Days 29 & 30, 31
Self. Other. A Work of Art.
These were the last three words for a thirty-one day photo challenge, completed last February 9th of this year, nine months ago today, as I write. Though there were three words for three days, only two photos were produced, each created from photographs originally taken by other photographers.
For the first two of these three daily words, an exuberant portrait (taken twenty-seven years ago by George Hyklema) was cut apart, rearranged, one-half was edited as sepia to visually emphasize a literal meaning of Self & Other. Separation. Two, not one. Which, especially when two are strongly entwined in a relationship, always remains a reality, but poignantly even more so when bereaved of the other.
Day 29/ SELF - Day 30/ OTHER
The photo for the last assignment in the 31 Day Photo Challenge, A Work Of Art, was taken by a National Geography photographer. Admired for the warmth and humanity it radiated, it was cut from a magazine and framed more than thirty-five years ago. It has been hanging on the bulkhead of PILAR's sleeping cabin for most of those years; the husband's large hand, gentle around his wife's shoulder, his wife's good humor reflecting long years of companionship, toil and joy, daily serving as inspiration for an equally satisfying marriage.
Day 31/ A WORK OF ART
During the time of the Challenge, I wrote daily of the process, printing small copies of the photographs to paste into my journal. Here is what was written on Day 31:
(0530hrs) Friday, February 9, 2018 -
Hard to stop looking at the last page, the last photos of the 31 Days...the three together are their own work of art. I wonder how many (if any) will understand the symbolism. See the effort put into them to present--fulfill--the words of each challenge.
Originally, I'd wanted to reduce the opacity of Bill's photo when I saw that sepia alone still dominated as much as the vibrant colors of Self. How true that still is, isn't it? His presence has barely faded since his death. Which is what I'd hoped to convey by the sepia. Ironic that Other and Self remain equally strong, past or present, whether in metaphor (sepia) or life's vivid color.
Finally leaving it as it was, not taking the 'learning curve' time to alter the image in Photoshop was an artistic decision as well as practical. The challenge was SELF/OTHER, not grief. Widowhood.
But what I love about the synchronicity of Day 31's Challenge is the message of togetherness. Marriage. Not separation of self and other. A good marriage is a true work of art.
In conclusion:
...regretfully the 31 Days of photo-focus has ended--but not really. Only that specific format. The structure. I take photos almost everyday, focusing on life around me, PILAR, the garden, the activities at the house...
The enforced structure of the specific words was educational. It pushed, forced a deeper level of thought. Not just in choosing a subject but in composition and production. It was HARD to light that last photo! I didn't think I was going to be able to do it--the light was so dim, the glare on the matte glass dulling the faces behind it. A flashlight cleverly propped on the bed solved the problem.
Almost didn't think I could make the 31 day commitment, either. It took a LOT of time away from work on PILAR's needs. But it did bring enormous satisfaction. Enough so that I'm considering using a list of my own words...all the ones beginning with 'TRANS' that I'd collected when hoping to make collaborative art with...someone.
But NOT every day!
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