I greatly enjoy photographing statuary; usually I strive to isolate such subjects against as simple of an environment as possible, making the inanimate form the sole source of power in the image. Occasionally, however, I'll include the object's surroundings so as to establish a sense of place, mood or other contexts . . .
Over Father's Day weekend my wife and I took a long stroll from our hotel to The Stinking Rose, the setting for our first "official" date. During our trek we meandered through the Chinatown district, always rich with interesting photographic possibilities.
Before long we discovered one of those wonderful shops crammed with a myriad of presumably Eastern trinkets -- geared largely towards the tourist crowds of course. A vast variety of objects of all sizes, colors and uses competed for attention, almost to distraction. Thus I was delighted, and surprised, to discover a very large and singular statue of the Buddha -- and a beautiful one at that -- keeping watch over an intersection of narrow shopping aisles.
Beyond the elegance of the artistry put into this piece I was struck by the pose: both hands out, stiff palms in front, as if to warn against further encroachment. From what, I wondered? I was immediately the stuck by the juxtaposition of this serene, spiritual icon against the flotsam crammed into bins and on shelves in all directions, crowding in . . . Small wonder the defensive stance, a deliciously ironic indictment of the economic mess permeating our world of late. Some degree of lost serenity might be regained by means of resisting the siren call of rampant consumerism as a means of therapy.
I can't help but wonder if this Buddha's arms were once relaxed at its sides.
Pushing Buddha, #3686
(c)2009 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.
(click image for larger version)
Details: June 20, 2009; Canon 20D; f/5.6 @ 1/50 sec; -2/3 EV; ISO 800; 47mm.
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