Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Line Dance

It’s Theme Day again for those of us participating in City Daily Photo. Today’s theme? Lines. Lets not get fenced in here, let’s get a little less esoteric with lines…

We love to draw them, hate to wait in them, curse them on our faces and laugh at them when declared by strangers in bars. Lines. They’re everywhere. Those of us who photograph things find myriad ways to capture them. Poets rhyme them. Actors learn them. We pray our children won’t sniff them. We hope our economy won’t lead us to stand in them.

Euclid defined a line as “length without breadth," and I love him for making the mathematical sound so boundlessly poetic. For it’s true: in math a line extends forever in both directions. In two dimensions, two different lines can either be parallel – alas, they never meet -- or they may intersect at one and only one point. Such a fitting metaphor for those singular moments in life that lead to the most memorable, oft-quoted lines. In three or more dimensions, lines may skew – they don’t meet, and they don’t define a plane. And how often our own lines (and lives) skew too. Geometry gives us the line segment, a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end points – like our own short lives, line segments on some big unknown continuum…

So here’s to the lines: the simple, universal, straight-shooting lines. To all the ways we walk them, tow them and reel them in – but most of all, to coloring outside of them.

And here's to all of my fellow City Daily Photo bloggers posting from around the world. Take a look at some of their wonderful interpretations: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants .

38 comments:

USelaine said...

A lovely essay, from the imaginative soul of A Writer. Thank you for the photo and words.

Cafe Observer said...

Lines - the straight & narrow. but how much we try to go our own way, to break through those lines, often only to end up back behind some other straight bars.

the lines in your particular pic remind me to always look for man's best friend within those lines.

Yakpate said...

Love the golden-green glow emanating from beyond the frame... and the dark, shadowed end of the sidewalk.

Even in a "simple" shot of fence lines, your photo evokes a story.

And thanks for the gorgeous, lyrical text.

Sally said...

Thanks for your comment at Sydney Daily Photo I’m not near my computer at the moment (have a visit to see where I am!), so sorry for not commenting earlier.

Virginia said...

I agree with US. The text is wonderful and your photo is perfect. When I grow up I want ot write just like you!

Hope said...

Wow! I love this post! The photo of the picket fence is just beautiful as well as your wonderful writing! I'm glad I've discovered this wonderful place to visit every day!

Halcyon said...

Wonderful photo and wonderful sentiment. You have a gift for writing and shooting. :)

Sharon said...

Beautifully written and a great perspective.

Jilly said...

This is just charming. Such a lovely take on today's theme. Fascinating commentary too on mathematics.

Knoxville Girl said...

Laurie, your essay is just beautiful. And the photo - I see a diagonal line separating black and white, yin and yang, matter and anti-matter, in those posts and shadows.

ben wideman said...

Very cool interpretation!

Anonymous said...

Several lines of poetry, I'd say.

Bergson said...

This photo pleases me: shade and light - horizontal and vertical lines.
Bravo, a good choice

Gerald (SK14) said...

a great choice for the theme

Anonymous said...

Whenever I see white picket fences I suffer dark thoughts. They call it the Blue Velvet Syndrome.

May I suggest the novel Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbot. I think you would like it.

Laurie Allee said...

Pasadena Adj, I also thought of Blue Velvet here! And I love Flatland. Everyone should read it.

Keith said...

Love the photo and the writing is exceptionally good today! Thank you.

Copenhagen said...

I love the shadow...so beautiful. How do I participate in this month's theme?

Baruch said...

Some good writing and a great choice for TD - well done!

Ken Mac said...

you've done it again, captured that beautiful Cali light. I just love it...

Eki said...

The perpendicular position of those fence lines and their shadows make a nice composition, Laurie. Nice choice for the theme day.

Jim Klenke said...

I like your description and the shadows.

Mister Earl said...

Pasadena Adj and Laurie: Is Flatland as dark and as creepy than Blue Velvet? Lynch captures something - the sick underbelly - in a way that I've never seen anyone do. The song In Dreams by Roy Orbison will never be the same.

Do you think there's something "earie" behind that fence?

Mister Earl said...

SPEAKING OF FENCES this just came in:

Sarah Palin is like a turtle on a fence post, you know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she's up there, and you just wonder what kind of dummy put her up there to begin with.

Tash said...

Lovely lines - right in line with the Norman Rockwell-like photo. A white pickett fence is so pleasing.

Wayne said...

What a relief!

From the title I was sure I was going to be forced to look at a whole bunch of women in cowboy hats and cowboy boots and tight fitting jeans, and tight shirts with bare midriffs and too much cleavage, doing the Boot Scootin' Boogie.

I'll take a nicely composed photo of a picket fence any day of the week.

Laurie, I haven't known you to take a bad pic or post a blasé comment. So until you hear otherwise and regardless of what inane comments I might make, I think your posts are exceptional.

david mcmahon said...

Beautiful post, all up. Great image.

Joe Ryan said...

I wonder how many lines we stood in in grade-school.

Usually when I call kids together for an activity, they start forming a line.

I think Starbucks is my most frequented line these days.

Tomorrow I'll suggest we go by height.

Thanks for getting me thinking about all sorts of lines. Oh, and fence painting!

Dixie Jane said...

I'm amazed that you are my kid, Laurie. It would appear that you came from a long "line" of writers. And you topped 'em all. Beautiful picture of a picket fence and no cowboy boots.

Laurie Allee said...

Hi kids,

Wow! Thanks for all the really nice comments.

Baruch and David McMahon, welcome!

My life in montreal, you can choose to participate in next month's theme day by going here and signing up. I don't think the next month's subject is posted yet so be sure to check back.

I hope everyone had a chance to explore some of the amazing posts of my blogging comrades around the world. It's nice to have a global neighborhood. When I was a kid, I always wanted a pen pal and now I have many of them. Isn't the internet grand?

Thanks again, everyone. Love sharing my world with you and learning all about yours, too.

Laurie Allee said...

Oh, Mister Earl -- do check out Flatland. It's not creepy, but it is magical...

Tanya Breese said...

How did I miss this? I love the photo but your post wow'ed me!

k said...

i love this shot! the shadows tells a story... sj

Webradio said...

Hello Laurie !
Nice lines...
Is it at Your house ???
See You later...

Laurie Allee said...

Thanks Tanya!

Welcome, Sarah-jane!

Web, no -- not my house, but it's in my neighborhood.

Judy Williams said...

OH MY! If this were on a photo site, it would immediately go into my favorites folder. The use of line in an image is my absolute most preferred! Shadow and light, deep and bright. Something about the diagonal too. I like the inclusion of the shadow from a plant or vine on the fence. The vanishing point sends our eye into infinity, which can be symbolic or just the feeling of going on forever. Thanks for this. It made my day.

Danial Bigham said...

that is look like prison.i take my heart.

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