Frack-tastic?

            Fracking has pumped its way into our consumer culture.

            The other day, I had the opportunity to meet with Scott Goldsmith to hear his side of the frackin' problems. On the surface, the idea of almost instant gratification would appeal to anyone. Dig a bit deeper, and you’ll find something rather disturbing.

            Scott took the picture below in Smithfield, Pennsylvania. He set fire to a natural spring.
            He was able to ignite water. With a match. And no magic tricks.
            During his presentation, he told me and the others about the local farmers who were unable to drink their own tap water. He also told us about how several of their animals had died of cancer and other diseases from the spring water, which particularly resonated with me because I've spent a couple of summers working on a horse ranch and creating friendships with animals. Hearing stories about losing best friends due to fracking seriously bothered me. I thought about how upset I would be if I lost my favorite horse due to something I had no control over. Thinking about it only made me more passionate about this particular piece. I related so incredibly well to this picture unlike the others. I couldn't look at anything else.

            The contrast between the red and orange in the fire and the green from the surrounding marsh stood out to me instantly. The fire reminds me of the secretly hated, histrionic friend who shows up to a party: he/she causes drama, wrecks some friendships and the damage is usually permanent. The flame is dancing ever so softly on the swamp: dancing between person and spreading rumors.

            A true graceful chaos.

            Contrast is the main theme. The battle raging between man and machine: red vs. green, soft vs. hard. Goldsmith was aiming to capture the divergence between the greediness of fracking and the natural stability of life before fracking. He tells a story of rapid change and strong distaste. I've noticed that it’s evident a rivalry is not only occurring between the fire and spring but rather between the farmers and large corporate frackers as well. Goldsmith did a fantastic job creating emotions so potent and dramatic plastered into photography. I was truly blown away by his use and mastery of contrast. I felt as though I understood what the families in Smithfield were going through. I understand that such evil exists.
            And that truly scares me.