I chose what at first seems a fairly obvious if shocking image – an elephant dying on a human waste tip in Sri Lanka. The elephant is located in the lower centre of the frame, surrounded by wet and visceral rubbish, allowing you to sense the horror of the location which fills the bottom two-thirds of the frame. In the top third this contrasts with the lush green landscape (albeit with signs of habitation) and the sky.
The title refers to the connection made between the photographer and the elephant, which looked at him with tears in its eyes, which the viewer might interpret as pain or despair. The elephant was treated for 3 days at the site before it dies, the seventh to do so.
The dump is close to the elephant’s habitat and a simple conclusion can be made as to loss of habitat forcing the elephant into closer contact with humanity, perhaps in search of food. However there is another layer to this story – the elephants that died became addicted to the junk food remains dumped here, consuming it packaging and all as fast as they can. It is the plastic packaging that kills them, blocking their internal organs.
The message can then be seen to reflect back in a rather gruesome fashion on our human love for junk food, and the dangers of such a diet.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- Jamsith, E.L.M. (2022) Tears. At: https://www.photocrowd.com/photos/tears-6544347.8de5b7779/ (Accessed 27.6.2022)
Level 3.1 Learning Log 