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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Water on "Earth Day" - what's in the Thames?

Generally I don't think the Thames is a terribly polluted river. Yes, no doubt it is, but much of the initial sight of a brown river is due to the tidal nature of it. The tides continually churn up the muddy bottom. If you want evidence just wait for low tide then play around on the river beds! You'll need new shoes afterwards.

Alas, there's no escaping our littering. These photos were taken along with some of my Watermechanics series:





Fortunately the kill-zone for bikes appears to be further east of my studio (out towards Abbey Wood). Whew! But the trolleys are along the stretch by the gravel company on my cycle to work. Every day they disappear under meters of water then reappear like ghostly shoppers at low tide.

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For Earth Day I've also posted a long photo-rich post about coastal erosion I've seen during my English Coast project trip, along with tidbits and even some pics of paintings! http://watermarks-art.blogspot.com/

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5 comments:

Katherine Tyrrell said...

I think I've seen abandoned trollies and bikes at low tide just in front of the Royal Hospital site

Those waste thingies (like the one opposite the Tate) are quite good at catching a lot of it but the heavier stuff seems to linger longer...........

Art with Liz said...

So sad but they have made the most amazing photographs!

Sebastian said...

I can only begin to imagine how polluted the main metropolitan rivers must've been at the turn of the 20th century -- The Thames and Seine.

Now the refuse looks almost... quaint.

Ilaria said...

These photos look like a Michael Andrews painting !

olha pryymak said...

goodness, so sorry for the bikers

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