Archive for February 14th, 2013

Photo Observation: Cold

Photo taken by Rychard Curtiss. 2/13/2013

Photo taken by Rychard Curtiss. 2/13/2013

THEME: Cold

This picture was taken moments before sundown. It was getting darker and then all of the sudden there was this weird moment when the light hit the bark of this tree outside my living room window and it seemed to brighten up into this cold white light. There is a gel that I often use to take the warmth out and gives the stage a stark cold feeling; it is called “Winter White”, inset in photo, and I’d never actually seen it occur except when I’ve used it. I was sitting on the couch and looked up at the right moment , immediately felt a shiver go down my spine. The contrast between the warm lights going on in the neighbors windows accentuated the effect, along with the barren branches bereft  of it’s leaves. I shuddered and was frozen, both figuratively and literally while somewhere in the back of my mind a voice kept repeating “Get a picture, get a picture, before it’s too late…” I managed to shake off the shivering feeling and grab my camera. It was a mere 30 secs or so after I took this photo and the moment was gone as the sun disappeared for the evening.

Light Observation 3

1) Monday, 2/11/13, 7:15 P.M. Walking out of Emily Lowe.

2) Having rained all day and snowed the day before, a light fog caked the air. Looking across toward the Playhouse I could only see the piercing light of the lamp posts as balls floating above the ground. Looking down, the snow had a faint sheen from the reflection of these lights.

3) Walking out into the cold night air and not being able to see was a quick shock to my system. I thought, “Better walk quickly, or I’ll freeze in place.” But there was a problem. I couldn’t see. At least not much. Fog obscured my vision except for spheres of light in the distance. I imagined that must be how a sailer might have felt. At sea for months, only the churning waves to keep the monotony at bay. The cool salty sea water sprays up from the sides of the ship and drenches the crew and their cloths. Soggy and cold they work on, waiting and waiting for that one beacon of hope. And there. At last it comes. At first they think it’s imagination. But it’s not. The lighthouse signals to them through the dark night that land is near. It guides them home. Their spirits restored, the crew works hard for the last stretch of their journey, desperate to get home. The light calls to them and they answer.