Photographer’s eye (module 9 assignment)
Mask pollution
“Life after covid No 1″
The first photograph of the series was taken in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy, as we all know this area is very high transited by people who are either going to the pharmacy or simply driving by. The photographed mask seems to be a regular mask which means it may be made from nonwoven polypropylene fabric (as most level 3 masks). This material takes up to 30 years to decompose. Polypropylene fabric also releases toxins into the air and soil in which it lays.
“Life after covid No 2″
The second photograph of the series was taken in the parking lot of a Walmart super center. As well as the previous, a very transited area. This mask, however, seems to be made fully from cloth instead of plastic. Depending on the type of fabric used to fabricate this mask, its decomposition could take anywhere from two weeks to two hundred years.
“Life after covid No 3″
The third photograph of the series was taken right outside the entrance to the Walmart supercenter. Like the first mask, it also appears to be made from nonwoven polypropylene fabric which is a thermoplastic polymer, one of the most popular plastics in the world due to its long durability.
“Life after covid No 4″
The fourth photograph of the series was taken in the parking lot of an Aldi grocery store. This area, like the others, is also a high transited area. This mask seemed to be made from full cotton. Unlike the previous masks that are made from chemically-produced fibers, cotton is natural and grown from the earth. If the mask was made from 100% cotton, it would take approximately 5 months to decompose.
“Life after covid No 5″
The fifth and final photograph of the series was taken in a park. While I visited this park, there was not anyone else there. This mask seemed to be a polypropylene fabric mask as well. Due to the park being empty, it is safe to assume this mask had been sitting there for some time.
The effects of COVID-19 have affected not just United States but the entire world. I chose this theme for my photograph series as I am very aware about our environment, and I love learning about the ways that I can contribute to take care of it. Around the world, approximately 129 billion masks are used every single month and 3 million of them are thrown out every single minute. After taking the photographs for this series I made sure to pick up each and everyone of these masks. It is extremely important that we learn about the damage that a simple mask can cause our environment as well as wildlife.
To minimize harm to wildlife and the environment we must dispose of these masks properly. To do so one may cut or simply tear off the straps of the masks once no longer useful and prior to disposal. Change is driven by each of us.
