Perhaps these two photos could serve as illustrations for the poem just below this post ? There is a road map on this prison door, maybe it depicts the road never travelled. How many people on this planet live in prisons, either literally, or figuratively ? Peering out through barred windows for a glimpse of the sky and the endless night ? Seeing the tailgate of the truck in front of them too late, as it approaches at the speed of light ?
.
And how many women on this poor sodding planet live frozen prison lives, imprisoned by brutality, imprisoned by cruel economic need, imprisoned and impregnated against their will, as though frozen under glass, helpless to breathe, turned to ice like the White Witch's prisoners in Narnia . . .
.
..
Posts
32 comments:
I like both of these. But the second one is very different, one of those pictures that says something different depending on what the viewer brings to the table.
I see a reverse view into the photographers mind.
I love that first photo - what an interesting shot and I wonder who drew that map and what they were thinking?? There is a great blog about strange maps that I think will really appeal to you...take a look at it on my blog roll when you get a chance
These poems make a real statement when placed side by side, a definite relationship that speaks volumes about human existence.
Perhaps this is the prison you spoke of? Oh, to sink our photographic teeth into this beast…
I like both of these! I like your clever way to connect words and images. You have content!
Have a great week! :)
Owen, thank you for each of your beautifully worded, thoughtfully written comments which encourage me so and make me smile.
:-)
thought provoking images. Well done my friend.
V
Wow, I always knew you were an awesome photographer and now I know the depth and insight you use to write.
Wonderful insights - coming from someone who has worked with hundreds of literal and figurative prisoners like you've described here. Great photos.
Yes Owen, we sometimes make our own prisons ...
when we are excitedly making them we know not that they are or will be prisons... it is only later when we look back and think... why did we not see... why did we not imagine what it would become... was our vision or sight-lines too narrow...
..luckily, we do learn from our experiences.
The first photo is fascinating - some many stories that could explain it. Sometimes I wonder about the prisons, literal and metaphorical, my students will end up in...or are.
Wow! Stunning! Such meaningful words too. Love it!
oui la première photo est surprenante, elle nous fait nous poser des questions :-)
merci owen de nous livrer de si belles images !
kisses xxx
C'est toi Owen dans le reflet de cette vitrine ?... T'as un beau chapeau ! ! !... et en même temps, tu lui tiens le cou à cette jeune femme !...;-)
Amitiés chasseur d'images !
Jeff
Currently watching a programme about quantum mechanics.... schrodingers (sp) cat etc.... there's a good comment for these observations.... observation, makes things real!....
head.....
*splodes!
That is a very thought-provoking hat the photographer is wearing! Literally and figuratively.
I don't often comment, but just wanted to say how very much I enjoy your blog -- the poetry below is heart wrenching. And your photos are always amazing. I could spend quite some time here wandering around through posts!
@eloh, I guess any artist (that's a big word in my case) in any medium is going to open up a "reverse view" into their mind... but always open to as many interpretations as there are viewers. Sometimes what the artist thinks he or she is presenting is going to be seen as something far different from what they thought... opening of the quicksands of misinterpretation, etc etc. But if one is driven by whatever mad inspiration, one must continue, wherever the road may lead...
======
Hi Catherine, I most certainly will take a look at the strange map blog you've mentioned here, I love maps of all descriptions... there was an excellent book about Alaska, people who have disappeared all over the map...
PS For anyone who is interested in maps... take a look at :
http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/
======
Hey Steve, yeah, volumes about the seamier side of human existence. I'd like to just ignore it, but one is confronted with the seamy side almost everywhere... in French we say, "on est cerné", which translates loosely as,"we are surrounded", or "they are everywhere"...
Lovely photos.
I'm partial to reflections in all their glory.
I once read that André Malraux said that art was not so much an impression of something, but rather more an expression of someone.
The recent photos and poems are the generous expressions of a deeply compassionate soul.
A rare jewel...
Deep thougt provoking and stiring words amd images. You know how to stir emotions.
Wow! Thanks for this, Owen. Very heady and deep.
Hi Tom, actually, this building is a disaffected military arsenal building, which is just up the street from the prison I've mentioned. This shot is looking at the door next to the big entrance gate to the closed military facility, if one turns around back to this door, the prison in question is directly opposite. Am going to try to get to the prison exterior photos tonight, hope you saw the link to the interior photos that someone did 20 years ago when the place was closed down...
Cheers,
======
Blogitse ! Thanks so much... I may have a little bit of "content", but you have a big dose of "kindness"...
======
Priya, no need to thank me, your work is so good that one cannot help but be moved to comment about it... love that last drawing ! So dark, so foreboding, brooding... I feel like that sometimes too ! When I'm not laughing about something...
:-)
======
Virginia, If not always aiming to "please", I am at least aiming at provoking some thought... if that works, then that is good news...thanks !
======
TechnoB, thanks, profoundly... just looking at the world and trying to make some sense of it, and often failing...
:-)
======
Kristi, Hopefully you were able to help some of them to free themselves from whatever nets they were tangled in ? Thanks very much...
Gwen, what's the old and oft belabored expression : You make your bed and then you lie in it... But not much fun to be forced to lie in a bed not of your own choosing....
======
J., hopefully under your influence some of them may realize that prison is not a good option ?
======
Alyson, a thousand thank you's !
======
Bonsoir Karine, infiniment merci... si cela te plait même un tout petit peu, je suis plus que content, car en regardant ton blog, on voit toute de suite quel goût exquis que tu as pour tout le coté aesthétique de la photographie ! Un régal ton site !!!
Biz amicaux...
======
Jeff, ah, tu es là ! Et toujours aussi observateur ! Oui, en effet, c'est mon chapeau de chasseur d'image, car peut-être tu ne le sais pas, mais avec mes cheveux roux et peau plus que blanc d'anglais privé du soleil, j'ai du mal à gerer ces rayons qui peuvent provoquer des brulures et autres soucis à long terme, donc, un chapeau devient nécessaire... surtout l'été... Et oui, comme tu as vu, je sautais au cou de cette belle jeune femme, en fait, la ligne de son cou me coupe la tête en deux comme tu as dû remarquer... (je parle bien du cou...)(je sais l'alliteration dont tu es le maitre t'a fait penser à autre chose... surtout de la part d'un amérloque qui a du mal à prononcer correctement cou et c** de manière à distinguer les deux... ! Mais que dis-je??? je déc***e, sans avoir choqué j'espère les aurtres lecteures et lectrices francophone... donc, je r'commence...
Merci cher Jeff de ta fidelité à mon humble site, tu es sans doute le lecteur le plus fidele depuis le début, je pense tu n'as quasiment pas loupé une seule épisode...(m/f episode?) bref, faudrait que tu gagnes un prix un de ces quatres... une lanterne magique et un tonneau de ...
Ciao mon pxpte...
======
Dear Cats in Water... from raunchy roadside visions to prisons to quantum mechanics is quite the giant quantum leap... but I'll follow your lovely wit just about anywhere ! Always a pleasure when you all stop in, even if I do have to sweep up the camel droppings after...
;-D
======
Hey Lynne, that's my thinking cap... or my dunce cap... actually, see response to Jeff above... the sun is not always my friend... as much as I love the sun...
:-D
======
Dear Liz, thanks so much for dropping into the comment box, and feel free to look as long and leisurely as you like ! That's what it's all here for... and many thanks !
======
Dear Fram ! Hey, great to see you ! Keep dreaming of you and Mr Fram on a vast palm tree lined beach with turquoise waters ! Could you send me some of that ??? All the best to you both, and glad you enjoyed these little bits of eye candy...
Dear Stickup... I'm getting back up off the floor... you've floored me, I'm sure I don't know what to say, other than a tiny little... thank you... (through my watering eyes...)
======
James, that may come from having listened many times to the song that the Jerry Garcia Band liked to play from time to time called : Stir It Up.... Many thanks my friend in Pennsylvania !
======
Dear NannyGoats, heady like the lovely aroma of wild goats ! Thanks very much, wonderful to see you out grazing in pastures wide and far !
Great photos, I like the first one. You can almost feel the desperation of having to be behind those bars...well done, Twin.
Amanda, ah, you made it... and I haven't even been by to see what the Tipple was last night... will have to hurry while there is still some left... And yeah, I think I'll try to stay out from behind bars... So, you've opted for twin ? Then twin it is...
:-)
Lets shatter that glass ceiling!
Owen - thank you for all of your kind words always. I appreciate your time in looking at my work, and of course, your feedback. Thanks! Yes, how lucky for us both that you stumbled on my humble little blog so long ago! Yeah! Lets keep shooting for the stars!
Hi Heather ! A few kind words are the very least I can offer from afar when in the presence of work as fine as yours is... no exaggeration... your last series of black and white concert shots is just phenomenal ! So yeah, onwards and upwards, toward the stars...
Yes but i'm the younger and evil one....
May all of your roads lead to an adequate sight in comparison to your thoughts.
Thank you also for allowing to 'see' through your eyes.
A wonderful Thursday for you all.
Ah Saj, you are no doubt quite the "enfant terrible"...
=======
Robert, you are so very welcome... entschuldigung, bitte...
======
Post a Comment