A new law banning a large percentage of grass seed field burnings went into effect this year. A few varieties are exempt, and most of these are supposedly grown at higher (remote) elevations. After two years of photographing these fields, I knew right where to go.
I can’t say that I was thrilled with the panorama I had to work with, but here you go:
This wasn’t the only photo outing I planned for the day. There’s a big fest in town that highlights a lot of the local businesses, and I thought I’d try my hand again at photographing people. So, after a little more driving in the hills, I headed south to a road that would take me back into town.
I’ve been on this road quite a bit as well. There’s a park along the way that I’ve hiked in to, and I’ve taken some nice field shots along the way. While I was driving, I remembered something else from this road: an odd, for lack of a better word, compound with several long, open-sided sheds, surrounded by high chain link topped with razor wire. I’ve thought to stop and have a look, but have resisted. Sometimes there are vehicles parked outside of the gate, but more often than not it is unattended. Today there were no cars, so I thought, what the heck, and had a look.
Even though the sheds had no sides, the interiors were dark, Cages were lined single-file along either side on the structures, and below many of them were foot-tall pyramid-like piles. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I began to see the minks. Disgust and fear. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
If one were to google relevant terms, one would find that there has been some activity regarding such facilities in the last couple days. I didn’t know this when I went gawking. Now I do. A little more googling with more specific phrasing indicated that this place is not on the radar of governmental or anarchic organizations. I’m surprised I was free to just amble up to the perimeter.
Well, the trip to the festival was pretty much ruined, and the few photos I took reflect that. I was happy to just get back home.
And something else: I’m going out for some poker tonight.
3 comments:
Releasing that many mink will certainly be a boon to the trappers of the area, and the hawks, and the bob cats and just about everyone except the chicken farmers, and maybe the feral cat population.
From what I understand, or at least it seems to make sense, 100 years of breeding has rendered the liberated easy marks.
the second image would look good on a wall, for sure. A lot of things to explore on there.
/j.
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