Shadowed Gold by Chipka
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Description
The oily, black proof of automotive repair has written evidence of itself beneath his fingernails.
I thought those words as I watched this image take shape. The perfect, reflective apple, interacting with light, shadow, and the near-presence of background color, tugged at my mind, casing a kind of reverse-light on the things I was thinking. For an instant, I wasn’t looking at a golden apple in English. I was, instead, contemplating gnarled, hard, and gloriously imperfect fruits, gathered from a narrow splinter of land, between a small river and a larger river. A castle stood in the background. In fact, I was standing on castle grounds, though the mass of stone and history looked more like…well…something blank and dour. I’d gone to gather apples with a travel-friend from Brazil. It was a brisk day, and my Brazilian friend complained that it was bitterly cold. We gathered apples. I posted images of them, arranged on a worn, wooden table. I went to sleep to the sound of rapids somewhere in the distance.
The apple in this image is golden, perfect, shaped by commercial ideals with just a little help from Nature. I did not eat this apple. I might have, had the desire overcome me, but I was more interested in seeing it, and watching the backwards light it threw upon memories of gnarled, sullen apples of royal pedigree. I rode waves of that strange light, back to the town of Český Krumlov, and into the company of a travel friend from Brasil, the same friend who developed a craving for fresh apple sauce of a dark and thick variety, of a sort that goes good on fresh bread.
I’m not an intentionally nostalgic person, and yet, I felt the stirring of nostalgia, as I photographed a single, perfect apple: one purchased rather than found. Thoughts slid back, along the course of thoughts, memories, and occasional twinges of curiosity. They went past the castle on the bank of the Vltava river, but didn’t meander far from there. They went back to yet another day…sometime after the taste of Brazilian apple-butter…to a day that didn’t involve apples at all. It was on that day that a Czech local acquaintance (a friend, actually) appeared with dirty fingernails, a full pack of cigarettes, and a plastic bag filled with dubiously-appropriated walnuts. With the memory of royal apples in my mind, I smoked diminutive Czech cigarettes, ate questionable walnuts, and talked to a friend.
On the day that I photographed this apple: I smoked an American cigarette and ate nothing appropriated in a moment of what might have been an episode of honest theft. Instead, I simply photographed an apple, while Corey worked on a story. This is a record of that day: of Corey writing, of me remembering royal apples and another friend (he and Corey would definitely get along) and the shape of an apple, touched by light and shadows.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (26)
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
wysiwig
It does take you back, doesn't it. Its almost like a time machine. For me its the smell of a wood fire and suddenly I'm back in India. This image reminded me of one by Edward Weston titled "Pepper No. 30". Its quite famous and, even though his is black and white, the comparison between his and yours is a fair one.
durleybeachbum
Bold, graphic and absolutely outstanding!
alanwilliams
yes, beautifully done
treasureprints
Elegantly simple.:)
rainbows
So beautiful, dear Chip. Hugs for all day. Di. xx
prutzworks
beautiful light/shadow play
Cyve
WOnderfully done !
abreojos
Awesome creativity!
flyairth
Beautiful in it's simplicity!
Faemike55
very beautiful statement
jendellas
Love it!!
MrsRatbag
The apple's story has been written at least one time before; the golden apple on a hill of glass; something about a princess and a supposedly impossible task. It makes sense to me that this apple has other stories too, since everything and everyone has more than one reality...I like to think of another reality that included a friend contemplating reality while another friend writes another story causing reality to expand in all the ways it loves to do...beautiful shot!
Wolfenshire Online Now!
I'm stunned. The image is amazing and perfect in every element.
netot
It's great as a situation as we can be traced to various memories and feelings, evoking in us a world that was is, and mayve will be. About the image, I love the contrast of light and shadows, curves and straight lines, the presence of bright color and the absence of color in the dark.
flavia49
fantastic picture
KatesFriend
I like how you've worked this shot. There's a slight impressionist feel to it. Speaking of memories, this take me back twenty years to a little Windsor, Ontario art gallery - now a garish and cheap cassino. There, back then, local artists used to be able to display their wears; oils, photography, pottery, you name it. Many pieces employed a style much like yours above. Those were very different times for me as well. It is curious how the human mind can work. One image can in many meaningful ways drag us backwards to a long lost moment in time. Honestly, I haven't thought of that little gallery for many, many years. It was something of a refuge back then. A bit like the atmosphere in the image you've created here. The light and dark working together to make sense and not fighting each other for dominance. Happy Canada Day!
PREECHER
you know what they say one a day keeps em away... awesome shot... chills and thrills
moochagoo
Brilliant work on light and shadows
auntietk
Figuring out the light, the shadows, the shape of the apple ... it's entrancing! A most excellent image, my friend. My brain provided me with the royal apples as well as the religious onion skins ... and an egg, I believe. This is superb!
FredNunes
Really well done! Great results!
pauldeleu
Interesting shot.
myrrhluz
I enjoyed your narrative, which sent my mind on reminiscences of its own. The image is superb! Gorgeous lighting that emphasizes the beauty of the apple's form and color. I like the softness of the shadows on the apple, which seem to caress it. The one exception to this softness, is the shadow of the stem. In its strong and clear lines, it ties in with the shadows on the table. I like the soft yellow reflected light on the table, and the lines of light blurring the distinction between horizontal and vertical planes. I also like the deep contrast and textures on the stem. A beautiful capture!
aksirp
perfect graphic art - no perfect photo of a wonderful apple in the shadow and light! I just love this!
SunriseGirl
You have such a gift with photos and words. The combination is inspiring. Thank you for sharing your talent.
nikolais
lovely image and thoughts, Chip!