According to some, civilization started in this part of the world. Humans evolved, if you can set aside the intelligent design propaganda, and began to quickly spread out around the globe. But from here it is said that it all started.
After thousands of years of human existence in this region and constant overuse of the land and its resources, we come to the present state of the Middle East; a dry and desolate region I would in places compare to astrological photographs from Mars.
The landscape is a mundane mix of browns. Sand if mixed enough with different parts worn soil can form a palette of monotonous earth tones. These earthy tones were inspiration for this photograph.
In the museums just down the street from my house there are paintings from around the region. It’s not hard to see that the only colors needed for the painters in this area are usually a good dark brown, some black to darken things up, and a bit of white to lighten the sand color. When you see this work you realize how important an environment is on the psyche of the individual.
For those interested in one a the real reasons this part of the world is in such a state of unrest, look into Daniel Hillel’s book on water shortages in the Middle East and who controls this precious resource. The books name is the “Rivers of Eden: The Struggle for Water and the Quest for Peace in the Middle East,” and it’s hard to find, but I happen to find it in the DC library.
If you learn the truth about the region it’s hard not to care.