As I reach out, Time stops and I freeze, This numbness that I feel, Will someone help me please...

Some of you may have seen this in the gallery... You have no idea how much I want to enter this as my 'hand' theme image, but in all honesty I can't. Yes I saw the photo opportunity and took the photo, the image is mine...but the hand is carved... Once I saw this image downloaded the words to the poem just popped into my head. There you go, inspired by an image. I hope you like the image and the words.

My wife and I with two children in tow went to a magical place called "William Rickett's Sanctuary" today (Well yesterday really now) I'd never been there before, even though it is not far away inthe Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne...silly really, what you miss right under your nose! In surroundings of towering Trees, beautiful ferns and native wildlife, this artist William Rickett had lived and carved and cast his art in clay, making the environment itself his canvas and works of art, yet without desecrating it, indeed, his art is a celebration of life and nature and of the Earth itself... Images to follow..

Here is a picture of one of his many carvings at the entrance to the bush trail that takes you around the sanctuary. William Ricketts had a profound sense of kinship and affinity with the Australian Aborigine and Aboriginal culture..

Further up the track, which winds among the trees and ferns you find many alcoves in the bushland, little "shrines" of the artist's expression of love for the land and the former caretakers of the land before the white man came...

...that hand piece is really stunning. I see worms, swarming worms. Oh god how I would like to take that pic. I can see it, enlarged as big as wall is and being shown in big photo exhibit. Second one is nice too, but would perhaps need more space to top and right side. Now it gives me cornered, too tight feeling. And also, it could work better in b&w. But, it's really nice still. You are such great photographer and truly can see things, so I'm gonna nitpick with these minor things for you now on. .n

What an awesome place! I love the alcove, it looks so peaceful, and the man "merged" with the rock is incredible. I bet you're already planning a return trip! ;-)

Thankyou Niko and Sweet...I'll be going back certainly, and with my SLR this time! Niko, nit-pick away, it's very welcome, your constructive criticism, and if it helps me become a better photographer then I'm very grateful...but there is a little bit more to show and tell, please indulge me :-)> As you may see from this image, Ricketts visualised the Aboriginal as a sort of spiritual "gaurdian angel" of the land...

There is one carved image that speaks of the advent of the white man...here is a detail; note the crown of bullets on his head. This carving was called "Betrayed" and in truth some of the things done in the past to the indigenous people were truly terrible...

Most of Ricketts carvings were of peaceful, beautiful images however...and the peace of the surrounding environment, with the sound of naturally running water and native bird calls was incredibly calming... Ironically however, about 15 minutes before we left, the sound of a chainsaw started up in the near distance... It was in this sanctuary however, that the wonderful hand image presented itself to me...those seeming worms are merely moss, but they sure look great when the image has the colour removed, eh! As I said, I shall be returning to this place, soon! Stay well everyone! :-)>

BTW ~ If any of you ever visit the PunkClown family in the future, I will gladly take you there...!

Stunning photography Punkie, a beautiful sanctuary it seems, and the carvings just awesome....thanks for showing me a place I may never get to see in real life.

Beautiful place, and excellent pics.. that first one looks sooo much like necrotizing tissue in a non-freaky way. :P (actually, that's what I thought it was at first glance - then I looked at it again and noticed the cracks in the wrist) Very neat. :) - darkpen

I'm astonished like I've never in a long time...
...And feel a little bit let down, but I'll try to heal as swiftly as I can... :):)

Seriously, I like this hand photo a lot...
If it's not your "'constructed photo' with a great impressiveness", than it's your "very strong 'still-life photo'" that is made with your careful and artistic choices and compositioning...
...Close-up on the subject matter, balanced compositioning, good lighting and exposure...

Nice piece, nevertheless...

Is it possible for us to see the whole carving that this hand belongs to..?

Regards... :)

Thanks for taking us to this magic place in your country.

A truly wonderful place, looks like you could spend forever there, stunning photo's. That hand, a very moving & evocative image, seems to me a strange combination of peace & decay, I like the words too.

Why not enter it as the hand entry. ( I'm rebelling here! ) mainly because there is no definite statement in the contest guidelines which state the hands bust be living hands. ( Plus if you hadn't told me I wouldn't have known. ) Bsteph

bsteph, I don't know...can we bounce ithe question to the moderators... Alpha, Syyd, what do you think? Doruk, when I go back I will try and capture more of the carving that the hand belongs to...it's a bit awkward as there is ferns 7 bush etc. off to either side and you are limited to certain POV's for most of the shots, but I'll try! Everyone, thankyou again for your feedback, Gun...I so wish I could take you all there in person!

Be careful. You'll have a band of be-dragled photographers on your doorstep. What's for dinner? Warn the cat. Wonderful pictures of a wonderful place. Even the alcove has hands! If in the mood, you could translate to Haiku: When in reaching out The numbness I feel stops time. Will someone help, please? Haven't translated to limerick. Need more alcohol.

PC- How big are the ferns and can you move them? Misha-Yup I feel hungry! Here I'll start the limerik. There once was a man from Nantucket. Whose hands were the size of large buckets... Bsteph

Your poem struck painfully close to home, Punk. I like your images

Misha, BSteph, you make me laugh! Thankyou! No, you can't move the ferns, some of them are a few metres (or more) high! Love your haiku Misha and Bsteph's limerick! Oh, and it's official...I asked and Alpha said I can incliude this! Yay! To quote Alpha; "I would use it if you want to as there was no requirement saying that it had to be the hand of a living person." Thanks Alpha, and thanks for being a rebel bsteph...I used to be one once...Oh BTW, what are your dietary requirements guys? ;-)>

Oh Caledonia, sorry, our messages crossed...thankyou for your comments, I hope my poem didn't resonate with you too painfully...take care everyone.

There once was a man from Nantucket. Whose hands were the size of large buckets... When photo'ing gears, Or bubb'ly spheres, ...

....His thumb often showed up and mucked it! (Well, I had to keep it clean, LOL! ;-P)

I really love you guys...you are all so craaaazy! (in the best kind of way)

Beautiful, Man. The dapples of sunlight in the door, and leading through the alcove, are stunning. What a freaky place. Joe

LOL would that place ever be the same after you dragged a bunch of Renderosity crazys round, (pictures Bsteph doing battle with tree ferns......)

See. I didn't say what I initially thought. " Can you cut the ferns off! " But I realized that it may be a no no. I did the right thing and suggested restraining them. But nooooo. People had to read my mind and get at the crux of the matter. PC.- The ferns are an abomination! It marred your photo. Punish it. It sucks out all of the good Carbon Dioxide. Which retards the global warming process that warmblooded people like oh so much. Punish it. Plus it messies with the scenery. Punish it with prejudice!!! Next time you return to this place, I urge you to bring some bleach some garden shears! JUST KIDDING!!!!!! Please don't harm the ferns. Bsteph