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Equinox Of The Mind


Equinox Of The Mind
Photo Information
Copyright: Ay Da (chiaraluna) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 435 W: 90 N: 567] (2560)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-03-05
Categories: Event, Experimental, Abstract, Mood, Portrait
Camera: Toshiba PDR-4300
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-03-20 14:08
Viewed: 626
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
today is the vernal equinox.. spring is officially here!

in Iran where i was born this is the biggest holiday of the year.. in fact it is the official New Years day, the day the earth wakes up from it's long winters sleep and starts anew... it's a tradition that goes back to the countrys Zoroastrian history centuries ago where, like in so many ancient cultures, astrology was the fundamental canvas on which the world was painted..

the vernal equinox is the one date when night and day are almost exactly the same length and sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward.. so from here on until the summer solstice the days will get longer in the northern hemisphere.. hurray! it occurred to me last night that even though i was feeling pretty bad and unmotivated i should mark this day somehow.. so here we are! i had initially wanted to do something which included some symbol of the arrival of spring.. but as spring still hasn't actually arrived around here and there are no flowers to pick and photograph.. all i had to work with was me! ihih

anyway.. the objective was to create an image that visually symbolized both the equality of day and night while representing also the presence of light and dark around and within us all... hence the title - and also the idea, continuing my mirror theme, of this day being a sort of 'mirror day' in which celestial patterns reflect one way and the other, but like with my metaphorical view of a mirror.. what it reflects is in many ways more a contrast, sometimes even a distortion of the original rather than a copy.. hope that makes some sense! i'm very tired so i'm not sure... :P

if interested in learning more i found a nice website here that explains both the science and widespread religious and cultural significance of the equinox :)

***

stuff i did:
* the original photo was cropped, sharpened, resized & duplicated
* the duplicate was flipped to create a mirror image
* left side image: curves adjusted to appear brighter and highly exposed, converted to grayscale
* right side image: converted to grayscale, inverted, brightness & contrast decreased to create a softer, more blended tone throughout, sharpened again and then sharpness 'faded', then curves adjusted to intensify features
* both images were then pasted into a new transparent document with a gap between them which was then filled with black using the bucket tool
* several borders added to create the frame
* thin white borders drawn in around the 2 mirrored faces (did this in MS Paint after converting image to bmp)
* equinox text added (2 spaces between each letter for a stronger look)
* final conversion back into grayscale to optimized web viewing

hope you like it and a happy first day of spring to everyone!
zto, alagoa, Quark, chefcop, bolletje, DAM, carmem_busko, Carma, fotofrancis, Yogi has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To paul_bk: grazie :)chiaraluna 2 03-21 08:31
To zto: let's hope for lighter brighter days to come!chiaraluna 1 03-21 00:06
To nova: merci Michel!chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:59
To alagoa: thx Ana ^_^chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:55
To Quark: thx :)chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:52
To chefcop: cheers Peter!chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:50
To reddevil: thanks!chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:49
To bolletje: ^_^chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:42
To Shutter2Think: thx Richard!chiaraluna 1 03-20 23:40
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 946 W: 120 N: 59] (262)
  • [2005-03-20 14:22]
  • [+]

Your note is wonderfull Ayda, as is this picture. Even without your note, this is very symbolic. I can really see your mind working here, your thoughts. Thsi makes a real nice mark for leaving the dark and cold behind us, to walk towards the lighter part of the year. Equinox...spring...light...hope...finally :-)

Thank you for your e-mail dear. I will reply a bit later tonight. Today i have spent all my time in front of my computer...working on some images. Made one for the digital darkroom in the scav hunt. Inspired by your post in the same theme :-)

A big hug to you.

Zandra

  • Great 
  • nova Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2735 W: 263 N: 864] (8653)
  • [2005-03-20 14:38]
  • [+]

Very creative and nicely framed! This a powerful picture,Ayda,one of your best so far! Bravo! An exquisite piece of art!

Definitely an original way to celebrate the vernal equinox! (thanks for the note it's very good). Today you celebrate the coming of Spring and I celebrate to coming of the rain ;-)
Very creative work!
Ana

  • Great 
  • Quark Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1339 W: 10 N: 29] (66)
  • [2005-03-20 15:23]
  • [+]

What a great construction, this photo, explained by your note, Ayda, nice done, also the the several frames !

Excellent note and marvellous interpretation of the vernal equinox. Hope springs eternal and it is reflected here. Well done.

Peter

Ayda what can I say………simply beautiful. I like those physiologic art (I don’t know if there is a word for) Thanks for share.

your note is very interesting...
but I preffer the image....
with this framing I think is no more a photo but a graphic image.... a graphic image well done....
we can see the right and the dark side... and they are complementary....
we are all these sides... not only one...
Ayda well done
Paolo

Hi Ayda,
Quite an artwotk. Not something one makes on a nonmativated moment. Makes me curious what you will come up with when you are realy motivated. Can't wait!
Regards,
Paul

Hi Ayda,
Very creative image. Very well seen. Very well made. Very well. ;)
Richard

  • Great 
  • Carey Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 14 W: 4 N: 25] (727)
  • [2005-03-21 22:00]

very cool framing...it would look great in a contemporary office setting, or ad agency. and thanks so much for the details about the shot...that's why i come here , to learn and try new techniques.

nice to hear from you,
Carey

  • Great 
  • Carma Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 499 W: 129 N: 297] (4974)
  • [2005-03-22 5:49]

People forget about this old holiday, but all cultures have something similar. In Europe it is Easter, but thear are still alive some old customs. Burning fires on the hills to make the winter go away still exist here in Croatia.
You switch the light in your self and make the light comw in your mind. Soo good work.
Bravo Ayda!

Most interesting and informative. Thank you Ayda. Where in Iran where you born? Iran holds some very special things for me and some of my friends...

This shadow of light and dark, reminds me so of a quote I do love. "We are children of the half light." The time is not yet ripe for us to reach the stars, yet within everyone of us is the urge the want to be celestial... in some more than others...

You have marked this Vernal Equinox well, Ayda. I like the images so soft and ethereal.

Insha Allah, Insha Allah.

Hello Ayda, this is lovely representation on equinox. I love the modern and graphic expression and well framed. Take care, Yan

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