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.
chamomile
art-photographer
boulder-colorado-artist
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
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)
Travel-photography
analog-film
film-photography
Mexico