The Argentine ultraist writer Jorge Luis Borges once said, "I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does."It must be true... because I can't remember the cross street here on Oak where I snapped this picture. (Idle details...)
15 comments:
I had to click on the Ultraist link to learn what that was. Interesting. Perfect quote for the photo.
To late or not to late ???
But pretty photo in B&W...
Is there a surbuban theme today? I went with that too and the word has been popping up. It always amazes me how busy areas become so ghostly when devoid of traffic human and or otherwise. Like the expanse of nothingness in the foreground and those cracks just talk to my techie head.Don't get me started on the white line leading out the pic, terrific.
What a great quote with lots of truth to it.
Such an interesting contrast between today's picture, the outdoors being dark and quiet, and yesterdays, bustling and full of color.
Looks like that tree is on fire!
Another awesome night shot!
There's a warning telling you that 20 cats are in that tree. I'd have remembered that.
Dixie: thanks for the Ramona story, Madam Gramophone provided me with several variations on the song Ramona (a couple of which were frightening).
That tree is spookey!
Ultraist. I learned something today. And a wonderful pic. Laura, what Borge novels can you reccomend?
I love the off-kilter graphic quality of this, leading us into a night of beacons.
i like this line in the night
Outstanding night snot. I like how that angled line on the street sends our eye right to the first light and then it jumps over to the illuminated tree. The tree kind of reminds me of the ones in The Wizard of Oz. I love your perspective. Did you squat down? I like this a lot. Kind of a South Pasadena Brassai!!
oops, night shot, not snot. HAHA
Hi everyone!
Thanks for indulging my love of prowl-around night shots. To answer Judy, I didn't squat down but I put my tripod low to the ground and took a crazy long exposure -- I don't remember now the exact settings because I was playing around with it to get those lights to blow out and the tree to "catch fire" as Petrea so kindly noticed!
You guys mentioned the leading line -- that is what I originally wanted to photograph -- the cracked pavement and that white broken line was so interesting to me. (I don't get out enough.)
Ken, Borges is such an interesting author. I would suggest his short fiction over his poetry -- and most of it can be found here. Andrew Hurley is the translator and he does a marvelous job making Borges feel rhythmic in English. I wish I understood Spanish because I understand he is best read in his native language. I'm sure I have not really experienced Neruda for the same reason.
I really love the world of Latin American fiction and Borges was a big influence on the magical realists -- who I also love. He also influenced Umberto Eco and Pynchon -- two other writers I enjoy twisting my brain with thier work.
I think you'll enjoy BOrges speculative, philosophical, fantastical take on everything from space/time to the nature of writing.
Okay, I'll put my bookworm back into her cage now...
Thanks for all the lovely comments, my friends. Until tomorrow.
Post a Comment