This is a nifty little site I found, thanks to a link off a link provided by a nurturing someone who wants to see me blossom and thrive. (Call me crazy, but somehow I find that terribly endearing.) :)
By the way, you, I keep meaning to tell you -- because every time I look at it, it strikes me anew -- I keep meaning to tell you not just how much I like that picture you snapped of me, but also precisely why. Not in any particular order, and possibly repetitive:
1) you can't see my face. :)
2) most photos are judged "good" if they portray the sitter as an aethetically pleasing person to regard; but this is of me being engaged in actively doing something, not just of me being a passive face to be admired (or not, as the case may be)
3) I'm focused elsewhere, not mugging for the camera
4) it's of me, but I'm not the center of attention in the shot
5) it's about me, but not all about me; it's also about what's about me, and yet what's about me is somehow about me -- while you may claim that is serendipitous, I think it is instinctively clever of you
6) the "about" is eclectic -- altogether Victorian and Techno, Gothic and Provincial; flowers and metal, sunshine and dirt, pane glass and focused lenses; mechanical and natural, relaxation and aspiration, earthbound and heavenwards (do I have enough?)
7) there's just enough of a faint wisp of a delicate hint of the barest soupcon of the wee-est dram of spirituality, so that it doesn't overwhelm or offend as being overly religious yet still could possibly have metaphysicality read into it if the viewer wanted to play with the idea of such interpretations
8) it implies, subtly, almost accidentally, a search for an elevated state of grace... well, okay, I guess technically it's completely accidental, but I like that it combines the concepts of "accident" & "state of grace" (it's the arch echoed by the arching that does it for me) ...perhaps I may even dare to call it "An Accidental State of Grace?" (sorry about that link, sometimes my education comes back to haunt me...)
9) call me sentimental -- my boyfriend is behind me, though mostly unseen... I think I'd feel lonely if it was just me in there [wry smile]
10) it made me realize that nearly everyone I've seriously dated has either been a photographer, or had photography as a serious hobby
So I really like that snap, I like it well enough to mull it over as to why I say to myself, "Egad, that is an excellent photo of me!" every time I see it. You should feel proud of yourself for having been able to make a picture of me that I love; & I hope you do, because it is no small feat.
I doubt that the above qualifies as a bloggin' loverfest admiration essay, as it was mostly about me and how pleased I am with you & your photo. And it's a day late. But I must reiterate: you were talented & skilled & alert & intuitive enough to snap a pic of me that I love. That's bloody incredible.
I haven't counted to see whether that was 1500 words, but if it runneth over, you can use the extra words to make haiku.
Thanks for the pic, it remains an excellent gift.
Ed