Your Monday Photo Shoot: Still Life

"We have lost the art of living, and in the most important science of all,the science of daily life, the science of behavior, we are complete ignoramuses. We have psychology instead."

-D.H. Lawrence

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Take a snap of something in a "still life" mode. It doesn't have to be a bowl of fruit, mind you (although there's nothing wrong with a bowl of fruit, if that's your thing). But something that you can get contemplative about would be nice. Also, it doesn't move, unless you go and pick it up.

-John Scalzi

Do you think the above quote by D. H. Lawrence might be true? Have we forgotten the lost art of living. Do we mortals take enough time to just indulge ourselves? Have we forgot the simplest of pleasures?

When I saw the topic of this week's Monday Photo Shoot, I really thought about the term, "Still Life." A still life image begins with the artist choosing a subject that has some meaning to them. Then the artist brings into focus not just the image, but what it means to them personally. It didn't take me long to decide what to photograph, I chose my favorite treat when I need to give myself a break from the world. Chocolate covered strawberries.

I have always believed that when you have a meal, it should be presented with some elegance. So, I made the strawberries, placed them on my favorite French platter and placed a vase with some gorgeous silk roses right next to them. I ate them in my backyard today, while a breeze coming up from the bay, made life feel cool and ticklish, and the Ethereal Musician put soft tunes in my imagination. Today he was playing, "I Try" by Macy Gray. I am really beginning to appreciate life in summer. I know, technically it is still spring, but if today was a taste of what is to come...then it will be sweet, smooth and oh so decadent. :)

-OndineMonet
"Still Life With Chocolate"
Berkeley, California
June 18, 2006
Afternoon