March 31, 2004
Third Place
This is a prize winning photograph. It took third place in a contest sponsored by a Conservation Commission. In first place was an exotic insect, delicately suspended on the probiscus of a wafting common weed --shot with a close up and personal lens that magnified the primal scene 7000 times. Nothing I could ever accomplish with my rudimentary equipment. In second place, however, was a photograph so mundane as to precipitate stupor. Perhaps I will post it , mean spirited person that I am, so that you can judge for yourself. I think this photo has depth, end of life reflections (note wizened berries), perhaps too grim for the committee. There were only six photos submitted, so maybe they went for cheerful, and punted.
The award was given by the conservation commission of the town where Jonathan Harr’s book and John Travolta’s movie "A Civil Action" took place. The conservation commission in that town is highly motivated, needless to say. The awards ceremony was a gala event attended by hundreds, no kidding. Nothing like a little "contrast" (read cancer cluster around the poisoned wells) to bring forth a wave of desire, as Esther Hicks channeling Abraham would say.
The contest rules stated that the photograph submitted had to be taken on conservation land in the town. That happens to be one of the places where I ride my bike. When I take my camera, however, I get very little aerobic exercise, though I must get some muscle strengthening from climbing off and on the bike seven hundred times to shoot. I have a girl's bike, though, not as much climbing required as on a boy's, no need for that final leg fling. I am ashamed to admit, in this day of the shiny rubber biking short and Italian racing silks, that my bike also has a basket. To offset my nerdy mount, I always wear a sleek silver helmet.. I am a vision to behold. Since this is supposed to be a photo blog. I will stop there.
