A Contrast Between Life and Death
Photography excels at capturing contrasts—between dark and light, shadow and bright, death and life.
This was a contrast that shouted death, where there should have been life.
The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. A tiny marker for a child’s grave, alone on a cold New Mexico morning, brilliant white snow and bright light overwhelming the dark shadow it cast. A morning devoted to mourning, for a lost soul alone in the snow, in Seco. ♣
La Santisima Trinidad, a mission church in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, painted in oil on canvas (22×28”), by Jann Alexander © 2012. More photographs and paintings from my Mission: Mexico series are here.
Wow. Great shot!
Thank you Patti. It was a somber discovery.
I agree, Jann. Somber was the word I was going to use. Excellent photo.
janet
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Janet. Sorry if I stole your word 😉
What a powerful photo.
Thank you Sue, nice of you to stop by.
Good shot and composition, Jann. Unfortunately a bit spoiled by the fence shadow.
Ah Stefano, you misunderstand. The fence shadow lends texture, another layer of interest, and more contrast, implying separation from this world to the next. It’s the best part.
Ok, you’re right, I didn’t get that role of the fence shadow. I apologize.
No apologies necessary, I’m glad you offered me the chance to reflect a bit more deeply on it. But thanks for saying so, and for visiting.
A lovely shot, and quite poignant.
Thanks for commenting. Poignant, indeed.
Wow, beautiful!
Thank you for your enthusiasm. What in particular attracts you?
So many things about this picture speak to me. First of all – the title. Second of all the image of Christ on the cross. And then the whiteness of the blanket snow – peaceful and it makes me think of Heaven. Wow, all that in a picture. Thank you for asking.
You’re so kind to share all of that–it’s so interesting to hear what moves you, some of which dovetails with my feelings. Thanks for your response.
A contemplative image, the fence shadow does add texture I think without it the image might seem too pristine. Great shot!
So glad if I’ve provoked some contemplation with this. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Refer me to one of yours you’d consider contemplative, will you?
So sad… Can’t fault your interpretation of the challenge: exquisitely caught.
Thanks Vic, good of you to visit and comment. Are you intrigued by cemeteries and their hidden stories, too, or something else?
I was taken to many funerals as a child. Some people find cemeteries creepy, but to me they are peaceful. After all, they are places of (eternal) rest, and yes, I do wonder at the stories of those who lie beneath.
Agreed, they are peaceful, and intriguing, and it’s interesting to make the connections by examining the tombstones.