Incandescence by Chipka
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Description
“It’s dark in here,” the Goddess complained.
And so Her Consort reached into his mouth and removed a soul.
He touched it with fire.
And so, there was light.
The Book of Openings: First Iteration 1:1-4
Traditional Edition, Unrevised
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For members of the Faith Phlogiston, fire is the Human Purpose. As in many theistic religions, there is the promise of an afterlife, and it depends wholly on one’s behavior on the Earthly Plane. For members of the Church Phlogiston, ethical and moral behavior enhances the flammability of the human soul. Immorality and unethical behavior moistens the soul and makes it harder (if not impossible) to burn. It is no coincidence, then, that in the Liturgies of Phlogiston (as enumerated in The Book of Openings) the terms kindling and soul are synonymous. Though Faith Phlogiston promises an afterlife, it is unlike the afterlives of equally ancient and widespread religions. There is no eternal bliss or punishment, there is only usefulness, and so members of Faith Phlogiston are advised (by the Most Reverent Reverends) to follow the Just Ways and thus become torches (though contemporary interpretations of The Way substitute the term light bulbs for the more anachronistic ‘torches.’)
Faith Phlogiston is—beyond any doubt—the most visible of the world’s religions; this is due—in large part—to the luminous extravagance of Phlogiston churches (called Sockets by the Faithful.) Each place of worship (church, socket, etc.) resembles a grand theater, its entire front dominated by a marquee studded with incandescent and neon lights. Unlike theater marquees, however, announcements and declarations are not a feature. The glowing patterns are generally abstract, or exactingly-geometrical (depending on sect, sub-sect, or national denomination.)
Faith Phlogiston is the world’s dominant religion, rivaled only by Orthodox Judeo-Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islamic-Buddhism: to date, Faith Phlogiston claims three-quarters of a billion followers, though recent surveys indicate a figure closer to half-a-billion.
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Yeah, um, okay…strange things happen when you walk past the Chicago Theater at night and take pictures of the lights. Well, stranger things happen in my mind after the photographic capture of lights, and I suspect that Faith Phlogiston is, simply, one of those things. I rather like the idea, however, of a faith that doesn’t promise eternal bliss or damnation as the sole purpose of an afterlife, and I find it rather intriguing that a faith could, theoretically develop, that promises nothing more than usefulness or non-usefulness as the sole existential purpose of the human soul. I can’t say that I’d actually like such a religion, but in light of many of the world’s religions, the idea of souls serving as light-bulbs is…in its way…entirely reasonable. Well…it is for those who adhere to that particular faith.
As I’ve said just above, this is one of the bright, flashy bits of the Chicago Theater and not one of the churches…um, I mean, sockets of Faith Phlogiston. I hadn’t even intended for this image to represent anything other than the Chicago Theater, as seen after Corey and I visited with Tara and Bill…but strange things happen when I look at an image and start writing, and Faith Phlogiston is one of those things, I guess.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great post-Halloween week.
Comments (27)
kgb224
As always amazing photography my friend. God Bless.
durleybeachbum
Brilliant! I had such a giggle.. The effusings of your superb imagination have made my evening! The pic is good too.
icerian
Dear Chip, this is another capture with magic urban mood. Thanks for sharing!
RodS
Somehow, there's just nothing that beats the nice warm glow of old-fashioned incanescant bulbs in night photos - especially when there are this many of them! :-D What a great capture! The man and woman walking through the 'tunnel' of light adds the perfect human element. A superb photo, Chip!
BessieB
A wonderful capture and your words as ever bring me closer to a world with imagination, something I tend to lack myself.
Faemike55
so this is what is meant by, 'get your glow on!'? Great capture wonderful lighting
NefariousDrO
Considering that so many older religions had a fixation on the sun (and sometimes in bizarre forms. I mean, a Dung Beetle rolls the sun across the sky? Hardly what our modern sensibilities would consider noble, but I digress) but there's a kind of symmetry to that idea that is distinctly human. I also like the photo, the warm light works well, especially with the couple holding hands to reinforce the romantic mood. I can't help but imagine how much HEAT those lights are putting out, too.
anmes
Sensational
photosynthesis
Great night shot - those rows of lights create a kind of op art effect...
mgtcs
Here we see the writer's mind at work... The process of inspiration as distilled by the the muse herself! <3 the Church Phlogiston concept. The perspective of the image brings to the mind notion of a horizon, something afar. The alignment of the lamps suggest order and purpose, almost a like people lining up on a parade. I can clearly follow your train of thought (once it has been presented, of course, I would not presume to recreate such imaginative thinking on my own). Great image, even better creativity.
beachzz
Guess they had to put a little light on the subject!!
CoreyBlack
Very funny. You had me going for a second there... I suppose in this religion it would be easy to tell the bright bulbs from the dim ones at first glance. And it would certainly give new meaning to the expression about a person "lighting up a room" with their presence... There's a dreamy, hypnotic quality to this shot that I love, and the DOF makes it look almost like you're falling into it. A nicely "illuminating" shot from a wonderful and luminous evening. Okay, I'm going to shut up now. Great work as always!
Sepiasiren
love it!
auntietk
Love the photograph, and your new religion is ... well ... let's just say I feel enlightened by the whole thing. :P
whaleman
A touch of Vegas! I don't think about religion, I think about all those double coil tungsten filaments, all burning at about 3,000 °C, only 3 or 4 hundred degrees below the melting point of tungsten. So we have all those hot irradiation points, like little suns all lined up. This could be the start of a new religion, and you could be the chief 'illuminary' if you'll pardon the pun!
flavia49
fabulous story and great image
fallen21
Awesome picture.
evinrude
OUTSTANDING!!!
helanker
Awesome shot again. I Have to wait with the writing.
MrsRatbag
Enlightenment central! I love the lines of bulbs going off into the distance, and your mind is delightfully fertile as always...
evielouise
Phlogiston"hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm read a fvew articles online I try very hard to leave religion out of my every day talk as it seems to strike a match on fire all by itself love your explanation and this photo is striking :(pun intended ))
sandra46
BEAUTIFUL, FASCINATING IMAGE!
anaber
In fact, each one is a simple and very well known lamp:) Together, like in a "volunteer" organization, they make a stunning light. The effect is wonderful and the result is majestic!Great photo as always!
angora
terrific shot!
bmac62
Very bright piece of photography and writing. Can you imagine being the chief light bulb changer at the Chicago Theater...wow! So what do I wonder about? If that girl's legs are cold:)
Ilona-Krijgsman
You always see so cool objects, this is one of them...I bet if you go out your eyes will be everywhere..so many bulbs
danapommet
Cool perspective in the light bulbs.