Editing Luke

May 4, 2015

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor: Part 1

This is where World War II began for the United States. A surprise attack by the Japanese on the morning of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor (and surrounding sites on Oahu, Hawaii) changed the course of the war. The wreckage of the USS Arizona still sits in the shallow harbor as a memorial and final resting place for the over 1100 sailors and marines who were killed there. In addition, the memorial is part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument which honors the 2403 who were killed and 1178 who were wounded during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Visiting this site is a sobering experience. The Visitor Center does a good job of highlighting the events of the day, and a well produced movie that you watch before heading out to the memorial gives you additional context to put you in the right frame of mind. The USS Arizona Memorial is only accessible by a short ferry ride, and despite being a popular tourist attraction, you never forget that you're visiting what is essentially a grave site.

Attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941.

The memorial structure was constructed in 1962 and spans the sunken hull of the Arizona. The design, with two peaks on either end and a sloped center, is said to reflect the United States before, during, and after the war. The significance of what happened here is still palpable. The Arizona wreckage continues to leak fuel into the harbor, known as the "tears of the Arizona". You can see the oil slick from the viewing platform as well as a few of the rusting pieces of the ship above the water. Even after all of these decades the site remains a powerful symbol.

A model of the wreckage and memorial platform.

Oil slick known as the "tears of the Arizona".

May 1, 2015

Exploring the Salton Sea

My recent road trip around the Salton Sea in Southern California was motivated by my desire to retrace the steps I took with my friend Dave in 2009 and 2010. When he passed away suddenly a year after that last road trip, I started working on a personal project about our first visit to Salvation Mountain. The area has only become more compelling to me as a result.

On my tour around the Salton Sea I visited abandoned structures and ruins in Bombay Beach, Salton City, North Shore, Niland and Salton Sea Beach. I also explored East Jesus in Slab City, and took several trips to photograph Salvation Mountain. My return to the North Shore Yacht Club was also memorable. As was my impromptu photo shoot with the mysterious boxes around the Red Hill Marina. With large gaps between my visits the changes to these places have always seemed extreme. Perhaps it's part of what keeps calling me back to the Salton Sea.