A Simple Photograph by Chipka
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Description
Colors. Faces. Light falling on an irregular fold of cloth. A spark of electricity in the meat of the brain. These things in and of themselves may mean nothing; they may combine, however, and only for an instant, and shift all of reality. This is, I think, the essence of life: coincidental recombinations.
Places. Sounds. Languages. In a sense, these things might all mean something, and combined, their meanings shift: rather like the blank pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, fitting themselves together before drawing a common, sprawling picture onto themselves. This, I think is another element of life: putting a puzzle together before putting a picture on it.
There are people in my life I’ve never met, but I know them well. There are people in my life I have met, but I never see them. I know them well. I can say things to them, in Russian, in English, in some crippled variant of Czech. My Russian is improving. Slowly. Learning how to speak in a language not your own: this is one of any number of small surprises in life.
Colors. Faces. Places. A battered, fraying post card from Prague: these things came together in a quiet moment with my camera: the image here is the end result. It is a surprise, to me, immortalized digitally.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (18)
treasureprints
Nicely done, and a great narrative.:)
netot
beautiful comp. and beautiful text.
Faemike55
Da! very good work!
KatesFriend
You sometimes wish the person captured in a photo such as this could actually see 'out' from his period at that moment to know how his/her image is being used or immortalized. Or even see a sliver of the world looking back at him or her with such high reverence. Rod Serling was interviewed at the University of Kansas back in 1970. It was shot on film and obviously intended to be viewed as part of a current writing programme provided at that time. I was struck by his remarks about his preferred forms of science or speculative fiction. Serling more enjoyed stories that pondered life in say 1999 to say 2500 AD. Events set in the future but still mostly recognizable as his world. There I was quite casually listening to his remarks some forty-two years into his future. The future that intrigued him the most. Watching and listening through my portable (and by his standards 'super') computer (a laptop computer) sitting my kitchen table no less. I found myself saying, "If only you knew Rod, if only". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wfazePQzj8
Wolfenshire
I like it. It's interesting. I'm not all into words... yea, I paint (digital or otherwise) what I mean. But yea, this has a simplicity I like.
beachzz
I know this guy; he's the one who keeps getting lost, and then found again. I'm sure there's some deep meaning there, but in the meantime, it's nice to know he's still here, keeping us on our toes!!
durleybeachbum
I recognise this person who has held such a place in your artistic life. Great read ( you and him)
auntietk
I love the way this postcard connects people who have never met. I can say to you, "Tell Pavel I said hello and give him my regards," and I know he sends warm greetings to me from time to time, but we've never met, may never meet. Yet we have both held this postcard in our hands. We have both watched you stand it up against a glass and photograph it. I assume he, also, knows the story of Kafka's loss and rediscovery in the lobby of a north side Chicago hotel. People on Renderosity who were not in Prague, who were not in Chicago that night, have a connection to this postcard as well, as a recurring connection and theme in your gallery. The threads that bind the world together might be fragile, might be odd from time to time, but they're certainly real. I can easily imagine the connection that would occur were I to meet a Renderosity person I'd not met before, or someone you knew in Prague, someone who knows your work ... the connection that would happen when your name was mentioned, and then Kafka's. Instant recognition. This is a good thing!! :)
bmac62
I know of the Kafka postcard and some of these connections. I like all of the comments above but particularly the one by KatesFriend mentioning Rod Serling. Both Twilight Zone and later Night Gallery were favorites of mine. Your photo and your writing have allowed me to drift down a memory lane and stop completely to read Rod Serling's wiki in detail. What a creative writer, producer and narrator! Let me leave you with a quote of Rod Serling's that I've always liked pondering, "There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition."
icerian
Wow, Franz Kafka i so nice red environment. I like contrast to his complikated life. Well done!
kgb224
Stunning work my friend. God Bless.
MrsRatbag
I think maybe one of my favourite things about your rambles are what they inspire in others; reading the posts by other people here shows how you manage to elicit all kinds of tangential memories and thoughts. That's a true storyteller, my friend!
helanker
Kafka, one of your favs, I have learned over time :) He looks nice on this red cloth.
flavia49
wonderful
sandra46
EXCELLENT WORK
Isabelle711
Very beautifully done. :)))))) Most excellent capture my friend. :)))) Thank you for sharing all of the beauty you see. :)))) Carry A Warm Smile In Your Heart :)))))
aksirp
after we know some one well established there is so much to find in this person, did we really know this person? He had several facets... Your artwork with the flexed old portrait is adequate to him! the red background of stage...., his drift to left... very interesting done Chip-ka!
moochagoo
I've read Kafka (letters) recently. :))