Saguaro Wanderings: Seeing 2010 (#50)

For your consideration: two submissions representing favorite subjects -- high contrast organic abstracts and time spent with my beloved friend Nino.

The blade is an example of a bit of extemporaneous vision: I exited a building just before sunset and discovered that my car was parked along side a long row of large plants whose leaves were in various states of decay. Many of them were fortuitously positioned to be glowingly illuminated by the last rays of the day; having my macro and a unipod made capturing fine detail with simplistic backgrounds possible, despite unpredictably swirling breezes. I especially enjoy the duality of symmetries and asymmetries present - note the unbalanced shadow of another unseen leaf.

Nino and I go back more than two decades. Since the early days we've become among one another's closest confidants, advisers, and sources of solace and encouragement. A rarest of friends, who continues to be a shining light in my life.

While not quite as spontaneous a setup as that of the blade image, when I realized Nino and I were skirting the local dome this pose was easy to visualize. Several forms echo throughout the space -- some obvious and others subtle (such as the zipper's teeth mimicking the hemisphere's grid). The dramatic sky is a nice counterpoint to the serene demeanor of this kind and peaceful man, who here holds a wry grin congruent with his good humor and the whimsy of this tableau.

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