December 11, 2006
If you're not stunned, you need to put down the dutchie
The more I look at this photograph, the more it sucks the wind out of me.
I want to make everything and everyone be quiet, so I can see it louder.
You can import all the meaning you want to the image, and people will, because that's what we do. But in the midst of this ingracious war, with our sons and brothers and friends still being lain to waste, this picture already has everything you need.
For anyone who doesn't know, this picture is by Eric Furst.
It's not the best thing he's ever done, but scarcely have I been more moved. It's like the grove of the dead, an orchard of the dead, a vineyard of the dead suggested here, something agricultural and deliberate, something bucolic and wholesome. Dead soldiers. As if it were meant to be this way, merely another crop we cultivate.
It's impossible to capture the immensity and density of that graveyard.
For whatever it's worth, over half of the graves belong to wives and children of the soldiers, and most of the soldier graves are of natural causes late in life. If you stand there and scan the 10 graves closest to you, there's a decent chance none of them would be from soldiers killed in action.
Honestly, I'd be honored to be buried in this manner. To rest in honor, with like-minded people. Regular graveyards are just haphazard collections of random strangers.
By the way, do you think I should get rid of that neon green artifact there? I couldn't decide.
Posted by: E1st at December 12, 2006 5:21 PMYeah, that's not adding much. These are just so gorgeous, Eric. I can't even stand it. I'm gonna hire you.
I took it out. That part was easy. Much more difficult was pulling out that dull white beam that asymmetrically radiated out the left side of the sun. There's a reason why people don't take many pictures straight at the sun - those things are hard to avoid, light bounces around in the lens and ends up where you don't want it.
It's up in that gallery, though at the time of this comment it hasn't been displayed yet.
Posted by: E1st at December 12, 2006 9:08 PMIt's been a month, AE. What gives?
Posted by: Bess at January 10, 2007 7:37 AMhappy valentine's day, ae
Posted by: tony at February 14, 2007 5:20 PMI'm gonna be in Florida next week, AE. Don't make me stalk yer ass.
Posted by: Bess at March 5, 2007 4:23 PM