It would be helpful to show the air quality score on one side and the map with the image of the sensor on the other, just to indicate the importance of air quality results obtained by the sensor. One graphic suggestion would be to showcast small images of air fresheners or perfumes inside the cabin to visually indicate the frequent use of these chemicals.
Toxics from transportation are widely present in our daily lives at different scales, and increasingly in shapes and forms that we do not directly associate with air pollution and toxins
The source of the visual is unclear, but most likely created by the ethnographer. Like others have pointed out, the photograph depicts a small settlement in the mountain. It shows an idyllic and calm atmosphere, but together with the caption, this feeling can be easily unsettled. The structures of industrial agriculture (greenhouses?) blend in seamlessly.
The caption does a great job at introducing the overall aim of the project, making this visual (or similar) a potential cover image. However, the caption features little description of the photograph itself -- to enrich its message, it could be juxtaposed with other images, e.g. agribusiness advertisements. Such a contrast would draw out what we see and don't see in the image, and what would need to be provided by the caption.
Having, like others, read the photograph as romantic and picturesque, you could play with different techniques that draw out the ethnographic import of the image. I could imagine that contrasting the photo with a representation of agribusiness (an ad, a logo, another photograph) could work well. Miriam has an intreresting image in her set that also depicts toxic farming practices, but it's a graffiti mural. How do the two images differ?
The visual and caption present an interesting take on toxic dynamics, moving between the "small" (family farmers) and the "large" (agribusiness). It clearly points to toxic dynamics of dependency between the two. The visual could be read as reproducing the toxic gaze of a pesticide producer -- pointing to the large scale while obscuring (ignoring?) relations on the ground. The visual could also draw out more what enables small family farming to subsist and resist – what "smallness" (particularities?) does a "large" agricultural company depend upon? Curious to see more!
In terms of advancing ethnographic insight, the frame of this image is particularly interesting. With the centering of commodified water, as well as a commodified nationalism (MADE IN AMERICA and red/white/blue coloring) this image is attempting to layer the complications of commodities in a time of crisis. The irony of Nestle donating bottles to Flint really should be front and center here though. Ultimately, this photo uses a water bottle to scale up to larger conversations on nationalism and capitalism.
In terms of advancing ethnographic insight, the frame of this image is particularly interesting. With the centering of commodified water, as well as a commodified nationalism (MADE IN AMERICA and red/white/blue coloring) this image is attempting to layer the complications of commodities in a time of crisis. The irony of Nestle donating bottles to Flint really should be front and center here though. Ultimately, this photo uses a water bottle to scale up to larger conversations on nationalism and capitalism.
I think the VERY complicated layers of Nestle’s (who owns Ice Mountain) relationship with the State of Michigan could really add to the conversation of toxicity in this photo. Nestle water bottles were being sent to Flint, Michigan while simultaneously Nestle was involved in a major lawsuit where the company was essentially taking water from Michigan communities, bottling it, and then selling it for profit.
The image is a found image. The frame of the image interesting bc the clear focus is on the pack of water, but in the periphery there is a bright orange traffic cone, a hand setting or picking up the case, bodies are in the background in warm clothes indicating this would be during the winter months. The centering of the American flag and Made in America seems to stand out the most for me as well, it’s that where I think the ethnographic insight really comes in too. The cone next to the cases of water could perhaps indicate a cautionary tale?
