A picture inspired by Charles Dicken's American Notes.
In February, 1831, Samuel Francis Smith wrote the words to the patriotic hymn "America" in less than one hour. Basing the piece on an early German tune, the 23 year old theology student admitted, "I did not think much of the words." The song was first sung in public on July 4, 1831 on the steps of Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts.
When I thought of this title, the story behind this hymn and the concept of this picture immediately popped in to my mind.
@chrismarfil thanks Chris- this is 3 photos merged together. The flag is the base picture, the hymn is overlayed on that and the church was the final addition. I then "smudged" the edge of the hymn so that it looked like old paper. I cloned a little blue around the church so that it didn't like like a cut out glued on the flag and then added the frame. I used iPiccy for this one. I like their photo merging program and the way you can shape what part of the picture you want to merge. I hope that makes sense. I'm sort of self-taught on this process. @kerristephens Thanks Kerri!
Thanks Ann for the information, Im impress on the merging you've done. You are really good in this kind of editing/processing. I will try that in the future.
@anazad511 Thank you Ana! @chrismarfil Thank you Chris! I find that the more I try this I do seem to improve. It's really lots of experimenting! Thank you for those very kind compliments. @maggiemae Thank you Maggie! @daisy Thank you Kathryn and thank you so much for the fav! @dmariewms Thank you Marie!
@cimes1 Thank you Carole! I decided to look up some of Dicken's titles because I knew a lot of people would do the standards, so I wanted something off the beaten path. The minute I read this title I knew I'd like to do it.
Ah well, I missed out on another challenge. Just as well, since the temptation to do "Great Expectorations" was almost irresistible. Anyway Ann, I was curious to know whether Dickens is much read in the US nowadays. He's still hard to avoid here.
@automaticslim I almost didn't notice this one- and yes having two crates displaying fall flowers was sorely tempting to do a terrible pun picture. So I googgled titles of his literary work and discovered this one. As to whether we read him or not, I don't know about public schools now and I vaguely remember reading him in my early high school years. I do know the English teacher in the private school I used to teach in covered one of his books but I don't remember which one (I'd guess Tale of Two Cities if I was asked to), so that might be where he is still read. That's a good question!
Interesting ... no doubt there will be TV and radio adaptations in time for Christmas here as usual. When I took my English Lit A-Level (this is going back a bit) we were told that we'd get a major 19th century novel and that it would be Dickens, with a 10:1 outside shot on a Hardy. As it turned out for the first time ever the examiners decided to set Conrad instead, but Dickens is still an overwhelming presence. I rather approve as he's such a humane writer, and almost always more enjoyable than one expects.
@automaticslim There was a Christian organization here in the States called Focus on the Family which produced an old style radio theater version of A Christmas Carol about 12 years ago. It was very well done and very well received. I think that is probably his most loved piece. So many love its message.
October 10th, 2012
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@kerristephens Thanks Kerri!
@chrismarfil Thank you Chris! I find that the more I try this I do seem to improve. It's really lots of experimenting! Thank you for those very kind compliments.
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie!
@daisy Thank you Kathryn and thank you so much for the fav!
@dmariewms Thank you Marie!
Thank you Colleen!
Thank you Dione!
Thank you Nicole!
Thank you Andy!