Behind the Cover: The Future of Oil

2 minute read

Environmentalists like to say that we’re addicted to oil, but that term doesn’t go far enough. An addict can survive without drugs or alcohol, even if the withdrawal would be painful. But modern society as we know it would end tomorrow without oil. Oil literally makes our world go, from the lawnmower to the supersonic jet. If coal becomes too expensive, we can generate electricity with natural gas or nuclear or renewables. If beef is too costly, we can eat chicken. But there is no real replacement for oil, which is why we depend upon it so much—and why we hate ourselves for that dependence.

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A passenger enters the terminal Thursday March 27, 2014 at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Police say six people were arrested Wednesday March 26, 2014, after officers served more than two dozen search warrants after a months-long investigation into baggage theft at Los Angeles International Airport.Nick Ut—AP

Photographer Kenji Aoki captured the power of oil in a series of photographs shot for this week’s TIME cover. For one photograph, Aoki poured unrefined Texas crude into a balloon, shooting the moment it exploded. In another, Aoki poured the oil along the inside wall of a clear bowl, and shot it as the oil glided down to collect at the bottom. Aoki captures the essence of oil, a substance that all of us need yet few of us see in its pure form, fresh from the ground.

Read More: The Truth About Oil

Kenji Aoki photographed oil for this week's TIME magazine. In this gallery, he reveals the process of making the images.To prepare for this picture, representing the power of oil, crude oil was poured into a balloon. The balloon was pierced, and at the moment of the explosion, created the splash.Kenji Aoki for TIME
The circles in these are meant to express the oil's energy.Kenji Aoki for TIME
To create this image, Aoki poured the oil along the inside wall of a clear bowl, and shot it as the oil slid down to collect at the bottom.Kenji Aoki for TIME
The same bowl method was used for this image, except Aoki also poured a few drops of water along the wall. He shot the process as the water and the oil collected at the bottom while separating from each other.Kenji Aoki for TIME
The oil droplet that made the cover.Kenji Aoki for TIME
The cover of this week's TIME magazine.TIME Magazine

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