Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Stern But Stirring Stone Statuary Story . . .

Just across the English Channel from here, there is a blog in progress that has captured my imagination from the first day I saw it, a gentleman after my own heart who loves ancient stones, hungry trees with faces, cemetery spirits, and old houses that may have seen better days, as well as history and John Fowles and god only knows what else, for he is a complex character of many facets. If you haven't been already, I would highly recommend a visit to Creating Pictures In My Mind, and do leave a word of encouragement for Laurie, a little bird whispered to me that he's having a rather busy Summer. . .
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These two stone lions are an echo of some stone lions he posted not long ago . . . the French take on stern stone statuary . . .
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23 comments:

The Sagittarian said...

That first lion looks like he's about to spit something out, and the other looks like he's holding something in! How do they do that!!! I'd be lyin' if I said I knew, manely cos you would be able to tell. Maybe you should add ROAR to your blog comments (Right Of Admissiion Reserved i.e.).....lalalalala,

Owen said...

Jeez Louise, Amanda, you are FAST !!! Ooops, I know it's not polite to refer to someone as a "fast" woman... but shoot, I hardly got that posted and there you are with the quickest riposte in the west... or the east, wherever you are... well, Roar away !!! Suppose you must have seen the Narnia books, and maybe the movies too ??? night night, I'm off to get my beauty sleep !
:-D

Owen said...

Mane ? Lyin ? Oh dear, that slipped by me at first reading, I must be tired... fur sure... oh boy, people who pun like that at ungodly hours just have no respect for other people's felines... :-D

Steve said...

There's something very cartoony about these 2 lions - kind of 1950's Walt Disney...

cieldequimper said...

Je suis trop fatiguée pour remarquer autre chose qu'une belle alliteration...

Roxana said...

oh, Owen, they remind me of the magical shishi lions, the guardians of japanese shrines!

check this out:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shishi.shtml

and also: they are said to be dogs too, it fits your previous post so well :-)

The Sagittarian said...

haha, I have no problem being called fast...it cuts out all the boring chit chat, don't you think? :-)

Anonymous said...

Great pictures, I'm off to visit your bloggy friend.

Lydia said...

They are kinda funny lion faces, but I wouldn't want to be standing near them in an earthquake.
I'll go check out the blog and try to figure out who Laurie is...
:)

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

Hungry trees with faces and John Fowles sounds good. I'll check out his Blog. xx

Millennium Housewife said...

Was your wife awake? I hope she gave you short shrift if she was..
What does LSHIAPMP mean? I'm hoping nothing too wounding.

Batteson.Ind said...

Love the first photo, lots of stony texture going on there. And you can't get better than a stone lion! There's just something so classic about it. Loverly pics!

Marguerite said...

Very interesting expressions on the lion's faces. Will visit your friends blog, Owen.

Jo said...

You know, reading your blog inspires me to go out and take wonderful, interesting pictures. Your pictures are fabulous. I get so bored with Photoshopped macros of flowers. That seems to be all anyone does anymore. But not you...!

I am going to check out the blog you mentioned as well.

Owen said...

Hi Marguerite, enjoy, enjoy !

Hey Cats, stone lions are pretty good indeed, better than stoned lions, for sure... :-D

Hey there Millenium, my wife invited me to sleep on the sofa... no, just kidding, she's used to me coming in late, 'cause I work a night shift alot... and I'm very quiet and never bother her at that time of night !!! :-D

LSHIAPMP means : "Laughing so hard I almost peed my pants..." (the word "almost" being the key word there, as LSHIPMP is far worse) Hope there's nothing wounding about that... :-)

JTP, hope you have a good time there... :-) Have you read some Fowles along the way ?

Hi Lydia, yes, definitely stay away from them if the earth starts quaking...

Salut Dedene... hope you enjoy, do let me know what you think...

Ah Amanda... yeah, cuts out boring chit chat and having to dance for hours and buy alot of expensive drinks and stuff... you may have a point there... :-D

Roxana... I'll be off to look at them when I get home from work, sounds wonderful already though, many thanks for the link !!!

Chère Ciel, il te faut du café donc... ma suggestion serait que tu jetes un coup d'oeil sur le blog Photos Sans Cibles par Clo dans ma liste à droite, et descends quelques postes jusqu'au poste d'un clip vidéo sur le café... bon courage ! Merci pour ta visite si matinale !

Steve, no doubt they were sculpted back in the 15th century by someone who had travelled back in time from the 22nd century, and who was familiar with Disney's work???!!! :-D

Owen said...

Hi Jo ! You slipped in just as I was answering folks... great to see you here, and thanks so much, it is true, there are not too many macros of flowers here, that's not exactly my cup of tea photographically... have a great time at Laurie's place, he also is not a flower guy. Not that I don't love flowers, but there is a sur-abundance of flower photos out there already... take care, and hope you're having fine summer weather in Vancouver...

The Sagittarian said...

I guess I could have just said I have no PRIDE. (LSHIAPMP)

clo said...

royales tes photos du jours Owen...
bonne soirée...:)

Alexandra MacVean said...

These are incredible stone statues. Seriously. I love the fact that you were able to capture such feeling about them within your photos.

robert said...

Good morning Owen, these lions of yours do remind me too of those protecting ones refered early on.
A photography which may guard what you bring out to light...am on my way to the blog you refered to.

Margaret Pangert said...

They look grim, but not depressed. I think a stern stone sentinel in a graveyard is reassuring to those who have loved ones buried there. Also, another one of Laurie's blogs I find very interestig is The Graveyard Detective.

Janie said...

The lions certainly look stern. And the carving looks worn, as if it has been in place for centuries.

Anonymous said...

Full of expressions. Great captures!