The Bell Jar
by grahamgator

Comment by mariuca:
Sylvia Plath. Did not read the book but I read about it. The photo has a lot of meaning but the butterfly is alive and well while the jar seems to go through hell. Splitting hair. I expected more of a shattering feeling from this picture.
It has every piece that connects it to Plath but lacks the anguish.
7

summer drifting away
by grahamgator

Comment by Denielle:
This is my third favorite image in this challenge.
It's so simplistic, yet beautiful. The greens and blues give it a very "cool" sense, but the vibrancy of the yellows give it warmth.
There is great detail on the little snippet of the leaf that is showing. I love how the water is focused around the edges.
The only complaint I have is the haloing that can be seen in the reflection of the water.

Other than that, I love this!
Bumping to an 8

a slow death
by grahamgator

Comment by Devinder:
woooO! go graham! the old teams kickin it up

a slow death
by grahamgator

Comment by Stefano-M:
Great picture, Mary Ann!

rustic fruit
by grahamgator

Comment by lei_73:
That's a "texture" contest? Why do I think "what a nice smell!"? Hm.
Beautiful softness! Wish, I can see the melon closer, cropped tightly though!7

The Bell Jar
by grahamgator

Comment by Garry:
Quite beautiful in the sharpness and clarity. Wish the crop was a lot tighter, but that's just my preference. Lovely image, top 3 for me.

The Bell Jar
by grahamgator

Comment by Bear_Music:
The Bell Jar is a novel about madness, emptiness, and pain. There's a sense in which the pain can be seen to lead to rebirth, and a butterfly, emerged from its chrysalis, can be seen to embody that transformation, so the connection to the novel's not that far-fetched. Notwithstanding that, however, this is an awfully cheerful image to represent such a bleak book.

Also, as a nit, this isn't shaped like any bell jar I'VE ever seen. Bell jars are designed to seal an atmosphere or a vacuum, and they are usually shaped like cylindrical domes.

Still, it's got a deeper-than-obvious connection to the book and it's competently crafted. I'll give it a 6.

a slow death
by grahamgator

Comment by johnmcboston:
Very nice!

The Bell Jar
by grahamgator

Comment by Denielle:
I like this shot, but it seems a little dark overall.
Nice detail on the butterfly. And I like how you've chosen to portray the title. Gave it a 6

The Bell Jar
by grahamgator

Comment by posthumous:
This is a straightforward interpretation of the title. The butterfly is, I suppose, Plath's soul being stifled. Competent, but cliched. 4