ART in Black & White

June 5, 2013

Imac picked this week's Headbanger's theme.  We are looking for "ART in Black & White"  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

The image in my header comes from a dragon sculpture on top of the Formosa Café in Woodrige.
 

Driving Cattle at LongHorn

Dusk Riders at LongHorn

The Musician

Heading Downtown

The Picasso at Daley Plaza

eerie and empty

No cars, busses, taxis, and no pedestrians. Here is a sight you don't see every day! A city as busy as Chicago seldom has a view like this at 5PM.

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For a moment, this was our view on a Sunday. As my friend drove us around, I had already been looking for pictures of the Willis Tower (a.k.a. Sears Tower) from the back seat. So, when I saw this unexpectedly vacant scene, I panned and snapped the picture. It would have been preferable to take the shot with a tripod and bracketed settings, but the other three passengers would not be as eager to stop driving, and take the time to indulge me every time I got snap-happy with the camera. (sigh) Nevertheless, I'm satisfied with the image, especially considering that I took the shot from a moving vehicle.

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It would have been more dramatic if the streets were wet, but then I might have droplets on the minivan's window. (Just thinking out loud here.)

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Anyhoo, if you go downtown, that's when you want to go... when there isn't a lot of traffic. Mmm... 2AM is good. The rest of the time, the cars are usually packed like sardines, and hardly moving.

crepuscular collection

I drove up to Wisconsin this weekend, and had a little time to kill in the late afternoon. The sun was very low on the horizon, and the drama of daylight's finale would climax quickly, followed just as quickly by the drawing of an opaque curtain.

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First, I worked to get the most realistic colors in this shot (above). Then, I toyed with the color settings in the camera, pulling one color or another. I fiddled with saturation, too. But I ended up most satisfied with a simple black & white. [click on any photo to enlarge]

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My favorite part of the amber waves of grain was the closest stalks, with their wavy details.

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There was a wooded area bordering the South of the property, and this is where I have done some archery. This path interests me because of how well lit the pathway stays, and how dark the woods can be on either side. When someone looks at this spot, they might just see a hill. Do you know what I see? My mind goes back to a time when I worked with campers there, and some children had the misfortune of disturbing a swarm of ground nesting yellow jackets. I also picture, in my mind's eye, my own children rolling down that hill. Thankfully, these are two separate stories, and not the same event.

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This last one was inspired by David Herrick, who's pictures I've seen on Facebook recently.

hope secured

It is tempting to say about my friend who died, "You can't keep a good man down." As much as I respected him, that would not be perfectly accurate. If that statement is wholly true, it is only true about Jesus Christ, because there has never been anyone who was truly, thoroughly, spotlessly good... not in and of themselves, anyway. And when I hear that phrase, my mind is drawn to the Lord's resurrection. Yes, then it would be true: you can't keep a good man down.

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But folks, we have this theological whatchamajiggit called "imputation" which basically says that Jesus (who never sinned) took sin upon himself to pay the penalty for all who believe in him. He answered for it in a legal sense, even though he did not actually commit any of that sin. Got it?

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There is a flipside of the imputation. Just as our sins were charged to Jesus Christ, the Lord's righteousness then covers those who belong to Him. His people are legally covered with the perfect righteousness that Jesus lived and earned. That is how the Lord presents to himself a "spotless bride." That is the reason we can be confident that Alan Haymaker is experiencing paradise today. And that is why our grieving is only temporary.

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Wanna smoke some brain cells? Think about the imputation for a while. Ponder it, and try to wrap your mind on the unfairness (to God) of it all. See if you can agree with John Newton that God's grace (unmerited favor) is amazing.

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"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope."

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (New Living Translation)

hue and eye

Can you imagine trying to describe the world of color to a person who lives in black-and-white?

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Or explain lilacs' soft perfume to one who's nose will not distinguish fragrances? A newly mowed lawn has a subtle, sweet aroma that is a little like cucumber, I think. (Inhaling deeply) I want to stay outside as long as the fresh scent lingers.

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When the other party does not share your perspective, it can be frustrating for both. Why bother trying? What if I'm wrong? We're only human, after all... that is little comfort, isn't it? Well, if I believe the message is important or relevant, I must make the effort. It might mean a headache for one or both of us, but I care, and my conscience will not allow me to observe passively.

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Those sunstreaks are golden, but almost white at their center. The leaves are a healthy, kelly green. The lilacs...