Marty Johnston's photostream  

Sadly, once again the north of Thailand has become a heavily air-polluted area, largely due to farmers illegally burning vast areas of forested land, in a routine known as "slash & burn". The population here is suffering from coughing, respiratory issues, throat infections and streaming eyes. Although this burning activity was outlawed 5 years ago, when the city of Chiangmai was declared to have a "national emergency", virtually nothing appears to have been done about it by the authorities in any subsequent year.

I was wondering how best to portray air pollution in a photograph. That challenge played on my mind for a few days and then I suddenly spotted the obvious. I could demonstrate the effects of high levels of foreign material in the air in just one photograph.

Here is a quick snap of the moon this evening, 9th March 2012, taken at 8.30. I am no astro-photographer so I make no apologies for the rather poor quality of this picture but I do hope that the message it conveys, outweighs its technical failings.

This was the true colour of the moon. White balance was correct. The end result looks (on the screen) exactly as it did to the naked eye. No manipulation was done on the photo (other than a crop and a tiny bit of sharpening).

This, I believe, gives a fair indication of the level of pollution that's floating about in our atmosphere above this city.

Just wanted to share with you.... I imagine most people may never see a moon like this.

This is very very sad. It should not be happening.

Vendor offers me some dried smoked sweet beef. Taken at the Tung Kwian market near Lampang, Thailand.
(BTW - I broke a tooth on the beef... no kidding!)

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Artist's sculptural impression of hell, at the entrance to Wat Rong Khun (Thai: วัดร่องขุ่น). This is a contemporary and unconventional Buddhist and Hindu temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat.

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Happy fishmonger at the San na Maeng market, Chiang Mai, Thailand

(Fuji X100, 1/250th f4, 400ISO)

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A little piece of paradise.
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