Nature's Lament

Nature's Lament from Aaron Keigher on Vimeo.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein

Humans have been encroaching upon nature since the beginning of our existence. However, a recent rash of vandalism, overcrowding and outright stupidity in our parks and natural areas have caused senseless and permanent damage to some of our most beautiful locations. Vandals have graffitied places like Bonsai Rock in Lake Tahoe, a woman calling herself an artist painted on rocks in Death Valley, Zion, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Colorado, Canyonlands and Crater Lake National Parks and “adventurers” decided to walk out on the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park to get the perfect pictures and videos for their YouTube and Instagram accounts and the same group of people decided it was a good idea to water ski from the back of their RV while driving across a flooded Bonneville Salt Flats. Other people have knocked down rock formations in Fantasy Canyon and Goblin Valley in Utah and recently in Cape Kiwanda in Oregon.

This recent rash of vandalism coincides with ever increasing crowds venturing further and further into nature. Close encounters with animals in Yellowstone are now a common occurrence, places in Yosemite are constantly packed with visitors, recent pictures have been posted online of a packed Oneonta Gorge in Oregon and videos of Antelope Canyon packed with visitors like it was Disneyland. While most people who visit our parks and natural areas treat them with the care and respect they deserve, we must ask the question: what will be the end result of the ever increasing encroachment of humans back into nature?

This time-lapse is Nature's song of lament. As human encroachment grows, nature cries out in sadness, pain and anger. In the film, as we see more evidence of our effects on nature, the feel of the emotion and tenure of the video changes to reflect our ever growing presence.

I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the film and think about the important question: Will we be the cause of Nature's Lament?

Locations in this film include:
Ancient Bristlecone National Forest, CA
Alabama Hills, CA
Arches National Park, CA
Big Sur, CA
Bryce Canyon, UT
Canyonlands National Park, UT
Coal Mine Canyon, AZ
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Malibu Canyon, CA
Owens Valley Radio Observatory, CA
Red Rock Canyon, CA
Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm, CA
Yosemite National Park, CA