Beautiful Trash
By Charles Rushton
24 Feb 2008
Despite our best efforts to control litter—fines, public work crews, civic volunteers and recycling programs—we find plastic bags, fast food containers, bottles and cans everywhere from our city streets to the remote desert. Now, I don't condone littering, but I have discovered that I can find beauty in trash. I think of my search for this beauty as my own personal recycling program. I am not interested in litter per se, but in how nature acts on litter. In particular, I document, with my camera, ways in which the water that collects in ditches, streams and lakes transforms trash into objects of elegance and beauty. I have a few preferred haunts, "my favorite ditch," "the ditch near our house," and "the stream in back of our house." Water-filled, dried-up or iced-over, I can always find the stuff of wonderful photographs in these locations. This photo-essay looks at just a few of the many images that I have complied into my Trash Series.
16 responses
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RUGGERI Etienne (Deleted) gave props (10 Nov 2008):
Wonderfull !!
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Maria Kappatou said (8 Dec 2008):
As a painter I find it enormously provocative to my senses...Thank you!!!!!
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Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (21 May 2009):
I love the way you see, Charles.......never a boring moment.
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Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (21 May 2009):
And, your reasoning behind it all is fascinating!
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John Linton gave props (28 Jun 2009):
Hell...Yeah! It rocks! I voted a while ago...I have no idea why I didn't leave my dumb comment until now.
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Malcolm Lawson gave props (19 Jul 2009):
I really like your essay. It shows that you can find art and beauty anywere.
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Voudou ... gave props (14 Aug 2009):
wow....
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Pascal Fellonneau said (18 Aug 2009):
Excellent series, my vote !
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david ong gave props (18 Aug 2009):
voted!!!!!!!!!!
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♥ Cairenn ♥ said (2 Nov 2009):
Hey JPG..... this story needs to be in print!!!!!!!
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Kurt Brennan gave props (4 Jan 2010):
Love it.
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Carol Holmes gave props (11 Oct 2010):
Definitely should be in print in JPG! *voted*
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The Man Who Isn't There (Deleted) gave props (22 Oct 2011):
Voted! Beautiful trash: How to make good photography out of everything.
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MindTheStep gave props (5 Dec 2011):
Great essay! Love it and voted!
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Davide Simone (Deleted) said (7 Jun 2012):
Wonderful essay. Thank you!
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Michele Wambaugh said (7 Aug 2012):
Brilliant! Loved photos, concept & story!
