William Sutherland's photos

Eco Collage was created from various garbage and litter consisting of broken glass, a plastic spacer ring, and a piece of a light bulb. The green colors were added to represent a vibrant, lush “Eden-like” earth when people and ecosystems live in harmony. It is disheartening that as the planet burns with scorching heat, massive wild fires and unquenchable drought, humanity remains oblivious to the existential threat that approaches. This collage also consists of various shapes and forms to represent how every nation and its peoples seamlessly fit together and thus must work together to address climate change through consistent policy and fiscal investments regardless of so-called socio-economic status – developed or third world – especially since both the former and latter share the same planet. While the development of the hydrogen economy is likely a decade or more away, there are solutions for today – nuclear energy with mini reactors (in the 21st century in the United States, 21 people have died in nuclear accidents, predominantly from falls and electrocution [1] versus the 892 from coal mining accidents [2] and the more than 1500 figure for oil and gas extraction [3] ; so regarding safety you be the judge!), the expansion of wind, solar and geothermal energy usage, the planting of trees, preservation of rainforests, the reintroduction of indigenous flora, the banning of pesticides that continue to exterminate crucial pollinators (bees and butterflies) and the shuttering of coal-fired plants that are not retrofitted to use the necessary filters for “clean coal.” At the same time hard deadlines no later than 2040 must be established for the end of fossil fuel use to promote the necessary investment and research and development for 100% clean energy use. Bottom line: If the world continues to dither, then the prophesy of the 1500 CE triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights by Dutch master painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516) will come true and we will be left with a scorched, charred planet. :( smarthistory.org/garden-bosch If people come together and work together, then we will continue to have a green planet with ecosystems that thrive and humanity will be spared. :) [1] Zakaria Hsain, Alissa Johnson, Erin K. Reagan. Nuclear Energy Meets Climate Change. Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. 5 October 2021. kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/nuclear-energy-meets-climate-change [2] The U.S. Department of Labor – arlweb.msha.gov/stats/centurystats/coalstats.asp and Statistica – www.statista.com/statistics/541314/mining-fatalities-in-the-united-states [3] Fareed Zakaria. In tackling climate change, don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good. The Washington Post. 21 July 2022. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/21/practical-steps-fighting-climate-change-heat-wave-nuclear-gas-coal

New Rochelle, NY This mural was painted by Spanish Urban Artist Lula Goce (b. 1976 in Galicia, Spain) to celebrate the "special connection that exists between New Rochelle, NY and the Long Island Sound." It was inaugurated on 2 November 2019 as part of #NRNYMURALS. It was curated and produced by Street Art for Mankind. streetartmankind.org/artists/lula-goce

Mamaroneck, NY

Governor Mario M Cuomo / "New" Tappan Zee Bridge , Tarrytown, NY Construction: Began in 2013. Cost: $3.9 Billion Opened: 2017 Note: I photographed a section of the construction scene to depict the various linear patterns created by the bridge's cables and numerous scaffolding and cranes as well as the fencing.

New York, NY Note: Iconic sculpture created by Robert Indiana (1928-2018). Located on the corner of 55th Street and 6th Avenue. First displayed in New York City in 1970.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Note: Created from two photos taken in downtown Toronto.

Central Park, New York, NY

New York, NY

Rockefeller Center, New York, NY [A] ll gold is but a little sand in her sight… [S] he is a breath of the power of God… unpolluted… loving… steadfast… all-powerful… a reflection of eternal light… [S] he renews all things... is more beautiful than the sun… and… against [her] evil does not prevail. [Wisdom 7:9, 22, 25-27, 29-30] For the LORD gives wisdom ; from [H] is mouth come knowledge … [Proverbs 2:6] How much better to get wisdom than gold! [Proverbs 16:16] So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom … [Psalm 90:12] Do not be conformed… be transformed… that… you may discern what is… good and acceptable and perfect. [Psalm 90:12] Note: The bottom right image was mirrored to be consistent with the top image and layout reasons.

Rye, NY A negative image created from two photos taken and super imposed on each other to resemble indescribable desolation and ineffable "ice age-like" cold. The hole in the ice represents the eternal emptiness that results from loss, the footprints the indelible mark each life leaves during our existence on this Earth and the prominent naked tree represents lifelessness as the anguished and inconsolable world represented by the bent and broken reeds, is left to grieve. The tiny orbs of luminescence by the naked trees in the top left corner represent distant, departed souls that live in eternity while the reflection of the tree trunk on the thin ice represents lasting memories. May Marie-claire Gallet rest in peace and enjoy eternal life as she encounters a new spring of renewal in heaven. Your presence will be missed forever. www.ipernity.com/home/1724986

Rockefeller Center, New York, NY Created by Lee Lawrie. Installed 1937.

New York, NY View from Rockefeller Center Observatory

St. Patricks Cathedral, New York, NY And on the first of the week, about the third hour of the night, the sun was seen such as it had never at any time shone, and all the heaven was lighted up. [A] n innumerable multitude of angels cr [ied] out… saying: “Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace, among [people] of goodwill…” [A] t their voice all the mountains and hills were shaken, and the rocks were burst asunder… [a] nd there were seen… [the] dead raised up… And all the multitude walked about, and sang praises… saying: “The Lord our God that has risen from the dead has brought to life all the dead…” [The Report of Pontius Pilate (c. 33-40 CE)] “When he was buried, they set guards upon him – yet while my soldiers watched him, he rose again on the third day… The soldiers… did not remain silent about what had happened. They testified that they saw him arisen.” [Paul Winter. A Letter from Pontius Pilate. Novum Testamentum. Vol. 7. Fasc. 1. (March 1964). 38.] “He appeared to them… restored to life.” [Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book 18, Chapter 3,3. (c. 71 CE)]

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mamaroneck, NY

Mamaroneck, NY Created from garbage and litter consisting of metal shards, plastic mats and other debris to provide a much needed smile during these challenging times of COVID and war and to honor Psalm 72:3 written c. 700-500 BCE in reference to King Solomon who brought in an era of peace and prosperity in Israel from c. 970-931 BCE - hence the title 72:3 . "Let there be peace!" [Psalm 72:3 ERV]

Larchmont, NY The basement in my building has been a "fallout" shelter since the 1950s when the specter of nuclear war was great. Although over the last few decades it appeared signs like these appeared to be relics of the past suddenly after Russia pushes on with its invasion of Ukraine, the risks of nuclear war have reached their highest level ever (higher than even the Cuban Missile crises of the 1960s) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warns, "WWIII can only be nuclear" they are appropriate and fitting for 2022. :( Pray for Peace and no World War III! Of course, this fallout shelter would be porous at best since windows could be blown in from any blasts and radiation would certainly enter through the elevator shafts.

Photo composition created from a photo of tanks taken in Moscow, USSR (now Russia) on 31 October 1991 in the aftermath of the Putsch and a statue at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, New Rochelle, NY on 3 August 2012. Tragically war has broken out, the consequence of zero sum politics and the failure to seek common ground and compromise. My prayers go out to the people of Ukraine and Russia who are the victims of this unnecessary conflict that threatens to plunge the planet into World War III if errors in judgment continue and a war that should have been avoided if only everyone had taken the time to sincerely understand the other.