1777 - The Ties That Bind


I made only a few images today and I can’t really tell if the Image of the Day is good, even passable, or not. I’ve stared at it for too long, I’ve twisted it, and now I would need some distance.

What I do know is that I like this bicycle image. I think it’s satisfyingly balanced.

I liked it in color, and when I tried B&W, it somehow stuck, but without necessity. It’s interesting: So many of my decisions are basically random, and that’s not only when it comes to colors. It really goes through my whole life, and I have the suspicion that I’m not the only one. We come to the crossroads, we go one way, not knowing what the decision implies, without the option to go back and try the other way. And still we are able to enjoy our lives.

The Song of the Day is “The Ties That Bind” from the 1980 Bruce Springsteen album “The River”. There are many versions on YouTube, let’s try a very early one. Bruce Springsteen live in December 1978.


There are 4 comments

Cedric   (2011-09-01)

Someone once asked me: how do you live your life? And without any thought I replied "By letting things happen". I got a weird look and I must admit that at the time I wasn't sure why I said that but when I thought about it a little I realised that it was totally appropriate. My so-called decisions seem to just happen, the consideration behind each decision just happens, the consequences just happen. Anyway both images work for me. Interestingly on first sight the plastic bag appeared to me as something organic, decaying but organic. It actually took a few seconds for the bag to register and when it did I thought what a perfect transition from organic to plastic.

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andreas   (2011-09-01)

Thanks. Well, this transition comes from a partial B&W conversion with a soft mask. I've done this a few times in the past and it seems to work pretty well for eliminating distracting color on the periphery. I think it's not a plastic bag either. It's one of those red/white ribbons that are used around here to secure construction sites. Someone had fastened it to the metal ring in front of this window (the wood is an outer window sill, the cracked paint in the background is on a window frame), but didn't find it necessary to untie it properly. As to "letting things happen", I really think we all do that, more or less, and normally much more than we tend to believe. It carries the stigma of "not being in control" and of bohemian carelessness, but of course that's stupid. The outcome of our "decisions" is influenced and often forced by so many factors and forces, that it would be ridiculous to even think about having them all "under control". We sail along as the wind blows and most of the time we are happy to nurture the illusion of steering a little. And that's probably OK. Doing otherwise would be enormously tiring, ultimately fruitless, and in the large it would make not so much of a difference anyway. I think what really matters are the "moral" decisions. Do I bribe or take bribes or do I not. Do I turn someone in or do I not. Do I give freely or do I not. Do I hate or do I love. Do I vote for security or do I vote for freedom. Do I embrace change or do I fear. These types of things.

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Roland   (2011-09-01)

Consciousness is totally overrated. 😉 cheers ®

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andreas   (2011-09-01)

😄 😄 😄

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