Trying to Hold a Box of Light is a "portrait of the artist." It's over two years old. At the time, I was actually trying to take a picture of the rose garden reflected in that window when I noticed that little rectangular "box of light." So I fooled around with where I was standing until it was right on my camera. I thought I was being so clever, but not one person has gotten what the title of this photo is talking about. Either literally, or metaphorically. Sigh. But I still like it, as I do feel anything I attempt ("artistic" or otherwise) is like trying to hold a box of light. I.e., not ultimately possible, but usually worth the effort. And, when all is said and done, it's the only game in town.

This post is also notice of a new name for this blog. I've never been totally happy with "Opening to the Light." Not that it isn't appropriate. But it just never really grabbed me (not to mention there's a book by that same name). On deciding to post this picture here today I realized it's title has been the real name for this blog all along (I named this photo over two years ago). So, welcome to my newly christened digital photo blog, Trying to Hold a Box of Light.

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”) ****

The First Stroke is another one I'm not sure many folk will like. However, I'm drawn to post it because it looks to me like a paint or calligraphy brush just about to make its mark, or even a spear head. Not to mention, I'm always a sucker for those bright and deep shades of pink. (Note: I'm not quite satisfied with the painting-out job I had to do in the lower right corner. It depends on which program I view it in as to how much it's apparent some has been done. I may come back to it and re-do it in the future; I'm a bit rushed right now.)

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”) ****

Primordial Crater (7-17-10) is another re-edit of an old photo. It's also one of those I even hesitate to share as I can almost hear the puzzlement if not outright negative reaction of some folk. What can I say? When I stumbled on this coloring for this old picture I was delighted. It's strange, eerie, evocative. And I've always liked those draping, nearly transparent, very wilted petals. 'Nuff said.

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”) ****

Body & Soul is almost three years old, but this is a version I just made yesterday. It's one of those photos I've held on to through several different crops for some reason, none of them satisfying. The original is a much larger and distant view of the bird and shadow, and also very tilted. Not 'til yesterday did I think to re-align it a bit, crop in even tighter, and reverse the colors and change them. Although still not totally satisfying, it's close enough to leave it be and share here. Paul Valery said: A poem is never finished, just abandoned. And I'd say that's true of any artistic effort of mine. I just reach a point where I can think of nothing else to improve or fix it. And if that point is far enough along, I keep and share it. If not, I delete it or put it on a very distant back burner.

As to this picture, I suppose most folk will view the actual bird as the body and the shadow as the soul. However, one can look at it another way. In a (maybe not so) metaphoric sense our souls are the most substantial aspects of ourselves. So in this image I can see the soul (on the left) stepping out of the essentially shadow life of its body (on the right) at death. And if one does view the bird as body and shadow as soul, the bird could be seen as tilting it's head to listen to the soul, even as it tries to walk away from it. I.e., this photo could be seen as the experience of a deep split between body and soul; a need for healing. And typing all this just explained to me why I've held on to this problematic photo for so long. It was "whispering" to me and I couldn't "hear" it until I made this version. Of course none of this means that the above is a successful picture. Just another symbol into which I've poured some unconscious contents.

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.

* * * *

‘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”) ****

Stirring Up A Dream (above) is a new edit of a three year old picture. There's reasons I had to crop it this way, but I do wish it didn't have to be square in order to include the various shapes and "motion" I like.

Below is another version, Waking The Dream Tree, in which I've indulged my other (becoming habitual) favorite coloring for photos, sepia tones. Which actually happens to reflect how I "see" in most of my dreams:

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.

* * * *

‘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”) ****