Spellbound
The photo was captured by a friend. On my first look at the image I felt that something unspeakable and primeval had been captured on the cameras sensor, and by the collection of forms in the print. The photo taken on September 11 at twilight, shows a passing cloud wall, just after a downpour. The clashing strata of atmospheric currents, with clashing temperature differential produces rain, and a discharge of static electricity, the flash of lightning seeking ground to the earth. Below this action, in the fading twilight is a sanctuary, a shelter from the rain, the heat and chill, protection from the rending of wind — a home.
There is something more in the photo. Though what you can see, and I’ve described is quite enough. A triangular “v” is formed by the dark silhouette of the tree tops to the right and the glowing edge of the cloud wall on the left side of the photo. Approximately in the center of that triangle is a glowing dot, a star. That “star” is the planet Saturn continuing in its course around our sun, reflecting its light, appearing in the earth’s sky, — like a god. Our ancestors included Saturn in their collection of god-stories, in the pantheon of the old gods. Today is Saturday.
You might have to work to see the dot in the photo against the dark blue sky field. You might make repeated efforts to see the star, which upon discovery vanishes into the background. Did you succeed?
I am confident that the photographer aware of the photogenic potential in the elements of the dissipating storm, prepared his camera — with no guarantee of success, risking the possibility of everything or of nothing for his work. By instinct/intuition the exposure was activated……
Saturn glows in a darkening, lightning-riven sky.
