I have been writing about the great flood of Rhode Island for a few days and sharing photographs of water in various states. It seems that lately we are all preoccupied with “water” and will continue on that path for a while. When we went out a couple of days ago to have supper, we stopped at a nearby pond, called Arnold’s Pond to see the water level. It was much higher than I have ever seen the pond, a tree that is normally on the shore was now under water. The reeds reflecting on the rippling water created interesting patterns, so I photographed them. The following video shows a series of photographs of these reflections. The repeating nature of the patterns, and the wave-form concept embedded in it reminded me of canon musical form, repeating over itself. So, Pachelbel’s Canon in D major provides the backdrop.
Pawtuxet Abstract in Monochrome
The speed of the running water combined with the drop created interesting abstracts in a different way. In this series I tried to focus more on the dynamic part of the flow and the action created by the falling water. The wispy, hairy white parts are tiny water droplets moving and creating the streaks. This has been one positive side of the great flood of RI, I took some interesting photographs; you’ve got to look at the bright side!
Pawtuxet Abstract
While at the Pawtuxet Bridge taking photographs of the rushing river I experimented for different effects. Here, you will find a series of photographs taken at slow shutter speed to smooth the surface and create fine hair-like wisps where the water is sprayed in many directions. Power, awe, unstoppable, beauty all rolled into one.
Pawtuxet River Rushing
Yesterday afternoon I went out to look for a spare pump and on the way back I stopped to see the rushing Pawtuxet River. From the bridge I took many photographs, the following video is a compilation of a small number of them with actual sound from the Pawtuxet River.
Water, water everywhere
Yesterday started like the day before, the pump cycling every so often and doing a yeoman job of keeping up with the water in the sump area despite its age, probably 30 years old. The rising water pushed through the floor and the carpet on the finished side showed wet footprints. The furnace depression had accumulated water and we shut the furnace off. Then, around 8:30 am or thereabouts, we lost power in most of Warwick: no pump! Within 30 minutes the water started rising from the sump area on to the floor. The pictures below show the basement before it was totally flooded and when it was beginning to receive more water.
Around 12:15 PM
The water now totally covered the area all the way to the far corners of the basement. The still water created some kind of a surreal mirror image of the few things resting in it. The power did not return until around 1:30 pm or so. Then “The Little Pump That Could” started pumping out water for a couple of hours and managed to get the floor mostly free of water. But the carpet and the other items that got soaked are damaged already.
We went out about 4:00 pm to see the raging Pawtuxet River to take some photograph, eat some supper and return. I will post some photograph from that late afternoon later on. ServPro disaster response company rep came to look at the situation at 7:00 pm. The plan is for them to come today, April 3, 2010, suck as much water from the carpet before cutting it and dumping it along with the foam padding. Then they will clean all the floor and apply antimicrobial solution to prevent mold and mildew. Their large dehumidifiers and blowers will be running for three days. Afterwards, they will apply the chemical once more. We are hoping that by then the water table would have gone down and we will not get more water. The photographs below are from yesterday afternoon when there was visible water.
This too shall pass.
Flora
Infrared Earthscapes
Junk Yard