The WEEE Man, a photo from Cornwall, England

Photographer's Note

The WEEE Man (WEEE = Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) stands in front of the Core building at the Eden Project in Cornwall near St Austell. (Wee (Only 2 'e's) is also a play on words as 'wee' is used to mean small by Scottish and Irish people. I think we Brits are famous for our irony - you will read below the height of the WEEE Man!) It was designed by Paul Bonomini who won a commission from the RSA (Royal Society of Arts) in response to an EU directive which now requires manufacturers of Electrical & Electronic Equipment to take responsibility for the safe disposal of equipment when it reaches the end of its useful life.

The sculpture stands 7m (23ft)tall and is made up from 3.3 tonnes of 糎EEE�. This is said to be the average amount of 糎EEE� each adult in the UK will dispose of in their lifetime. It is estimated that today痴 children will dispose of 8 tonnes of 糎EEE� in their lifetimes. To give you an idea of scale, his teeth are computer mice (or should that be mouses? ;D)

Full length version in the WS. See what you can identify!

Opened in 2001, the Eden Project is one of the most ambitious and successful of the millennium projects partially funded by the National Lottery. Its purpose is to explore our dependence on the natural world and to encourage conservation. A huge derelict China Clay pit was used to create an amazing resource, which houses most of the important plants from all over the world. It is able to achieve the conditions for this with its huge, climate controlled 礎iomes� (huge domed greenhouses). Have a look at this website Be patient and wait for the 360ｰ virtual tour to load and it will show you what the whole place is like.

ISO100, FL82mm,

pauloog, snunney, leonorkuhn, Dyerco, Royaldevon, gunbud, danos, alvaraalto, dareco, JCG, Graal, Glint has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pauloog (11751) 2009-07-10 1:54

Hello Kath,
Waw or Weee ? A surprising view and a fantastic witness of the sculpture, sharp and clear and well profiled against the blue sky.
Regards,
Paul

snunney (130967) 2009-07-10 1:56

Hello Kath,
A very good capture of this monumental sculpture, which looks as if it has escaped from a Star Wars film. Colours and textures are very well rendered. A fine presentation complemented by a very useful note.

cbrman (21685) 2009-07-10 3:22

Hello Kath,

Une image captivante. J'ai cherch� les diff駻ents 駘駑ents de PC dans cette t黎e tr鑚 bien r饌lis馥.
Les souris � la place des dents sont vraiment une excellente id馥. Je me demande avec quoi sont fait les yeux !
A+

Dominique

leonorkuhn (16237) 2009-07-10 4:04

Hi Kath,

He reminds me of someone...
Very funny sculpture.
You obtained good details here.

Greetings
Leonor

gilou530 (34) 2009-07-10 4:42

hello kath
the Martians landed on ground, the invasion will start...... very impressive this explosive device, your WS gives us all dimension, beautiful photo
friendships
gilbert

coco (30439) 2009-07-10 5:45

Hi Kath.

This is one is a very good and nice work. I love your composition and also I like the subject with this low POV.

Well done.

Dyerco (10185) 2009-07-10 6:58

Hi Kath
An interesting piece of artwork. I like how you captured the clouds behind his face as they look like they are formed by static electricity from his head.
Phil

Royaldevon (85932) 2009-07-10 8:04

Oh, Kath, this is brilliant!
And, I just love the play on words!
Your pov produces an image which appears to be grimacing at the world with reflective eyes!
Wonderfully sharp to pick out each tiny detail of construction and texture.
The image is strongly placed in the frame.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

stego (24132) 2009-07-10 11:24

Hi Kath,

It's a bit far for your usual style, but it's a great presentation of this frightful sculpture that is very effective showing the problem of "WEEE", which is everything but wee.

You chose the angle and framing/crop very wisely. The light management is absolutely remarkable, we almost forget how it is difficult to control the exposure when we have the main subject against a clear blue sky. Those tenuous clouds that look like rays coming from behind enhance a certain drama.

The WS completes the presentation. It's a bit surprising to see that the sculpture is apparently in the open country. I am also curious about the plants on the right BG, as they look young banana trees.

Regards,
Jos�

PixelTerror (0) 2009-07-10 12:03

Hi Kath,
Aaaaah a very nice tribute to my good friend Eddie, the character featured on the "Iron Maiden" covers since 1978, guess what I'm a fan ! This version of Eddie hints towards late Maiden art, more futuristic and sophisticated, no longer the fury of "Prowler" but still very nice, I guess I need to play a CD now, thanks Kath for bringing that fine music to my friday evening :-)
Have a fine week end JY

UlfE (14641) 2009-07-10 12:48

Hi Kath,

I really love when someone posts something very different from their usual style. I am a bit surprised to to see a post like this from you. Neverthelss I consider it one of the best and most exciting in your gallery. TFS this wonderful picture and have nice weekend!

Cheers,

Ulf

emka (158128) 2009-07-10 15:07

Hi Kath, Very interesting project. I am afraid I will produce more waste in my life time. The teeth made of mice :)) are amazing. Stunning composition.

Regards

Malgorzata

gunbud (34066) 2009-07-10 16:07

Hi Kath,
The Wee Man is quite handsome with a fine toothy smile and lovely blue-green eyes.
Now we have to find him a Wee Woman.
Very informatative note to go with this humorous image.
Regards, Tom

darek1978 (13361) 2009-07-10 18:05

Hi Kath,
Oh God...what's this? Very nice portrait anyway;) You did a great job including clear sky in the background. I also like this face full of very interesting details. Creative work and nice framing. I'm very impressed.
Best regards,
Darek

danos (110407) 2009-07-11 1:06

Hi Kath,
an impressive sculpture of the Weee man and at the same time an great fantasy from the designer! I like the perspective and the Pov as we can see a lot of details from his metallic body.Well done.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-07-11 3:25

Ola Kath ,
Que escultura magnifica feita de pe軋s , os detalhes dos dentes e dos olhos est縊 fant疽ticos , bonito o azul do c騏 , parab駭s!!
Um abra輟 Gon軋lo

jlbrthnn (76043) 2009-07-11 3:49

Hello Kath,
The overall picture describes the sculpture perfectly, but I prefer your choice of close-up on the head. It is completely spectacular. The photograph is also technically excellent. Cheer.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Jo�l

holmertz (102672) 2009-07-11 8:04

Hello Kath,
Whoever got the idea for this sculpture was an ingenious guy. This should deserve a place in art history. It's also a very fine picture with a good POV and excellent sharpness. The head is well placed slightly off-centre. The light clouds (clone-stamped?) nicely complement the contours of the "face".
Kind regards,
Gert

alvaraalto (42804) 2009-07-11 12:23

Dag Kath,

I hope this isn稚 a portrait of your husband or your neighbour :- )
But I do like this creative product of Useful, but not longer functioning Electrical & Electronic Equipment.

Groet Rob

dareco (17136) 2009-07-11 19:21

This is so cool!! I love it. Really amazing artwork. Great detail and the sky makes a lovely bg. TFS

JCG (35153) 2009-07-12 2:30

Hello Kath,

Original recycling of all these domestic apparatuses when one sees your photograph in WS, indeed especially teeth !!! The cloud which is behind this head emphasizes it well. I like much the clearness of the image and the light. Interesting Photograph just like your Internet link which enables us to make the visit of this futuristic place. Thank you Kath.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

Graal (103040) 2009-07-12 23:53

Hi Kath,
unusual construction, amazing "man", good note and presentation. Full version in WS is ok. also. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

nels (2623) 2009-08-06 4:45