Natalie Pigliacampo

Chamomile

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda


Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still

for once on the face of the earth,

let’s not speak in any language;

let’s stop for a second,

and not move our arms so much.


It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines;

we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness.


Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.


Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victories with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.


What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.


If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could do nothing,

perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.


Now I’ll count up to twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go.


I paired an excerpt of this beautiful poem with my first Chamomile on Blue art piece.  


Are you happy in this Modern World?

Song lyrics are a significant source of inspiration for me right now.  Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper is playing on loop while I type this.  I like to photograph with a shallow depth of field.  I love how hopelessly romantic photos are with shallow depths of field and while little is in focus, what is in focus is where you find the depth in a photo.  Blurring out what is not essential to the photo. Somehow  I long to be far from the shallow end like in the song.  Now more than ever.


Tell me something, girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there something else you’re searchin’ for? I’m falling
In all the good times, I find myself longin’ for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself 

Tell me something, boy
Aren’t you tired trying to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain’t it hard keeping it so hardcore?I’m falling
In all the good times, I find myself longing for change
And in the bad times, I fear myselfI’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I’ll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
We’re far from the shallow nowIn the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
We’re far from the shallow nowOh, ha-ah-ah
Ah, ha-ah-ah, oh, ah
Ha-ah-ah-ahI’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I’ll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
We’re far from the shallow nowIn the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow

We’re far from the shallow now

Source: MusixmatchSongwriters: Mark Ronson / Stefani Germanotta / Anthony Rossomando / Andrew Wyatt     


Mexico on Film

Film is romantic and filled with the unexpected.  As I get further on in my digital photography experience, the more I long to shoot with film.  Where do I even begin?  An online course is the obvious first move but I am not in the mood to sift through the millions of internet “how to shoot on film” search results.  Perhaps I will go to the library and check out a book.  My heart wants to slow down and go analog. 


Mexico on film details

shot with an Olympus Accura Zoom XB 700 

Film - Kodak (not sure on this one)

Using Format