Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Year of Plenty

Stunning Aerial Photos - Suburban Neighborhoods Around the World

I came across this amazing collection of photos, Earth from Above, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, a French photographer, journalist, and environmentalist. The whole collection is worth taking some time to scan through. I was most struck by the images that portray such a diversity of the ways people around the world live together in neighborhoods, that here I will define as suburbs. I know I'm straining that definition by some of the settings that are closer to city centers, but I think it's a helpful designation for taking in the contrasts. Here are my favorites. Some of the questions these photos provoke for me are: What do these images say about the ways we relate? How do they reflect our social networks? What do they say about our relationship to the natural environment? How dependent are these neighborhoods on fossil fuels? 

Denver-suburbDenver Suburb, Colorado

 

Copenhagan-suburbsCopenhagen Suburb, Denmark
 

Sha-Kibbutz,-IsraelSha Kibbutz, Israel Suburb

 

Egypt2Egyptian Suburb, Mit Gahmr Delta

 

Cape-town-south-africa-neighborhoodCape Town Suburb, South Africa

 

Lagos-nigeria2Lagos Houseboat Suburb, Nigeria
 



Year of Plenty

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com