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Human Nature


Human Nature
Photo Information
Copyright: Bertolt Graichen (Dr_Nibbles) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 53 W: 8 N: 54] (277)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-25
Categories: Nature, Event, Ruins
Camera: Fuji FinePix 2650
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/90 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): My year in Murcia [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-13 6:31
Viewed: 811
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture in Portman, when a friend showed it to me and explained what happened.

In the days of the Industrial Revolution in Spain (I can't really remember what year she said), people started to raid all resources available, and mined every mineral bed available. Around this place, there's old mining machinery everywhere, rotting in its place, though some of the mines are still in use.

There was a machine built to wash the mineral out of the rocks, the name of which was "Roberto" (or similar), which was the biggest of its kind in this time, and I believe she told me that it still is the biggest ever built, so not in use anymore. The architect of the site miscalculated when saying that the tides would be suficient in washing away the residues. Thus the bay filled with heavy metals as cobalt and copper, leaving the strange black sand found on this beach and sometimes washed over to Calblanque (which is just some kilometres east) where it forms awesome patterns with the occre-to-orange sand.
You can see the outline of where the beach once was, when you look to the very end of the beach and where the mountains begin.

There's few things growing, because of heavy metal contamination, just some reed to the western end of it really grow dense.

Though it is an absolutely awful perpetration of nature, it still bears some beauty, which is why I chose "Human Nature" as title. On the one hand because I think of it being human nature to destroy the environment (which I hope will change some day), and on the other hand, because some different kind of natural habitat was formed by man's hand.

For techniques: I lightened it up a bit and added contrast, then using NeatImage to remove the noise, because the day I was there was really bad, and the photo was really dark.
Dizzy, MLINES has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Dizzy Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 16] (36)
  • [2006-01-13 8:55]

This is a fine photo with interesting scenery, history and, as Bertolt says, it tells us about human nature.

The image and the note make me want to visit the country and see the area for myself, which I think is what TE is about.

  • Great 
  • MLINES Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2004 W: 173 N: 2038] (9018)
  • [2006-01-14 14:23]

Interesting note, hopefully time will help heal this place.

I have visited this site quite often and wondered how this beach was formed, thank you for the informative information.
I understand the local government is in a planning stage of returning this area to its previous state.
Trevor (longsnoz)

Guten Abend Bertolt
Very interesting and nice looking place. It is a shame that the waether was bad.
Great note also.
Regards

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