Graffiti Slabs
10 October 2014 -- 283/365
Warwick, Rhode Island
I went to Salter Grove State Park for some photos today. There's a scenic path that provides access to Rock Island when the tide is right, and that's where I wanted to go for my photos. The tide, unfortunately, was not right, and I couldn't access the breakwater that leads to the island. The hillsides around the park are part of a glacial moraine, though, and there are numerous granite slabs and glacial erratics dotting the area. What's disturbing, though, is the amount of graffiti on all of these geological formations. A good example is seen in today's photo. This bare granite slab is crowned by several erratics deposited by the Wisconsinan Glacier when it retreated some 12,000 years ago, however all have been defaced in recent years.
Post processing started with a classic filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted color sensitivity sliders, adaptive exposure, regions, contrast, boost black, boost white, and protect highlights. A levels adjustment was added in PSE.
This reminds me of a story my late father told me once. When he was a teenager in the 1930's, he found a remote and hidden small cave opening in the hills that are now Carlsbad Caverns National Park (you've been there). He wiggled back into the cave until he could go no further. He thought, "I am the only human being in the history of time to be in this exact spot." He lay on his back and turned on his flashlight, and there, scribbled on the wall was, "Skip loves Bess" in a heart with an arrow. Skip was his best friend.
Ron, Very sad how the history of rocks are defaced. I live near ancient rock formations called Garden of the God's. I was there several weeks ago and was very saddened to see that it was graffitied
