Diane's Photos

[daka]

Diane's Photos

Your photos reveal
in a mysterious way
Your glimpse of light
In it's moment of play
Stretching each glimpse
For all to see
Through time and through space
You have company

Each Glimpse of light
Came through a crack
If I am right
That brings us back
To Leonard's lyrics
You and me
To the true nature of
Reality

daka

[Diane]

Thanks Daka. Light shining through a small shaft in the darkness, e.g. sun breaking through storm clouds, or an open door in a dark room, is a gift for a photographer. Thank god for the cracks in everything. Happy New Year.

[Byron]

Dianne did you watch 'The Girl With The Pearl Earings' on TV this week. The use of light matched Vermeers original use of light. Shafts of light through a window lifting the whole emotive ambience of the girl's attraction to the artist.

[Diane]

I did see that film, Byron. Nice yarn, very watchable. I like the way it left you guessing as to why Greet (sp?) was sent the pearl earrings at the end. Was it because Vermeer's wife gave them to her as a consolation, or, did his wife die, in childbirth perhaps, and did Vermeer send them? And if so, then what...? Nice bit of intrigue.

Yes, windows are central to Vermeer's paintings, casting a beautiful and subtle light on his subjects. Window light is particularly flattering for portraiture because it is directional and softened, and natural; far more pleasing to the eye than, say, an on-camera flash (Vermeer binned his kodak instamatic for this reason) or, even worse, sunlight from above when outdoors. Also, unless it is strong sunlight, the light obviously falls away with increasing distance from the window, further highlighting the subject.

Beams of light in otherwise dark places; churches, derelict barns, historic buildings (e.g. the beautiful, intentional one in the Pantheon in Rome) are mesmerising. I guess it's archetypal, the hope and beauty seen and symbolised in that shaft of light in the darkness.

[lizzytysh]

Drawn to the idea of the light put there by you, Byron... had to skip after the first two sentences, Diane's response. I bought the film several months ago and haven't had a chance to watch it, yet. Now, I only know that when I do, I'll be left guessing about the earring. The photo on the cover is beautiful and the description on the back sounded great.


~ Lizzy

[Diane]

Oops, Lizzy. But nevermind, the relationships/characters and the lighting and the sense of period are more important than the plot in that film.

[lizzytysh]

. . . are more important than the plot in that film.

That's the sense I got from Harimandir, who's already seen it [hence, I've not watched it, yet... tending to go for what neither of us has seen]... however, I literally stopped reading when I saw that there would remain a question about the earring. So, whatever got said after that won't be read til after I've seen it. She really stressed the visuals, which is enough for me to want to watch it.


~ Lizzy