Not Seen as the Observer Wills by Chipka
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Description
I’ve learned many things from many sources. In looking at birds, black ones…and pears (usually in pairs) I often find myself recalling words once spoken by one of my favorite poets. Wallace Stevens (known for quite a number of excellent poems) is also the man who (to my knowledge) first described reality as the product of imagination as it shapes our world. He states, quite overtly, and creatively, that reality is an activity and not a static object. That which is real is dynamic…a process. I rather like that view of things—grossly oversimplified as I’ve rendered it here. To put another spin on it, according to Wallace Stevens, imagination is not in any way similar to consciousness, and reality doesn’t have very much to do with the world outside of our minds.
I didn’t think of Wallace Stevens as I made this photograph of a pear. I didn’t think of Wallace Stevens until months after I’d made this photograph. I smiled at the thought of it, and wondered if (perhaps) I should have photographed two pears and thus, visually re-created a Wallace Stevens poem: “Study of Two Pears.” I didn’t do that. This is not a poem by Wallace Stevens. An Echo, maybe, but not a poem. I wondered if I should have recreated the actual structure of the poem itself and taken six photos of two pears. I didn’t do that either, and so—again—we don’t have a study of two pears.
Since I’d made this photograph, I’d been trying to find thins to say of it. I rather like it; but the more I explore this image and allow myself to try and recapture whatever I felt as I made it, I find that it becomes harder and harder to talk about. I will say that this pear was inspired by an onion-skin, and photographed at Corey’s place. That’s about all I can say, really, though I do wonder if at a later time, a story might come out of it. Time will tell, I suppose…unless of course, it doesn’t.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a fantastic weekend.
Comments (27)
RodS
I love a couple things about this photo - the way the light plays off the upper part of the pear gives it an almost velvety appearance - more like a peach. And the way it kind of fades gradually into darkness near the bottom of the pear is almost like looking into a black hole - the unknown... You're a master of taking a common object, and a simple lighting scheme and making thought provoking art with it. Kudos, my friend!
blinkings
Well I have to say it screams 'Rubenesque' to me!
Orinoor
I'm leaning more toward Blinkings, the pear has a certain weight to it, a heaviness in the posterior and I do really like the way the light falls.
tofi
Intriguing and inspirational image Chip! The very shape with its contours is most curious, and I really like the way you have worked here with the lighting.... such a very creative and expressive composition. It almost leaves me speechless. A pleasure reading into what you say about the imagination, and the way you have interpreted them in your image here. Very special artpiece!
m_j_s
cool shot!
KatesFriend
Whenever I see a pear, I think of my late great kitty Scoop. Gruff yet lovable Scoop, burlesque queen of all cats. Her bearing mimicked the shape of a pear quite remarkably. Ah yes, she's ignoring me even now, staring at the wall when she was displeased with me - when dinner was late or unsatisfactory. Now all we need is that famous, cranky, grunt like meow of hers. Did I mention that she also practiced yoga? Well sort of. Thanks for bringing back all those great memories.
MrsRatbag
I love this shot, for millions of reasons...not the least of which being that I hadn't thought of Wallace Stevens for a long time--thanks for making me remember!
CoreyBlack
I didn't know Wallace Stevens was your favorite poet? Geez, ya know a guy 12 years... I remember when you were making this, vaguely, it's all part of the post surgery blur of last fall/winter. I'd never actually seen any of the Pear Series though until just now. I like this a lot! It has a mysteriously ominous "I-Am-About-To-Be-Revealed-And-I'm-Not-What-You-Think-I-Am" quality and I can hear the opening to "Thus Spake Zarathustra" starting to play as the camera moves in and the pear begins to turn toward you and it's TONY PERKINS MOTHER IN PSYCHO!!! I think I've had way too much caffeine this evening... Love this shot. Hope to see more.
treasureprints
I love this pear photo...the lighting, the way it caresses the gentle bumps on the pear...:)
whaleman
Who knows, you might get a pair of peachy stories from it later.
durleybeachbum
I need to look up Wallace Stevens. As for the photo, the pear speaks for itself. She is saying "Thank God he's put the light behind me, my cellulite will be almost indiscernible."
Meisiekind
LOL @ Andrea! What a wonderful inspiration Chip. I love the backlit image. I am so far behind in commenting... sigh I do look at all the upload but the time to comment is little! I understand you guys are HOT in Chicago - what a contrast to the day we went for cheesecake! Miss you guys! xx
Feliciti
like this, it leaves enough space for their own thoughtless games... great backlighting too !
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God Bless.
pauldeleu
A wonderful and contrasting image.
fallen21
Superb photo!
flavia49
fabulous image and prose!
dreampaint
very good light
witch_1612
Wonderful Work!!!
helanker
Superb and very original shot, chip. Love the simplicity in this
auntietk
At first I thought it might be a Horta, but there's another creature ... I can't think of the name ... Aside from that random trip, I love the light. This is so dramatic!
sandra46
it looks delicious in its fatty outline! great shot
micturn
Very cleverly done, your typical still life inverted
Ilona-Krijgsman
excellent lighting.....it pops out gorgeous...well done Chip
watapki66
Great work!
jac204
Nice capture with the halo effect. I guess we'll just have to let the pear speak for itself.
icerian
Peras are the miracl of nature. Perfect shape. You did very nice work playing wit the light.