Friday, May 3, 2013

Focus on Life: Week 18

Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a year long challenge which is... sublime... as you'd expect with such a studio name. The challenge is named 'Focusing on Life' and every week Sally is sending a prompt on what should we focus the following week.

The prompt of this week?!

Abstract: the use of a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.

I have to admit I almost passed the opportunity - for me abstract is the modern painting in strange colours and harsh lines, something I don't have too much patience for. Then I had a short conversation with myself, asking why do I want to pass? because I will have a crazy week (Sunday is our Easter!)? because I don't like abstract that much (or my interpretation of it)? because I am afraid? A little bit of each :)

What am I afraid of? Not sure how to define the feeling, so I'll leave it at that for now.

So I started hunting something that would be abstract - and then I stopped. I wanted to incorporate Easter somehow, but it's too early in the week to have useful pictures. So I looked for last year pictures and in one of them I found this detail:


I loved it so much: the shine and glow of the orange skin (in the right bottom corner), the lovely spring branches detailed on the candle, the warm light reminding me of the most special night of the year, approaching soon!

The picture is edited a little bit (highlighted to bring the glow in focus) - and I still don't think of it as abstract. But it perfectly matches the mood of this week (we call it The 'Big' Week) so I will go with it!

A little bit of abstract patterns on our brightly coloured eggs:


And the most concrete table - as it was last year right after we came home from the midnight mass:


I am looking forward to this week's celebration and, most of all, to getting together with family and friends and spending this bright and luminous day in peace, with the kids running around happily.

Thank you for visiting! and thank you, Sally, for getting me out of my comfort zone :)

For other abstract interpretations, please visit Sally's place where we gather for lovely conversation!

22 comments:

  1. Alicia, enjoy your Easter celebration, and with a lady at the head of the festivities with such an eye for detail, sure it is going to be spectacular.

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  2. I think your candle photo is awesome and the eggs are so cool! I had a hard time with this one too. I'm not a fan of abstract art but after googling it, and getting a feel for it, I kind of like abstract photography! Happy Easter!

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  3. Wishing your family peace, enjoy the festivities! I do love candle light, but thinking on your post I'm realizing that something I usually enjoy alone. But campfire light - ah - many a gathering, has found me with a freezing behind and warm front (and on occasion melting boot) by some fire thrown together to last an evening.

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  4. I think your candle is the abstract =) but I'm not sure, cause for I'm in cofusing too.

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  5. I like the candle very much, nice interpetation. Happy Easter week :)

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  6. Happy Easter and it's so funny that this made almost all of us squirm!

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  7. love the candle shot! i'm curious - we celebrated easter in the UK way back on march 31 - which faith calendar do you follow, if you don't mind me asking? I studied theology at college, so i'm always interested in others' faiths :)

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  8. Happy Easter... I didn't really know what to do this week either... I googled the topic and the site basically said macro pictures out of context.. your first two capture that thought perfectly!

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  9. I read somewhere that abstract photography puts aside the image, and features the line, color shape...Your candle is perfect! Happy Easter to you and yours!

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  10. Really wonderful shots! The table looks amazing - Enjoy it all.

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  11. Beautiful photos! I love the vivid colors of both photos. Enjoy your Easter celebration!!!

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  12. Enjoy your Easter celebration, and you're pictures are beautiful! what a gorgeous table you set! and I LOVE your painted eggs

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  13. My grandmother used to make the most beautiful eggs. I lost the last of hers many years ago when my little niece dropped it. She never taught me how. Those old arts are dying.

    She kept telling me later, later. I was too young for the hot wax. Then she died.

    I love the candle shot.

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  14. Alicia I hope you have a wonderful Easter. Great pic choices. Your eggs are gorgeous.

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  15. I think your choices are perfect "abstractions": the gentle glow of candlelight has a universal appeal, for those of Faith and others. And it is no wonder the sight of eggs and bread is so cheering and life-affirming; such basic foods and available to even the poorest families. (I hope you'll share more pics of that beautiful Easter bread, Alicia.) I wish you and your family a Blessed Easter!

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  16. Those are such bright and cheery photos, perfect for me this week as the weather has been so drab here. I really love the candle picture.

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  17. That candle shot is really awesome. All the texture and bits of detail totally give it the abstract feel. Very cool.

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  18. I like the candle shot, but I love the Easter bread!! And your eggs are so pretty. :-)

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  19. Very nice photos- I like the candle the best. Just bright enough!

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  20. Your pictures convey such warmth and happiness. I also love the detail and wish you and your family a happy Easter.

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate and love to read your comments!