Sludge of the Gowanus Canal

In the Gowanus Canal lies a ten-foot layer of black sediment—a lethal mix of oil, coal, pesticides, rotting debris, raw sewage, chemicals, and microbes—a remnant of the area’s industrial history. Photos were taken around and of the canal waters. The film roll was souped in collected sludge for 48 hours and then developed.

As an engagement with the canal’s toxicity, these pictures depict the interplay of pollutants and the medium, deepening our understanding of the contamination’s impact. By confronting the aftermath of industrial excess and environmental neglect, we can attune to the stories embedded in the sediment and reflect how human disturbances have transformed the natural world.