I'm thinking that this could represent what one former spouse has left after being taken to the cleaners by a really outstanding divorce lawyer.
Mess, despair, nothing really useful to start rebuilding a life with, cold comfort . . . if any.
Show this to someone who has been through the short end of the stick and ask if it's a good representation of the wringer they've been through, and I think you'll find that there's a lot more in this photo than appears at first blush.
(My wife is a Realtor and one of her clients is trying to purchase a home that currently belongs to a divorced couple where one is putting the other through the kind of wringer that could easily result in an emotional state that the photo could easily represent.)
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on November 8, 2008 at 2:04 PM
I can see what it could represent, but I do find it rather depressing. More so with the weather the way it is this morning!
I have fortunately not been through that wringer...
Posted by Cliff Dodge on November 8, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Nice insight Norman. Seperation, like the mattress from the springs, leaves a nasty mess that no one wants to clean up, like divorce. Taken to the cleaners when there is nothing left worth cleaning. Geoff, yes, Depressing. John, LOL! Forgive me for not giving a description right away, but its nice to see the comments on this without it. :) Fortunately, i still sleep at home, with my loving wife of 28 years. (shes right behind me ) And sorry its not really nature so to speak, but i am finding it hard to get motivated lately for hiking around the same old places where i try to find the nice nature shot. Thanks for the comments. Cliff
Posted by James Walley on November 9, 2008 at 6:00 AM
What I'm seeing here is not so much the feeling of one spouse being "taken to the cleaners" or getting the short end of the stick. What I see is that the bed is the focal point of the marriage as a whole. Now, it's stripped, broken, rusting, and abandoned. It isn't the point of one person being wronged, but just the burial site of the marriage itself -- it's over, dead, and what was once expected to bring joy and comfort to two people is now but a broken, corroded memory.
It might make more sense if I could tell exactly what was underneath the bed, but the strong red color in whatever is down there -- really, the only strong color in the whole image -- speaks of a former time of happiness that is also, now, left out to decay.
(Boy, I'm really depressing myself with this analysis...)
Posted by Arlen Fletcher on November 9, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I hate to rain on this parade, but isn't this the Pacific Northwest NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS Forum?
Posted by Rick Lamb on November 9, 2008 at 2:11 PM
I have no problem accommodating the occasional departure from our mission statement. Sometimes we all need to chase down a departure to help get the creative juices flowing again!
Glad I came back to this thread! Boy, I admit I sure didn't connect with the image, but now, the meaning in the image for others makes this a powerful scene. When I first looked, I thought it was a cage of some sort with an hole cut into it. Perhaps some marriages can feel like that, too... The hole being where the desperate one has finally made the way out... Not all is wine and roses out there, for sure, and this is a great example to me of how I expect photographs to be happy and pleasing especially in a nature forum. Caught by the unexpected, without much context except the title, my mind couldn't accept the sadness and loss. Thanks for the post, Cliff.
Posted by Mark Hudon on November 10, 2008 at 7:40 PM
I'm speechless, no... I'm opinionless.
Posted by Arlen Fletcher on November 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Rick,
I appreciate your flexibility in allowing more latitude for off-topic postings. This forum is doubtless better-off as a result of your non-heavy-handed approach to moderation. No one else is questioning the applicability of the image to this forum, so I won't press the issue except to say that the Off-Topic and Photo Art forums are perfect spots for images like this.
Posted by Mark Hudon on November 12, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Arlen,
We're into "Nature Photography" around here but we're also into "Photography". Cute pictures of your kids, a good shot of your dog, your campsite at a photo gathering are all welcome. Those shots are not usually too common around here so we don't sweat it.
The PNWNP photogs are a little bit more of a "community" than the other regional forums so we tend to want to see what and whatever anyone is doing with their cameras.
Posted by Rick Lamb on November 12, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Cliff posted an image that has certainly made more than a few us go "HUH"? And that's well within the guidelines for the regional forums.
The regional forums (like this one) are non-specific in general and more conversational. Sure we "focus" primarily on nature but by no means do we need to be heavy handed in limiting images to specific categories within this forum.
I think where folks get twisted up is the difference between NPN Galleries vs the Regional Forums. The NPN Galleries are clearly topic specific and that needs to be respected. The Regional forums are not topic specific. Obviously as I have stated above NPN is of and about Nature Photography. On the regional forums we discuss both Nature AND Photography.
So your statement that the above image should not be in this forum simply isn't true. Had said image been posted to say the Earth/Sea/Sky gallery that would indeed be a misplacement.
As your trusted moderator all I ask when posting an image is ask yourself this: Is it G-rated? Will it add value? Will the feedback you get add value?
This regional forum in particular has done IMHO a superb job of building community and being super supportive. I personally take NO credit in this. The credit goes to all of you!
Posted by Arlen Fletcher on November 12, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Thanks for the clarification Rick. I now understand the difference between the posting guidelines for NPN Galleries Vs. Regional Forums - which as you've pointed out - are apparently quite different.
In the further interest of clarity, I did not say that the above image did not belong here - that's your call, not mine. I did question whether or not it was appropriate - and you have answered that question unequivocally.
Thanks again!
Posted by Rick Lamb on November 12, 2008 at 3:19 PM
We're all good I think! What I do like is this brought up and clarified an issue I bet others too have pondered so we as a community definitely got value from this!
Posted by Rick Lamb on November 12, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Oh I almost forgot - "divorce" really is as messy as the above image depicts. Having been there done that.................
Discussion
19 repliesI'm thinking that this could represent what one former spouse has left after being taken to the cleaners by a really outstanding divorce lawyer.
Mess, despair, nothing really useful to start rebuilding a life with, cold comfort . . . if any.
Show this to someone who has been through the short end of the stick and ask if it's a good representation of the wringer they've been through, and I think you'll find that there's a lot more in this photo than appears at first blush.
(My wife is a Realtor and one of her clients is trying to purchase a home that currently belongs to a divorced couple where one is putting the other through the kind of wringer that could easily result in an emotional state that the photo could easily represent.)
I have fortunately not been through that wringer...
It might make more sense if I could tell exactly what was underneath the bed, but the strong red color in whatever is down there -- really, the only strong color in the whole image -- speaks of a former time of happiness that is also, now, left out to decay.
(Boy, I'm really depressing myself with this analysis...)
I appreciate your flexibility in allowing more latitude for off-topic postings. This forum is doubtless better-off as a result of your non-heavy-handed approach to moderation. No one else is questioning the applicability of the image to this forum, so I won't press the issue except to say that the Off-Topic and Photo Art forums are perfect spots for images like this.
We're into "Nature Photography" around here but we're also into "Photography". Cute pictures of your kids, a good shot of your dog, your campsite at a photo gathering are all welcome. Those shots are not usually too common around here so we don't sweat it.
The PNWNP photogs are a little bit more of a "community" than the other regional forums so we tend to want to see what and whatever anyone is doing with their cameras.
The regional forums (like this one) are non-specific in general and more conversational. Sure we "focus" primarily on nature but by no means do we need to be heavy handed in limiting images to specific categories within this forum.
I think where folks get twisted up is the difference between NPN Galleries vs the Regional Forums. The NPN Galleries are clearly topic specific and that needs to be respected. The Regional forums are not topic specific. Obviously as I have stated above NPN is of and about Nature Photography. On the regional forums we discuss both Nature AND Photography.
So your statement that the above image should not be in this forum simply isn't true. Had said image been posted to say the Earth/Sea/Sky gallery that would indeed be a misplacement.
As your trusted moderator all I ask when posting an image is ask yourself this: Is it G-rated? Will it add value? Will the feedback you get add value?
This regional forum in particular has done IMHO a superb job of building community and being super supportive. I personally take NO credit in this. The credit goes to all of you!
In the further interest of clarity, I did not say that the above image did not belong here - that's your call, not mine. I did question whether or not it was appropriate - and you have answered that question unequivocally.
Thanks again!