Wednesday, July 23, 2008

flight



This picture of a heron was taken sometime in the spring. I may have used it before, except that this is the new improved bluer and smaller version.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

habanero contrition

Forgive me for having doubted thy strength, for it is I who is weak, and thou who in thy mercy did spare me thine most strenuous wrath. Instead, thou have my toes brought wondrous delights, have my armpits shown colors abundant, and have the door upon the crown of my head opened to journeys ineffable. My tongue shall sing thy praises, as soon as it begins working again.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

spiral


This snail was minding its own business when someone moved it into the light (not fair in 100 degree weather) and forced it to pose for a few pictures. It was a good sport about it.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

vanitas still life

Vanitas painting was a style inspired by a line in Ecclesiastes: "all is vanity." The paintings were typically dark and filled with objects that symbolize the transience of life and the futility of earthly possessions. A human skull, for example, was a common way for the painter to say "hey look, people die."

I didn't have any skulls around the house, so I decided to use what was already on my desk and come up with the symbolism later. So here it is. There is a modem, responsible for much idleness. There are two daily joke calendars showing time fly. I still have last year's because it's so funny, and this year's because I forget what day it.

In a classical vanitas painting, musical instruments (along with books) pointed to the empty pursuit of loftiness or knowledge. I prefer to think that mine symbolize an angel playing maracas and a harmonica while dancing on my grave. (I've made a mental note to someday take a picture of what that might look like.)

There is a camera, delegated to less use since I got another. There is an oblique reference to money that will soon be used to pay someone to drill a hole in one of my molars. There is also a large pile of miscellaneous crap, which symbolizes a large pile of miscellaneous crap.