Wednesday, May 13, 2009

High Slack Tide in the River



Last night I was walking Chico along the creek, taking our customary stroll through the neighborhood before retiring.  The rising tide and flowing creek had fought each other to a perfect draw, and the water was neither flooding or ebbing; combined with the almost still air and the late hour - I took this picture at 11 PM, you have to love the Alaskan summers - it was as if the whole island was holding its breath.

I'm rather fond of the bottom image, where I took the top image, cropped it, then flipped it upside down.  The water has become the land and the ripples make it look like the church is being viewed through ancient glass like you find in old Victorian houses or perhaps through the fogged lens of a fading memory.  The picture has a story to tell but what is the title?  "Reflections on Faith" perhaps?  Walking along an isthmus of land, what many believe to be the oldest continuously inhabited coastal community in North America, it is easy to reflect on all that has come before, and all that will come after we are gone.  What do you think of when you view this scene?  Click on it, blow it up, and think for a second.  (Besides "Steve, why didn't you bend that blade of grass out of the way before you took the picture??")

8 comments:

Lori said...

Oh, I get it, but I had to actually blow up the first picture first - OK, so call me dense, it took me a few minutes and I'm not that photography savy (although I really wish I was and had the time) - attached to my desktop and still thinking..........

Bren said...

How beautiful, Steve. What a wonderful view and a perfect day. thanks

mamawas said...

thanks for the refreshing photo break
Donna

Suzassippi said...

The blade of grass actually serves a purpose. If you look at the photo starting on the right side, you see the flow of movement to the left and down. It compels the eye to "blow" to the left, with the grass, the butterfly formed by the boat images, and the lamppost all "swooshing" your eyes to the left and lower corner of the picture. There, the white space begins to compact and ends with a face in a sort of 3/4 profile. Whose face is it, and what does it represent?

Margrita said...

Awesome breath taking just a gorgeous picture

Lori said...

"Reflections of Earth". Now, here's the story, since I don't want you to think I could only think of something you already put into similiar words. As you know, I'm a Disney person and go there quite frequently. EPCOT has their "Illuminations" show (end of the day fireworks)called "Reflections of Earth", so naturally, that was the first thing I thought of........but I like your "Reflections on Faith" too.

Have a great weekend. I'm off to Sarasota today to take my daughter to a swim meet tonight and tomorrow.

Alaska Steve said...

Suzassippi, i think your comment may actually be more interesting than my post - why don't I just take the pictures and let you handle the writing?? :o)

Have a good weekend Lori and mamawas!

Trevor said...

Oops, i've been slacking on keeping up on your blog so i'm a little behind but i was just admiring your picture. Might just be me but it looks like the church is blowing away in the wind like it's some sort of sandcastle or something. Hopefully i'll be able to talk to you soon. Love you!