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The Thirteenth Moon
The Thirteenth Moon
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Sacred Places (Classic Editing)
Camera: Sony DSC-F717
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date: Nov 4, 2003
Aperture: f 5.6
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Emotive, Landscape
Date Uploaded: Nov 7, 2003

 The image is a current photograph of the city of Vancouver viewed from the former village of Ee'yullmough (now Jericho Beach), heredetery property of the Musqueam and Coast Salish Nation. The ground is as sacred to me as it is to them, despite the massive evidence of pillage.

The 13 moons system is a strategy that was developed by the Coast Salish people for survival. It focuses on cycles, allowing the harvesting of resources at specified times and guiding the social and ceremonial aspects of life. Religion and ritual guide the movements through the seasons, while the stories associated with each moon serve as connections between religion and resource management. The system of the 13 moons makes ecology and religion inseparable.

As an example of the 13 moons system, Sis’et, the elder moon, is the most important time of year ceremonially. It is a time for character building, focusing on family and interpersonal relationships. It occurs around January and is also the time of year that conservation practices are taught to younger generations. Whereas education in the Western system emphasizes individuality, the 13 moons system has a strong community focus. Each of the moons is associated with stories, certain types of weather, economic and cultural activities.

The Coast Salish bands of today believe that the social problems that many reserves are currently experiencing are because they lost control of the family institutions by losing control of their connections to the moons. The loss of the principles guiding the 13 moon system has led to dislocated culture and spiritual beliefs. Respect for land is one of the over-riding principles emphasized in the system, accompanied with the idea of "taking only what is needed" creating a base for sustainable resource management.

Statistics
Place: 22 out of 109
Avg (all users): 6.1507
Avg (commenters): 7.8235
Avg (participants): 5.8133
Avg (non-participants): 6.5070
Views since voting: 1586
Votes: 146
Comments: 21
Favorites: 5 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/20/2005 01:44:07 AM
Utterly memorable photograph.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2003 06:06:10 PM
Interesting story. I had no idea that was behind the photo. That definitely makes it a sacred place. I had an impression of fall and that lonely tree with the city in the distance made me think of the battle between nature and humanity. Almost as if nature is in it’s (fall) and mankind is overwhelming it. The story makes it even more poignant
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2003 01:26:51 AM
I kind-of figured out that it was a long shot of a city from some shoreline, but didn't recognized the specific location. Must be because the couple of times I've been at Jericho Beach (staying at the youth hostel there) I never got down low for that kind of view.

I've wanted to take a shot across the beach with the ski run in the background -- I think it's just to the left of your shot here.

Thanks for the background info -- I think finding out all this "regional" knowledge is one of the most interesting things about participating here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2003 12:35:57 AM
Bummer. I wrote about a 100 word critique on this one, but somewhere the critique and my vote were lost. :( To sum up, I loved the image, the lines, the tones and the contrasts. I would have liked the tree not cut off, but it wasn't a big deal. I spent nearly an hour trying to figure out the title (based at least somewhat on your "interchange" in the rant forum), and honestly didn't find anything related to the description you gave. But I did find several wicca, wizardry and new-age references to 13-moon cycles/systems, though nothing that seemed to relate to the image. I tried to give you a 6 - but it didn't take. Nice piece of work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/16/2003 11:20:07 PM
Not sure what you mean by the title but this shot is a bit, not sure what it is but something about it nags me. I'll try to figure this out before the end of the challenge, LOL! I like the expansive nature of the shot and the tree on the left looks very desolate. The city (?) on the right is what I think is getting to me. It's so sharp and clear, as is the foreground. AHA! it's the DOF that is bugging me. It seems to me that the city should be a bit more blurred or the front should be. *WHEW* Glad I figured that out. I started at a 6 on this but am going to a 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/16/2003 10:54:20 PM
Great perspective . It does look "out of this worldly"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2003 11:27:05 PM
Now this is a wonderful Title. With fall then winter coming. Yes this time of year is Sacred. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2003 06:30:16 PM
What is this? Salt Lake City, Denver?
I like the toning and the composition with the tree, the hills and the city.
It almost makes me wonder if this is real. Give you the benefit of the doubt. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2003 01:40:29 PM
Dunno what this place is or what the title refers to, but I like this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2003 05:41:11 AM
I had to sit and look at this shot for the longest time. I like your composition - there is a nice range of tones that makes is very appealing. And I like the lonely little tree. I just cannot get over that huge city sitting there, it just looks so odd. It absolutely looks like it is in the middle of nowhere! I'm interested to find out where this shot was taken.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2003 10:25:38 PM
That tree is an exciting component of this image. I'm not sure what the other things are: grave stones? a city? This can be construed to having a sacred mood, and it is very well balanced.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2003 06:28:17 AM
I like it, but I'm not sure how it relates to the title. What moon are you referring to?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/12/2003 03:52:10 PM
Wow - that is awesome. Striking, graphic, seems almost unreal. Cool shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/12/2003 12:24:07 AM
Nice shot. Good comp, though perhaps getting the tree in whole would have been good. Also, it would have helped to run NeatImage on this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2003 09:03:09 PM
excellent 10+
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2003 06:49:01 AM
Damn. I was just about to stop voting and this piece of genius comes up. don't get the title, don't care. Wish you;d got all the edge of the tree in, mind you. Very very elegant - pictorially and graphically. Hope it isn't too odd for the rest of dpc :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2003 11:44:24 PM
I'm confused and I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2003 10:25:59 PM
9 great shot. Maybe avoid cutting the braches.... Nice low angle!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2003 10:02:21 PM
Beautiful work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2003 04:26:23 PM
Wild composition - very abstract in a way. The city looks like miniatures. The lone tree, the line of the mountains, the white of the city against the dark ground. Very eye-catching. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2003 03:19:16 AM
Love the photo but don't get the title (not that it matters to the score).
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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