Jennifer L | Blue Wave Studio

I was traveling by train from Hualien in Taiwan in the late afternoon on my way back to Taipei in 2007. Fortunately, I was able to make a few photographs like the one below before the light out the window quickly disappeared making it pointless to try to capture anything while in a fast moving train.

Behind the lens: I’m not a fan of tilt-shift or lensbaby effects that makes photo scenes look like a miniature world though I find it interesting that the photograph I made while in a moving train has a bit of the same effect without using such lenses.

As I sat back in my seat with the view of the green countryside and the vast mountains in the distance, I was shocked to find some different kind of mountains coming into my view from the window. Two industrial mountains of technology (maybe about 15 ft high) seemingly from First World countries and a few people among the high hills of e-waste who were clearly not equipped to be around those materials. I saw a woman walking among the tall mounds whom I can only assume had the duty of sifting through it.

I have seen images of our technology garbage piled high shipped off to other countries in the news and such like:

But actually having seen it for myself… it changes you.

I will never forget that feeling I had when I saw what I saw. The disbelief, the sadness, and the urge to show what I saw even in that short span of time. I’ve always wanted to go back and make photographs of that harsh reality caused by our lifestyles of excess. Maybe someday I will be able to find that place once again… the place that also made me realize that photography can show more and do more.

I recently learned of Chris Jordan (from Chase Jarvis) and his photography work in highlighting the human impact on nature and life. It’s unbelievable. It’s sad. It’s powerful.

And the story behind his work:

“We all have to grow our hearts big enough and expand our minds big enough and face the realities we live in.” —Chris Jordan

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