We had our light painting photo safari last night. If you want to entertain a bunch of kids, give them a box of toys and some flashlights. If you want to entertain a bunch of adults, give them the same stuff, but add a camera.
So what does this have to do with trash society? Many things. First, it’s a great way to have some family and friends time without spending money. We play with toys we already have and share our cameras for those who don’t have one. You can see all the pics from this shoot on flickr.
Second, we always find trash. Sadly, we are surrounded by trash. It’s so blended into our lives that sometimes we don’t even see it.
A white picket fence… the American dream? (I took the ‘green bag’ pictured on the left)
I have this quirky feature I just discovered about myself. I’m always looking down when I walk and I subconsciously look for stuff. While on vacation, I found a guys wallet stuffed with cash. I did get it back to the owner. I found a computer cable, in the dark, on the floor at work. I always find stuff on the ground. I have no idea when I started this or why, but I’ll work it to my art. Last night, I found some trash on the ground and decided to use it in a few photos:
This became a good opportunity for some ‘trash awareness’ with the kids. We kept the little plastic mountain, probably a piece of a milk jug.
Third, we can teach the kids about art and making statements with the things around them. We might bring props, but how do they fit into their surroundings? The above photos are disturbingly reflective of our society and I’ve titled them ‘Protect the Plastic‘. Kids are the future and what we teach them now will mold their core values.
There are probably many more things here, but those are the highlights. If you would like to join in on a photo safari, join our Facebook group.
What things do you do to help lessen trash production? This challenge of not shopping retail has helped me. Less stuff, less impulse buys, less trash. :)