Mystery from the Fabric of Life

One of my favorite photographers is John Loengard. His "As I See It" book of black and white images sits on the table beside my bed in good company with Annie Leibovitz's "A Photographer's Life" and a borrowed copy of "The Family of Man." I keep it there for inspiration and I can't tell you how many times I've flipped through the pages and poured over his photographs, finding something unique with each view. In his preface to the book John Loengard writes about discovering photography at the age of twelve and goes on to say...

"Since then, I've met many others who fell in love with photography at around that age. Invariably, magic is the word we use to describe what we discovered. Still, the fact is, photographers work only with what's present. I suspect our chief emotions are anticipation, frustration and patience (if that's an emotion) – balanced by a marvelous sense of elation when things go right: when we think we've captured in a photograph some missing feeling, or hidden beauty, or bit of mystery from the fabric of life."

When I went through the process of selecting just twelve images (from easily a thousand options) to share in an open critique with long-time, well-respected ASMP photographers a few weeks back, I was intriqued to discover a common theme in my favorites – a tension or uneasiness. Question marks. Perhaps a bit of mystery from the fabric of life.

Share an image from your collection that gives you pause and makes us think.

Comments

[Elaina]

These are very different but go back to the reoccurring theme in my writing, many of my photos and life right now: being still and digging below the surface to find hidden beauty.

http://elainaavalos.blogspot.com/2009/05/wordless-wednesday.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elainamarie/3568956531/

[Elizabeth Harper]

I find death and renewal are common themes for my photography. I'm drawn to memories of the past without getting stuck there. I tend to think of the images I shoot like stages of life and nowhere is this more so for me than when I'm in a cemetery. I am reminded when there of how little time we have to get it all done (dreams and goals) and how much of life can be wasted fretting over why we think we can't do or be all that dream of for our lives.

Be sure to look at the last image on this post...

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/primroses-powershots/

[Marcie]

Love the image you've posted. There is a whole story being told within the frame. Just a little bit of tension and 'not knowing'.Here's one of mine that leaves just a little to the imagination in much the same way:

http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=779

[Dani]

Love the photo in your post.

I love photographing my family. This shot is one that always gives me goosebumps. I had my camera all set up and was sitting on the ground taking some shots of my little sister who was roller skating outside. I got some wonderful shots, we were laughing and talking as she rolled around and then out of nowhere she fell, and as soon as she fell this is the shot I captured. It was almost like I didn' even mean to capture it. I didn't even look at ituntil after I helped her up. She looks so beautiful. But in shock. And I remember immediately after I took this photo she burst into tears. I'm not sure looking at this photo for the first tme ever you could ever tell what was going on. But for me, it is deep. I was immediately panicked and rushed to help her up, not even thinking about the camera that at that time I told every one was my most valued possession. Melanie came first.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36197392@N06/3516645782/in/set-72157616386203054/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36197392@N06/3516645782/in/set-72157616386203054/

[Alicia]

A photo I recently shot... http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/05/beautiful-day.html

And maybe the last photo in this shot... http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/05/moss-under-my-feet.html

[Puna]

My own take on the fabric of life.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/on-the-waterfront-the-fabric-of-life/

[Laura]

I captured the photograph of this couple while in Chicago with my husband. They walked sweetly hand and hand for the longest time and then stopped to look at the surrounding scene. She then turned and walked away without him. He stood for a minute longer before rejoining her. They were magnetic and I was entranced.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/3505387619/in/set-72157617750576970/

[Danielle]

I captured this image at the market in San Francisco. What a contrast this man is to the people around him. It made me wonder about his life:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27400048@N04/3398885509/

[jenifriend]

i love your image...you can feel the energy and excitement surrounding those cowboy boots.

http://oneyear365.aminus3.com/image/2009-05-13.html

[Karyn]

It's not that special - I just keep looking at it and i don't know why. I guess that's mystery enough. This was taken while we were on the Nightwatchman Tour in Rothenburg, Germany with friends.

[Karyn]

And the actual link would be here. Sorry.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/3569715941/

[summer]

This one my husband picked as intriguing him...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3464121578/

I love your photo and the way the story is woven so in and out of every aspect. That is what I strive for.

This one always brings me to pause:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3570646580/

[Jennifer Bee Photography]

http://jenniferbeephotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/shutter-sisters-daily-click.html#comments

[djbeat]

i sat here late last night wondering what photo of mine i could share that would have meaning or would give pause - then i woke up this morning (with the same thing on my brain) and i realized that most things give me pause. i question the most simple of things and capture them from baby`s toes, to things hanging in trees, reflections in windows etc.

i have driven or walked by this garage several times a week for years and have always smiled at the ivy covered windows & the beautiful thai budha that sits in the wild garden out front & it makes me wonder - what kind of person works there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3569513692/in/photostream/
http://365daysofdifferent.blogspot.com/

[Trude]

This made me pause and look at my photography in a new light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/3532713486/

It maybe isn't the best photo, but because I looked at the shriveled blooms and thought "photo!" I know I'm progressing! :)

[Becky]

This shot was taken during a high-energy shoot. The models are all friends and played off each other's actions well. For this particular image I simply asked them to sit and share a secret. The way they entwined their arms and cozied right up made me want to stop shooting and go be a part of the secret telling :) It's a complicated image that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the shoot, but it's my favorite from that day.

http://blog.bagdanoffphoto.com/?p=1286

[Kristen]

This picture is mystery to me. For one thing, it's not of people. That in itself makes it anyone's guess as to what they were thinking. I loved the personality that these horses showed in this picture. The one in the front showing intrest while the one behind him is timid and shy, although he is 5 times larger than me and my tiny camera. They are the perfect balance of friendship, beauty, Innocence, and wonder.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lateriser/3191563699/

[Tipping Point Photo]

I chuckle at how appropriate these posts can sometimes seem based on what's going on in my own life....

We just met with a new wedding client last night and explained to them that we're very much about unobtrusive, candid photography, even at a formal event like a wedding. More specifically, for me, it's always been about catching that person when they're not watching, and instead engaging with a loved one, focused on an activity, laughing at a joke somewhere outside the frame, dreaming big.

And so, in response to your question:
(not the best quality, as it's an old film scan)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tippingpointphoto/2988432284/in/set-72157606498825390/

I sent them a copy of this print a couple months after I got back to school, and I still have the paper the boy's dad wrote his address on for me to send it to. Every time I find it again, buried somewhere in an unused camera bag, I wonder about what this boy is doing now, and whether he's living his dreams...and whether he's still dreaming, too.

[Rachel Parton]

Love is the fabric of life, right? Love & cotton?
http://partonpics.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-favorite-model.html

[Liz]

I originally pulled out the camera to get a picture of the pink blossoms on the tree in this picture, and it wasn't until I had snapped several shots from this angle that I really saw the symbolism here.

http://inventingliz.blogspot.com/2009/05/time-goes-by-bigger-picture.html

I look at this picture whenever I want to remind myself that "Life is too short to __________" Fill in the blank with whatever makes sense to you, my current version is "Life is to short to live in a place that makes you crazy."

[Julia]

A brand new mother with her baby gives me pause:
http://jewels.esmilde.com/2009/05/new-life.html

[Liz]

the ghostly cast to this otherwise ordinary shot, not to mention the elvish perspective of man vs. log
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2867335270/