond I just figure out that I was going to take a picture I wish I would ever take. Indeed, getting closer to the pond I realize that there were thousands of little pieces of plasticl trapped in the algae. Just another demonstration of what we are doing to the our planet.

Technical data: image taken with a tripod and 6 stops ND filter. Fujifilm GFX 100s with Fujinon 20-35mm f/4 at 20mm, f/20, 13 sec, ISO 100.
Image was cropped to 2:3 and basic adjustment were done. I am also sending an image of the area without the plastic so you can judge by yourself how beautiful is this place.

7 comments posted

Spring Zhang

Very impactful image. I like the contrast between the messy plastic filled beachside in the foreground and the beautiful blue water and the clean sand in the distance.The use of ND filter allows slow shutter speed to show the moving clouds and smooth water, another nice contrast. Posted: 01/07/2025 06:43:08

Michele Borgarelli

Thank you Spring for taking the time to closely analyze my image and provide some thoughtful feedback much appreciated.

best wishes and Happy New Year

Michele Posted: 01/08/2025 11:33:57

Mike Patterson

What a mess! This shot would be an excellent image to show local officials in order to get some folks out there to clean this dump up. A few hands, shovels and trash bags would do a lot for this place. I can imagine what a beautiful shoreline this actually is without all the rubbish. I agree with Spring that your work is very impactful. Posted: 01/08/2025 03:01:41

Michele Borgarelli

Hi Mike, unfortunately I think that few hands and trash bags would not help much other of being a temporary solution. The problem of plastic in the ocean is much more complicated. Even if they clean this, it will be the same in a short time because the ocean is full and there is no political willingness to reduce production.
Regardless thank you very much for your kind feedback on my image.

All the best and Happy New Year!

Michele Posted: 01/08/2025 11:37:43

Tom Buckard

Very sad such a beautiful area is cluttered with plastic. In the Florida Keys we volunteer for 4Oceans and Reef Relief and do many cleanups. It is a never ending thankless job. A group of us will clean several miles of Beach and the following week depending on wind and currents it is all back. Michele, at least some of your image captures the beauty of the area. Posted: 01/09/2025 00:30:19

Michele Borgarelli

Tom, it is wonderful that you and other people volunteer to clean up the mess. But as you mention is a never ending story, unless we start to change our habits. Yes this area is wonderful and I know the Florida Keys are the same and so many other areas.

Have a great day!

Michele Posted: 01/09/2025 04:15:07

Nigel Dalton

That's a meaningful shot Michele. On one hand you have the lovely curve of the bay, flat water and clean sand, then it's all ruined by the rubbish on the shore. An ecological magazine would love this.
Well taken. Posted: 01/09/2025 16:00:02

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