Whispering Awe
by Jim Cook
Title
Whispering Awe
Artist
Jim Cook
Medium
Photograph - Photograph Digital Art, Photo Painting
Description
This tranquil, bucolic scene belies the terrible truth that laid waste to the area. Palmerton Pennsylvania was a mining town for the Zinc Industry. For 80 years the mines smelted the ore to extract heavy metals found within. At the end of that period of time the mines closed and left the residents with a polluted toxic "Cinder Bank" that went on for about 2 and a half miles was over 100 feet high and 500 to 1000 feet wide. Nearly 33 million tons of waste! Worse still was the fact that the heavy metals had been finding their way into the air as well as the streams and creeks that fed the Lehigh River. Elevated levels of iron were found in the children's blood as well as the livestock and fish. It wasn't until 1983 that the area was put on the Superfund National Priorities List. If you visit today you will see signs of the towns resurgence and I have found it to be a an area rich in photographic opportunities. From the people, the older homes and buildings as well as the scenery coming back to life. For my of my work be sure to visit my other galleries here in FAA.
Uploaded
November 22nd, 2016
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Viewed 746 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/24/2024 at 10:37 AM
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Comments (28)
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations,! Your artwork has been Featured by the - ABC Group T IS FOR TRANQUILITY Week!. You are invited to archive it in the Feature thread LF
Jim Cook replied:
Thank you Pamela. Very appreciative for this feature in your terrific "ABC Group"!
Lois Bryan
What a wonderfully gentle scene ... the kind of place where one goes to quiet the soul. Marvelously discovered and presented!!! l/f
Rosalie Scanlon
Pollution is so bad in this country. Glad to see the improvement in that area. Wonderful image and scenic.
Rainbow Artist Orlando L
Wow what a story to come with this beautiful image!! it does look so tranquil and peaceful, like a little fairy tale paradise. but it was sad to know how humans abused their own planet and environment… anyway, very lovely effect in this image!! feels so romanic!! L/F
Jim Cook replied:
I guess it's a tale of two realities. The 1st being how careless some can be and the 2nd at how caring others can be. The end result as shown above wouldn't be possible if not for a thoughtful citizenry and politicians that put restoration above ignoring it and hoping it would go away. Thank you for your comments and support.
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