One day, I remembered these newly planted mangroves that I happened to pass by a few years ago. I was thinking with high hopes that the plants should have grown enough by this time.

The area was just below a seawall along a national highway. So one afternoon I went to the site and was happy to see that the patches did survive. I approached the place and opted to step my way over the sharp sandstone rocks, for the pebbled beach was littered with a few empty bottles and tin cans. I scouted the small area for my shot, but it took me awhile until the sun was lost on the horizon and left me nothing but the twilight.

I extended my search until I found a spot to compose my shot. But before I could start, I removed a few plastics that were choking some of the plants. I thought to myself that nature is patient enough; mangroves are supposed to protect us from storm surge, not to keep the waves of garbage from coming back to the shore.

After that, I went back attentively to my camera and in the middle of my long exposures I heard that scary big bang from behind. In no time, my spirit bolted out from my body, but my mind was even quick enough to grab it back and told me that someone was throwing garbage from the road again! Then sadness and disbelief took over that momentary fear.

Having finished some photos, I went back to my vehicle up the highway and walked the few steps from where somebody threw the trash. It was dark but enough for me to see where I had just composed my photograph. This made me remember the line, “Beauty could be anywhere, just learn how to find it”. And I think I just found it by heart in a place where others could only see a place to dump their waste.

CAS 01/12/2018