Friday, December 16, 2011

THE VIEW FROM HERE


"The View From Here" was taken over two years ago in Art Alley, Lompoc, CA. That was back at the very start of my photo-mania. Most of the others I took that day are just "face-on" pictures of paintings, with odd perspectives due to size and height. Not terrible, but not interesting even when cropped differently. I'd love to go there again and see what sorts of pictures I'd get now of the many wonderful murals.

However, I recall having good feelings about this shot even as I framed it. I enjoyed that real tree and slice of sky around the corner, so to speak, from the huge mural vineyard. The original photo includes more of the scene surrounding, though not a lot. And I had envisioned cropping it just about as I wound up doing.

As I do not like putting up even a partial representation of someone else's work without giving credit to the artist (or author) I did check online at Lompoc Murals. However, the mural in my photo above is not on site. Though the gallery only shares a very small number of the delightful murals in Lompoc, it's still well worth a virtual visit.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

DYING OF THE LIGHT


"Dying of the Light" is one of those photos I like for what it evokes in me, but have problems with -- e.g. poor focus, that chair could be further left or right, etc. It's another shot taken from in front of our one and only, hard-working elevator. A throw-a-way shot, taken as -- you should pardon the pun -- a last shot while the elevator doors opened.

Hm, in a way that sentence above echos the feeling this photo gives me that I also reference in the title. "Dying of the Light" is from that famous poem by Dylan Thomas Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. (Yes, as I've commented here before, some of my pictures labor under rather heavy titles, I'm afraid.) Of course, any raging at the dying of the light in this picture is hidden. Just as I do my best -- mostly for others' sake :-D -- to put a good face on my own issues as I age even more.

I've actually always wondered at Thomas's use of "good" to describe the night against which old age should rage. It makes me feel the poem is (among other things) also a projection of his own grief at the thought of coming bereavement, since that night is "good." I.e., as opposed to only a recommendation that aging folk rage as we live more and more in the fading light.

I'm going to spend more time with Thomas's poem. It's filled with intriguing intense contrasts I never quite noticed til now, and would like to savor and more fully experience. I'm actually having all sorts of impressions from it I've not had before .... such as maybe it can be read as suggesting a passion and respect for life by folk of any age, i.e. that no one should take this light lightly ....

Sigh. You can set this poet to editing and posting photos, but you can't stop her from feeling her way along via poetry!

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****