Ruminating Out Loud

Below are examples from a striking collection of images taken using infrared photography, in which “the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. Because everyday objects reflect infrared in proportions that differ sharply from that of visible light, the tonal relationships are wildly unexpected. Such near-infrared techniques used in photography give subjects an exotic, antique look. Green vegetation becomes white, whereas human skin becomes pale and ghostly.”

It is no surprise to most, who frequent these pages, that I am particularly fond of how well folks at The Boston Globe put photo-essays together. Previous examples can be found here and here. They continue to impress. Photographs from the inauguration can be found here:

The Boston Globe has another set of glorious and breathtaking photographs collected under the title of “Earth, observed.” Shown below is one that shows “cloudless skies allowed a clear view of Tibet in mid-December 2008. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color, image on December 18, 2008. Snow caps some mountain peaks, and ice partially covers some lakes in this high-altitude region, nicknamed the “Roof of the World.” (NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center)“

The Tibet Fractals

Of course, readers of these pages remember previous posts on fractals and seeing into infinity. This photograph is yet again another example of the manifestation of fractal geometry in natural processes.

Below are photographs from the meeting of President-elect Obama with all the living presidents at the Oval office in the  White House. Here is what I find to be striking: The placements of hands as each of them is posing for these and most other photographs from this event. The main contrast is between the hands of Obama, Bush (43), and Clinton. While Obama is clasping his in front, Bush (43)’s are spread out wide by his side in a confident pose. Clinton is standing with his clasped, but out of sight behind his back. And, Bush (41) has his hands in his pocket for the most part. Carter appears to be detached from the whole thing leaving a physical gap between himself and the other four.

What does this all mean? Of course, I am the least bit qualified to draw any meaning from these gestures. However, I could not help, but notice them.

The Boston Globe has a breathtaking display of photographs portraying the vastitudes of joy and pain, love and hate, calm and calamities, and peace and terror in the human experience during the year 2008.

2008 has been an eventful year to say the least – it is difficult to sum up the thousands of stories in just a handful of photographs. That said, I will try to do what I’ve done with other photo narratives here, and tell a story of 2008 in photographs. It’s not thestory of 2008, it’s certainly not all stories, but as a collection it does show a good portion of what life has been like over the past 12 months. This is a multi-entry story, 120 photographs over three days.”

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3