study in red
by sfalice

Comment by chalice:
I happened across the thread where Jake was talking about this image and you posted a response. I came back to spend some time with this one (far more than I gave it when breezing through the voting process, I'm afraid).

So here's my take on this.

I see two forms "facing" each other. The one on the left is plain red (more or less) with little variation. It presents itself with little disclosure or identity beyond its shape and color.

The interesting one on the right is positioned so that it is doing the same thing to the one on the left -- that is, if I were looking over the back side of the left shape and viewing the one on the right I would see the same plain, curved, red shape with little else to distinguish.

But because the photo allows me to view these two "facing" shapes from behind the one on the right I can see the obverse side, the inside of the curved form. And here all the distinctives can be seen...the white-winged shape, the yellow form, and the red-mottled variations not visible from the "facing" side. Because the red edges are all turned in a concave manner, it's as if I am looking at the internal workings of the outwardly plain red shape, and peering into the inner reality of the shape itself.

The "a-hah" moment comes when I realize that the shape on the left side is probably doing the same thing, and that it too has more to offer than meets the eye. I am left wondering if the inner workings of the left shape are just like those that I can see within the one on the right (so that both objects are essentially the same) or whether they are substantially different inside so that the outward similar appearances disguise inherently different objects.

The parallel, of course, is the tendency of people to hold their inner thoughts and personalities from view, letting the world see only the outward appearance of themselves...even when in close proximity and "facing" each other. This masks the inner reality of each person to the extent that the inner person is carefully safeguarded from view.

Given my reaction to this photograph, I would say your definition of abstract art is met hands down. This image, upon reflection, within the context of what abstract art seeks to do deserves a better response than I gave it the first time around (which is to say, no comment at all)...and likewise a higher score.

Message edited by author 2014-10-04 04:08:44.

Alice - Cobweb Collection
by sfalice

Comment by posthumous:
I can't help but think of the cobwebs as a metaphor for what happens in a photo essay, where the whole is draped over each part.

Beautiful, elegant.

Land, Sea & Sky Meet
by sfalice

Comment by MadMan2k:
Wonder what it would have looked like with a curves layer darkening the sky, but gradually applied with a mask?

- Pasta -
by sfalice

Comment by glad2badad:
Interesting pattern. Somewhat grainy / noisy, and the blacks are muddy. I like the sphagetti coming up from the back.

Geometry = Art
by sfalice

Comment by JakeKurdsjuk:
I so want you to be 6 inches further left.

- Pasta -
by sfalice

Comment by tanguera:
Love the shapes and textures

- Pasta -
by sfalice

Comment by MadMan2k:
Good arrangement, and nicely done using the textures for contrast while using shades of gray in an old fashioned style of black and white.

Geometry = Art
by sfalice

Comment by MadMan2k:
Looks like an interesting place, I'll have to check back and see where it is.

Geometry = Art
by sfalice

Comment by damjanev:
I don't dig the photographic execution of this image. Too much purple fringing in the arc and the columns and it lacks overall sharpness.

Geometry = Art
by sfalice

Comment by aliqui:
I can fully appreciate the composition, but the time of day is really killing this for me. The magic of this place certainly isn't at its best in the middle of the afternoon, heh.