I shot this picture today while walking along the Delaware River. At first the color caught my eye, but when I put it into the computer and viewed it in large form, it took my breath away. I hadn't really seen the non-descript ground in contrast to the brilliant red leaf- as if I had deliberately colored it that way. I knew that even though I had taken some lovely shots of the fall colors and fading flowers, they would not be my post. It had to be this one.
I'm not sure why this picture makes me think of loneliness. Maybe it's because the leaf is so singled out, and oftentimes in loneliness, we feel single- out of relationship with others and it hurts. Looking at that beautiful leaf, lying on the ground, brought the e. e. cummings poem to mind- perhaps the only one I remember from my high school days- so I thought I'd post it with the picture.
On the other hand, there is a sense of hope in this picture too. That beautiful leaf is not overtaken by its bland surroundings. I battle loneliness a lot- not because I don't have many wonderful friends (my 365 community is part of that), but because I natrually tend to like being alone and sometimes I stay alone too long. Yet every time I realize I need to get out of the house and be with people there's that hope that the loneliness won't overtake me. Thankfully, it never has.
Like the poem, and love the photo! Good points about whether it depicts loneliness/despair or hopefulness. to me, it doesn't show loneliness, but how hard life is....you try and try to stay healthy, keep your weight down, stay youthful in how you view things, and keep your environment "together" and controlled....but that dismal, gray muddy part is always there...and it struggles to change that. Now, with that said, I am not really that dismal a person...so mostly I just see hopefulness and glory in the struggle! I thought you'd sel. colored this,b ut then saw you had not. Wow.
When I look at that leaf I think that even though it's kind of alone, it's so beautiful and special, and will make the dreariness around it much more pleasant. Wonderful photo, poem and thoughts :)
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri! @kimmiesue Thank you Kim! @mrssmith Thank you Carla- it's not always easy to get out of the loner mode, but it is a good thing! @httpgeffed Thanks Colleen. No processing on this one- it's sooc! @dmariewms Thank you Marie! @digitalrn Thank you Rick. I didn't do anything fancy to this- just added the frame. @adobewaters Thank you Adobe! @espyetta Thank you MaryBeth- I like how both you and Michael saw something different- and I can absolutely see what you see too. That is the beautiful part of Art and subjectivity. Yes, it's sooc! Thanks again for adding another facet to the diamond! @michaelelliott Thank you Michael. I like how you and MaryBeth both saw something different in the picture. And I could see the way you saw it too. That is what a good picture should do- allow for several interpretations because no two people are exactly the same!
I love that leaf, Ann. Your processing of it is wonderful. You brought it out for all to see that loveliness! Studied e.e. in college as an English major. He was actually one of my favorites. Simplicity is beauty to me!!
Okay . . I see now that you didn't process this . . . it's sooc!! Wow! By the way, I'm a loner too . . understand every single that you said. And then some!
wow! a perfect red maple leaf. i like it. something cheery in an otherwise drab environment.
i, however, view this as being brave in the face of adversity. or just being yourself no matter what others around you believe or do. i love being alone, maybe because i grew up with five siblings in a very poor household and shared everything including precious space. people often associate alone with loneliness. they're not the same. you can be in the company of a hundred friends but you can still be lonely.
@karenann Thanks Karenann! It's one of those surprising shots. I liked it when I took it, but it wasn't until I looked at it in the computer that I saw what I had actually taken! @summerfield Thanks Summerfield- you, MaryBeth and Michael all saw something different in this shot and that's fine by me. A strong picture will have the ability to do that- go beyond what the photographer sees or feels and touch others where they are too. So, I like seeing how others have looked at it and how it speaks to them.
@lacedxxoo Thank you so much Lacy! @steeler Thanks Howard! @alia_801 Thanks Alia. My husband says it's a Silver Maple leaf. @melorac Thank you Carole! @nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole @cimes1 Thanks Carole- yes I know that and am so thankful for 365 friends like you!
Truly a wonderful shot that captures the essence of the season.
While I grasp the emotions evoked by the image and the poem, I have a slightly different take on the message. I see the loneliness described as belonging to the ground since that feeling feels bland, jumbled, and uneventful. Into the midst of that loneliness comes this single leaf bringing with it a vibrance and joy that was missing. The leaf's arrival dispels the loneliness of the scene, even of only temporarily.
Many see autumn as a time of death and depression (the waning light in the northern lattitudes doesn't help this notion), but I see the vibrant colors as a celebration of a life well lived.
PS.... The contrasts here and in other images I've looked at today has made my decision to blog about contrast this weekend. Would you give me permission to link to your image as an example?
@dbjohnson Thank you Dean! Yes, you may certainly use my image. I'd be honored. I love all the different meanings people have pulled out of this shot. And I must say that I see more joy in this photo than I do anything else- in the line of how you feel the colors signify a life well spent. On that particular day, there was a certain person on my mind that I wanted to encourage so I think the commentary was going in that direction. But I do love this picture because of that vibrant leaf and its association with life in all its fullness. Thank you again for your appreciation of my pictures and the fav!
@allie912 Thank you Allison- the color is what initally caught my eye, but I didn't really see the background and it's blandness until I put the shot into the computer. Then the leaf practically jumped off the screen.
October 17th, 2011
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@kimmiesue Thank you Kim!
@mrssmith Thank you Carla- it's not always easy to get out of the loner mode, but it is a good thing!
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen. No processing on this one- it's sooc!
@dmariewms Thank you Marie!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick. I didn't do anything fancy to this- just added the frame.
@adobewaters Thank you Adobe!
@espyetta Thank you MaryBeth- I like how both you and Michael saw something different- and I can absolutely see what you see too. That is the beautiful part of Art and subjectivity. Yes, it's sooc! Thanks again for adding another facet to the diamond!
@michaelelliott Thank you Michael. I like how you and MaryBeth both saw something different in the picture. And I could see the way you saw it too. That is what a good picture should do- allow for several interpretations because no two people are exactly the same!
i, however, view this as being brave in the face of adversity. or just being yourself no matter what others around you believe or do. i love being alone, maybe because i grew up with five siblings in a very poor household and shared everything including precious space. people often associate alone with loneliness. they're not the same. you can be in the company of a hundred friends but you can still be lonely.
@summerfield Thanks Summerfield- you, MaryBeth and Michael all saw something different in this shot and that's fine by me. A strong picture will have the ability to do that- go beyond what the photographer sees or feels and touch others where they are too. So, I like seeing how others have looked at it and how it speaks to them.
@steeler Thanks Howard!
@alia_801 Thanks Alia. My husband says it's a Silver Maple leaf.
@melorac Thank you Carole!
@nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole
@cimes1 Thanks Carole- yes I know that and am so thankful for 365 friends like you!
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Nicely done Ann. Love that colour and detail.
@kezzam Thank you Kerry! (That's actually how the poem is published- fyi) Enjoyed your reply!!
While I grasp the emotions evoked by the image and the poem, I have a slightly different take on the message. I see the loneliness described as belonging to the ground since that feeling feels bland, jumbled, and uneventful. Into the midst of that loneliness comes this single leaf bringing with it a vibrance and joy that was missing. The leaf's arrival dispels the loneliness of the scene, even of only temporarily.
Many see autumn as a time of death and depression (the waning light in the northern lattitudes doesn't help this notion), but I see the vibrant colors as a celebration of a life well lived.
This image captures this feeling for me. Fav'd.
@lilypad Thank you Ellie!