This is undoubtedly the “best” image of trash I’ve ever taken! I took this image shortly after dawn during an April workshop in West Friesland, Holland. Our intended subject was actually the windmill shown above. As one might expect, all the students took similar shots of the windmill that morning and were quite happy with their results. As we stood on the edge of this dike shooting this scene with our wide-angle lenses, I felt a small “lump” under my foot and noticed a smashed and very rusted Best beer can. As I bent down and picked it up, I felt a growing excitement—the same type of excitement I felt watching my son and two daughters as they were born. Hard to believe, but true!

I proceeded to photograph the beer can over the next few minutes and, once finished, was quick to offer it to all my students, but every one of them refused politely, choosing to relish their windmill shots instead. It was not until our critique the next afternoon that they saw my beer can image on the computer screen—and every one of them lamented not taking the shot after all!

Why is this image so compelling? In part, it’s due to the contradiction. It might say “Best,” but that is one of the worst Bests I have ever seen. The arrangement of what is clearly a chaotic Best, makes for the “best Best” of all. As I said, I love the contradiction!

Top: Nikon D3X with Nikkor 16–35mm lens at 16mm, f/11 for 1/15 sec., ISO 100; Bottom: Nikon D3X with Micro-Nikkor 105mm lens, f/22 for 1/4 sec., ISO 100