Leslie Vigeant of Material Rescue League

Visiting a city dump is an eye opening revelation to those who haven’t had an opportunity to see the path that waste follows once it’s left homes and businesses in the surrounding area. Endless piles of what most consider trash fill the gigantic rooms of the facility. Those heaps are destined to filtered, compacted, and shipped to the nearest landfill. The Portland dump has a different approach. They have programs that allow artists and others to sort through trash that has been safely filtered through the system so that they can recycle their finds. I saw plenty of things that could be reused and made new again as I made my way through the mountains of junk.
Just ask artist Leslie Vigeant. Her project the Material Rescue League incorporated her precious finds from the dump. Leslie collected non-recyclable items and rehabilitated them into boutique products. Take a look at the final photo posted above, with interesting colors and materials packaged and displayed with care, all in the name of art and making the world a better and cleaner place.
As the birthday of this nation rolls around, keep those in mind who go out of their way to preserve the beauty of America. Be motivated by strong women like Leslie, who aren’t daunted by piles of stinky trash. Find the beauty in everything and use a little elbow grease to help others see that beauty as well.

Take a look at Leslie’s work gear: Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt, Clarkston Cami Tank, Relaxed-Fit Canvas Kane Dungaree, & Carhartt Women’s Quick Flex Glove. 

Photography Tips from Carhartt Photographer

Welcome behind the scenes of Crafted in Carhartt in Washington DC. Here are a few things I’ve learned taking pictures over the years. Hopefully a few of these tips can help you out.

• Clouds are your friends. Overcast skies provide great light coverage without the shadows of direct sunlight.
• Try out new angles. Be daring and climb on things. Lie down or kneel on the ground. You’ll see your subject in a whole new way.
• Candid photos are more compelling. Posed pictures don’t feel as authentic as photos that capture people in their element.
• Ditch cheesy editing tricks. A lot of times preset editing filters and effects look cheap and unprofessional.
• When it comes to composition, be aware of everything. The background can be just as important as the subject.
• Change up your subjects. Look at the things around you in a different light. You’ll learn to see beauty in everything.
• Experiment! Never be afraid to do something wrong. The trash bin is a very underrated tool.

Photography can be whatever you make it. For me, it’s photographing some of the more interesting ladies around. I get dirty, I climb on roofs, I sit in piles of mud, I scale silos, etc… The Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Tank is exactly what I need for work. It’s stain resistant, odor blocking, and sweat wicking technology helps me out on all fronts. That way I can focus on the work and not on staying clean. Give it a try! Once you get Force you’ll never go back.