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13-SEP-2007 © Cat

4th Place "Helpless" by Cat

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The cry for help of the woods and forests that are being cut every day by humans to make paper. If you look closely at any piece of paper you WILL notice the helpless soul of the tree which was used to make that piece of paper.


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Canon DSLR Challenge19-Sep-2007 15:04
Thanks Markjay and Elena!
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Sep-2007 11:40
I like this image also!
Elena
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Sep-2007 02:42
Absolutely wild!!! NEver seen anything like it but, I love it!! Markjay
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Sep-2007 20:11
Thank you Cindy, I appreciate your comments and I am glad that you see my point of view here. Its a difficult point to discuss as it has too many aspects. :)
About the choice of humanoid as soul of a tree: My thought was that we humans can related to us and our kind easily than non-human.
Thanks again.
-Cat
cindyd17-Sep-2007 01:47
Phenomenal image Cat! Wow in every way :).

I appreciate your comments about the general statement you are making and agree with you. As a Forester in my past life I can also echo that most paper pulp does not come from forests . . . and much of what does, comes from thinning operations where the material being removed is not always of a size and quality for lumber. The thinning helps the health of the forest and gives resistance to fire. However, one absolute crime I witnessed during my tenure in the business was the logging of old growth sitka spruce in Alaska to supply pulp for the Rayon market in Japan - yes - Rayon fabric. The trees were often enormous and sold well below market value as part of an old Federal program to help build the economy of post war Japan. I think long term contracts were finally abolished a few years back, and did nothing but cost the US tax payers $$ and convert ancient forest to . . . fabric (mostly) of all things. It is my understanding (although I don't really keep up with it anymore), that most of the pulp for Rayon now comes from tropical hardwood forests - so remember that when you go shopping for clothes!

Although I love the image - it is a little odd to me that you selected a humanoid form to represent the soul of a tree. . . although who knows what a tree soul would look like ;). The textures in this thing are just fantastic! Congrats.

Cindy
Canon DSLR Challenge15-Sep-2007 21:12
Thank you again Jim and Vikas!! I surely am glad that you guys like this one a lot.
Jim, you have a great sense of humour! :) No; what you do for living won't bother me at all. What do you do any way?
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge15-Sep-2007 08:19
Great one Cat and a very meaningful photograph. Cheers, Vikas.
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 21:29
Cat, I love your pasion and I envy your talent. I only know you in a very limited way and yet I am inspired all the same. Unfortunately, after reading your thoughts on plastic, I can NEVER tell you what I do for a living!! (kidding)

Did I mention how much I love this picture? Jim H2
ctfchallenge14-Sep-2007 20:41
Jim,
Thanks for your compliments on the photo. I DO appreciate your detailed comment. It's hard to write one line on anything let alone a whole paragraph. I wanted to be within the realm of the topic set by our honourable host. Hence paper!
I kinda agree with your observations about rain-forests, cash crops and furniture and rest. Infact I had done something in the furniture challenge too, to show my stand against human destruction (see:http://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/image/77865965 Note: You might have to adjust your monitor) If coffee/chocolate/drug come along as topics, I will certainly take inspiration from you and your comments here and would like to come up with something to support my stand against human's destruction without concern. Thank goodness for paper, atleast its naturally degenarative and recycleable and 1000% better than plastic, which is single most prolific and destructive invention against nature made by man. But put it to good use and its wonderful. So there are +ve and -ve of eveything. I prefer things when they are kept in balance.
I am also hoping other companies would follow the examples of the companies you have mentioned here. I'd like that. It's the right path towards reaching an stable ecosystem.
Cheers,
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 19:31
First off- beautiful and haunting image. I second every comment and agree with all the praise below. This thing stops me in my tracks.

But, I do want to back up Lydia's comments as well. In America at least, most paper product comes from tree farms where the trees are cut and replanted on a regular basis. Companies like IP and MeadWestvaco actually seem to have too much land these days and are selling or donating huge tracts. Many of which become parks and recreational areas. This is in part due to increased efficiency and also, one would suspect, due to recycling efforts.

I find it odd that whenever people talk about deforestation it usually involves paper and the rain forests (not necessarily reflected in this dialog!). We do use to much paper, but we don't get it from exotic rain forest timber- thats for flooring and furniture among other things. The biggest threat to rain forests is crops. Coffee beans, cocoa beans and certain plants used to make recreational drugs are hugely responsible. I suspect a campaign to convince the world to cut back on coffee, chocolate and drugs would not be very successful! Jim H2
ctfchallenge14-Sep-2007 18:13
Thanks Lydia, for your encouraging comments, obersavations and informative knowledge on this subject. Yes, and I really am appreciative of the paper companies.
My idea behind this photo is not directed towards the paper people, but rather towards "us humans" whose insatiable appetite for MORE is changing the precarious ecological balance of this earth by uprooting the woods and forests, piece by piece. The soul behind this photo has haunted me (and still does) for a long time and it will, till I see "us humans" doing "more" than enough to bring the ecological balance back to a stable form. Unfortunately deforestation cannot be replaced by cash crop farms, for a simple reason that a forest is more than just a collection of trees. Where as a farm is just that, an artificial collection of trees, largely and selectively narrowed down to be of one kind, which has $$$ value.
Appreciate your efforts towards a dialog. Thanks again!
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 15:50
I like this one. Well done. Some would have a tendency to over contrast. Yours is perfect.

Did you know that paper companies are required to replant after using their trees? And, did you know that a young tree gives off many times the amount of oxygen that an old tree does?? I think we should pay the paper companies for this service of oxygenating the planet. Oh wait! We already do. *grin*

I like your mask's "beard", too. Really cool. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 12:57
Thank you Traveller and Nico! I feel honoured! But lets leave the "G" word for ISO, Vikas, Mr. Puff and their peers. It suites them more :)
Nico, nothing out of the ordinary in here. Mask covered with paper, backlit and inverted.
-Cat
jnconradie14-Sep-2007 09:19
"Haunting" is the right word. "Genius" is perfectly apt as well. Wow. (And I would love to know more and learn more about how you managed this.) Wow - again. Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 01:21
Cat, you are a fricking Genius...I'm in a swearing mood today so I'll keep it gentle, but this is...Meaningful.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 00:10
Techo Thanks!
You sure are quick! I must have just hit the update button a second ago.
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Sep-2007 00:05
Words and photo. A very haunting piece. Meant as compliment, of course. It sure hits the spot. An amazing shot, Cat. The three R's, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.
-Techo