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One picture, a thousand words [1]

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Date: 2023-09-16

“Every picture tells a story.” Remember that 1970’s-era song?

If asked, I’m sure the incomparable Rod Stewart could not agree more, if you know what I mean.

So, I was looking for an image to go with a story I was preparing for another site. I needed to find that one perfect representation. You can imagine what that must have been like. As soon as I landed eyes on this picture, then with its introduction known, its impression made, right away I knew that what I had found in this photo was worth its weight in gold. There is just something about this shot. (See photo at top).

Deep meaning

There’s no denying there is such symbolism here.

So, what do you think it was specifically that prompted photographer Mchavez to want to grab this shot? It’s so easy to say the flower is the obvious answer. Was it something else? Was it something more?

What I can say is the stand-alone bloom is unequivocally, unquestionably, the show-stopper in this display. And, for good reason. It’s what gets noticed at first blush. Kind of like love.

The image’s meaning, when taken in total, is no doubt, deep. It’s our job to figure out just what that meaning is. Submit a comment if you want to share what you think that is.

Why is it that the flower is even there? Is it fake or is it real? And the fact that it stands out the way it does, speaks volumes. Is there a subliminal message and, if so, what is it?

What I believe in my heart of hearts is that what this is all about is acceptance, belonging and inclusion. Wow! What a concept! A welcoming of the unfamiliar, the different. It’s a metaphor for what’s absent, lacking, missing today in so many places. An ideal that should be aspired to universally. Across the board, lock, stock and barrel. For me, a more profound thought emerges: “Can’t we all just get along?” It’s not that we can’t. We can. We have to want to.

Finding and taking time

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard it said that “I didn’t have time to do this.” Or, “I didn’t have time for that.” Tell me, and be honest, the stuff that does get done, why is that? My sense is because this is what’s important. And, what isn’t, tends to fall by the wayside, that is, until it cannot be put aside any longer. It’s called procrastination and I’m guilty as charged.

With a hectic lifestyle that many of us having taken on, room must be made for some “me” time and, no, I’m not just talking vacation time only.

What I’m talking about is time set aside for us to unwind, for smelling the roses, and my suspicion is that this image, if we peer closely enough, is telling us that this photo also exists to remind us to slow down and take time to notice the world around, and to enjoy life. I heard a really great expression and I wish I could remember who said it. The maxim went something like this: “Be a part of nature; do not be apart from it.” (Source unknown).

Sublime, yet subtle

Maybe it’s obvious, maybe it isn’t. But there is more to this tale than just that. So much more.

Think tall and at the same time, imperceptible. A contradiction in terms or so it would seem. But not here, not in this instance and not with this image — no how, no way!

For anyone who has ever seen the movie: The Legend of Bagger Vance, there is the scene where Bagger (played by Will Smith) is telling Rannulph Junuh (played by Matt Damon) something about his needing to be able to see the field, to which Junuh replies: “I see the field.” But, did he? If you want to know, you’ll need to watch the film. But here’s a clue.

With our eyes and attention fixated on the yellow bloom, in so doing, we can miss the forest for the trees; or dare I say, “the cornfield for the corn”? — in other words, the bigger picture. And, that bigger picture here, of course, being the photograph’s entire contents: blue sky with wispy, white clouds, the field of corn that, if you let your imagination run just a bit wild, you can picture the stalks blowing in the breeze, while not to be overlooked either, are the distant trees.

There is obviously so much more going on than what meets the eye.

A story to tell

With today’s photograph, people will see what they see and take away from it what they will. It is certainly not what I would call dramatic. Not all pictures are. This thread’s pic may not even qualify as that perfect shot. But, that matters not. What it does do on the other hand is capture the imagination as has been abundantly demonstrated.

But, I believe what is most important with this particular representation is what it has to say. In that regard, it is no different for any other photograph: They each and all tell a story. I do know that oftentimes from photographic content, people derive enjoyment. It comes with the territory. Perhaps they’re not all this way, but I would say the vast majority are.

Having said that, If there’s a finer visual representation that captures the imagination like this one does, I am hard-pressed to think of it. And, if one does exist, I’d sure like to see it.

And, the last point that needs to be made is that I purposely tasked myself with meeting my criterion in the assembly of this piece. It needed to be 1,000 words. I’ll take the victories where I can get them.

I’d say I met today’s task with flying colors, despite the colors in this post’s accompanying photo being somewhat muted. As it happens, the composition is such that it not only serves its purpose, but is exemplary is so doing.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/16/2193754/-One-picture-a-thousand-words

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