Why we didn’t repost the Hanging Lake photo
Our top story for four days was about a yoga apparel company coming under social media siege for taking photos in Hanging Lake. It was the top story in our network of newspapers the first day it was up.
A follow-up story went up on our site this Wednesday about the company being served three citations for their actions.
The stories never included the inciting photo.
This was on purpose.
At the Post Independent, we made a conscious choice to not encourage Liquido Active’s rule-breaking photoshoot by using the photo. Despite Liquido taking down their Instagram post, the photo is still easily found by either going to Colorado Trail Trash’s Instagram page or by a quick Google search.
A comment on a similar Trail Trash photo, this one of a person standing on the Hanging Lake log, reads: “People getting … hurt over something that has had no physical affect [sic] or has not harmed anyone … Get over it.”
Entering Hanging Lake waters actually does cause physical damage. Body oils, lotions, sunscreen and stepping on the travertine can harm the formations that keep Hanging Lake its iconic turquoise color.
Photos are powerful. We recognize that power and chose to not use Liquido’s in order to not incite any further damage of beautiful Hanging Lake.
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