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Clear Lake Spirit
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Clear Lake Spirit

by Chuck Beatty

Gallery: Photo ArtPosted October 14, 20071,157 views4 comments
There is a park in southern Ontario where -- a 1000+ years ago -- the local Algonkian people carved hundreds of images into a large exposure of marble. One of the images is of a turtle laying eggs. In the stories of some First Nations people, the earth is a turtle and we ride upon her shell. In my family, this turtle glyph became connected to the birth of my Spirit son (God son, if you will). He will be 12 this winter.

For this image I recreated the turtle using Illustrator and Photoshop, then combined it with an image I shot on a foggy morning at Clear Lake, Ontario last fall.

I'm interested in your initial reaction to the image. My intent was to imply the spirit in everything around us -- especially on mornings when it is quiet enough for such connections to be realized. Was I successful? What would make it better? Thanks for having a look.

More info on the petroglyphs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroglyphs_Provincial_Park

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Mark Stahlke on October 14, 2007 at 11:51 PM
I like the concept and the image supports it well. Without the explanation I wouldn't have recognized or understood the turtle.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 97 Posts, 782 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 15, 2007 at 9:51 AM
You have elicited a mystic feeling with your great composition. Thanks for sharing your story and your art.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on October 17, 2007 at 9:29 AM
I agree with May..the image is very mystical. Nice work, Chuck. :smile:
Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 22, 2007 at 2:57 PM
A most evocative image, Chuck. It touches a deep chord in me. Thank you for sharing it and the story. AND many congrats on the EP!
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments