Saturday, January 12, 2013

Bigger Than Life






Not knowing where the expression, "Bigger than Life" came from, I looked it up (but, of course!) Only to find that it was a movie made in 1956 that did not do well at the box office, BUT the plot and subject matter is compelling-particularly for handling it at that time. It's about a nice family man struck with an illness and was treated 'successfully' with an experimental drug, cortisone. Yes, I know seems mild doesn't it? Nevertheless, he becomes addicted and abusus it and suffers psychotic episodes which endanger his family. Produced in 1956, I see that you can still buy this movie and it is even out on blu ray.

Wow.






But, the movie really has nothing to do with my subject matter today. I just thought the expression, 'bigger than life' fit the images. Little did I know the significance of the title!

This leaf had made its way into the office studio space we have. I think it was blown in by the wind when the door was opened. I kept walking by it thinking, how beautiful it was and how I should snap it up and photograph it. Lucky for me, I finally did do that before the area was cleaned up of the outside debris. It's beauty, in my eyes, is bigger than life. Its details warrant a good close look and examination. So many wonderful details! Providing yet, another way to celebrate the mundane.



"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." (Martin Luther King)


Every week, a group of us from around the world post our shadow shots over at Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Entertain your muse and be amused by stopping by to see what others have posted! You can view all of my 2012 Shadow Shot Sunday images on my Flickr account.
Click here to view them.

14 comments:

Sooz Weissberg said...

That really is a stunningly beautiful leaf, and without the combination of your unique eye, and a good lens, it would be lost on us! I thought your composition group was very artful, as well. Very nice!

Sylvia K said...

What fantastic shadow shots for the day, Paula!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Ralph said...

Well, the dragonfly looks bigger than usual, the leaf giant as it sits upon a way bigger gourd - if my imagination itself is also outsized. The myriad mix of many different things is artistic. Glad the leaf showed up as the basis of real photo art!

Catherine said...

wow - gorgeous shot of that leaf - the colours and patterns are lovely...

robin. said...

yeah my fellow mundane chaser. the leaf is beautiful...i do so love them. this one has many hues, many lines. so glad you snatched it up and used it for your subject today. keep on being mundane...i will be right there with you.

Kathe W. said...

good eye to see and photograph such a small leaf. Lovely

Chubby Chieque said...

Hello dear Paula,

OMG! it seems ages not visiting you here. I was really hibernating in whole December, when dear Mama passed away and when she buried, a heart friend banned to met me. How awful it was to feel but now, it's 2013, so I start a new life, a new beginning.

Bigger than Life? I guess it really a great one in SSS2.

Happy SSS2 and I do really missed you & your posts.

Greetings from a frozen city of Stockholm,
/Chie

Gemma Wiseman said...

Extraordinary colour and pattern in this beautiful leaf! Wonderful how a macro highlights what we tend to consider insignificant and without precious beauty!

Spadoman said...

You make these shots of simple objects bigger than life, and do it so well I might add.

Peace

namaki said...

very nice shadows and food for thinking ! Seems like Martin Luther King knew about Plato's cave myth !

Chubskulit Rose said...

I like the shadow on the first but I love your last capture!

Shadow of Kindness
Have a blessed Sunday.

A Cuban In London said...

Strikingly beautiful leaf. Thanks for such an inspiring post. Remminds me of Stevie Wonder's The Secret Life of Plants.

Greetings from London.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous images of the leaf Paula

Anonymous said...

I know what Bigger than Life means, but I sometimes think of things that are smaller than life. We need those little places & spaces, nano-ideas..the tiny ones some don't notice, to prick us lightly, to surprise & teach us.~Mary

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