Visual Vortex
A rose will bloom, it then will fade
Posted by Shirin Moosavi (Tehran, Iran) on 10 December 2008 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.
::1387-09-20::
"...an asphalt flower breaking free...
Release me"
*
Another "disappearance". Well, with or without reason, it's typical of me. I'm not that "highly motivated" kind of person and not much is planned for me. I do have plans in my head, but they almost never get done and I do other stuff instead. Or simply, most of the times I do nothing. And I mean Nothing.
Maybe I'll post a photo of my room on December 13th for the "WHERE I LIVE" challenge day and then you will see what I mean! After all, I'm almost always in my own room and this is WHERE I LIVE. (And thank you Sandy for informing me of this, and the (INTER-FAITH) HOLIDAY CHALLENGE 1/1/2009)
My lovely nephew was sick and we were all worried... He was in hospital for 5 days. He's only 1 year and 4 months old. Hard days... And I'm getting more than my share! Seems I'll never get enough of those...
Thank God, he is fine now.
Thank Lord for everything I have, and everything I don't.
*And I DO have problems with this "nephew" word! How am I supposed to say that he is my brother's son?! The Persian word "BarAdar-zAdeh" is exactly what I mean! ;D (Actually this word does not specify gender, but at least you will get to know whose child is this!)
Some good news too (at last!): As you can see, I've got my first DSLR camera and I love it! Right now it's more than enough for me; anyway, I cannot afford a 5D! ;D
Little by little, I'm getting to know this big black buddy! No rush!
My sister took away my A710 and told me that I'm not qualified to keep it anymore! :D (I will take it back! Promise!)
While I really do appreciate your visits and comments, I might not be able to comment back or to reply to all your great comments on a regular basis.
You're wonderful. Thank you.
Please vote on The 2009 Photoblog Awards
Shirin S. Moosavi © All Rights Reserved
San G. from Encino, California, United States
Thank you so much for your link to Eid al-Adha. I know about Abraham and Isaac (which is the Torah's version of this story), but it was good to hear about the Koran's version, with Ibrahim and Ishmail.
When it comes to Solstice, it is possible in Southern California to walk a Labyrinth at dusk. It's a great time of introspection and prayer. This spiritual experience is provided by the Catholic nuns at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center here in our San Fernando Valley. It's open to all faiths. Are there certain rituals that are observed in Iran for Solstice?
I'm glad your nephew is alright now. It can be very scary when a family member experiences danger to their health. You are a loving Aunt.
Your photograph reminds me of a line from a folk song here in the USA written by Malvina Reynolds and sung by Pete Seeger ... "God bless the grass that grows through the cracks ..." about truth, justice, and tenacity. I think you'd like the lyrics: http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/MALVINA/mr053.htm
10 Dec 2008 8:04am
@San G.: You're most welcome :) And thanks a million for the wonderful lyrics :)
Today Shab e Cheleh [Winter solstice/ Shabe Yalda] is a social occasion when family and friends get together for fun. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are served. The most important fruit is pomegranate. Watermelon is also served which is somehow odd for the season!
"The Iranian Jews, who are amongst the oldest inhabitants of the country, in addition to "Shab-e Cheleh", also celebrate the festival of "Illanout" (tree festival) at around the same time. Their celebration of Illanout is very similar to Shab-e Cheleh celebration. Candles are lit; all varieties of dried and fresh winter fruits will have to be present. Special meals are prepared and prayers are performed." [I didn't know about this one! I searched it!]
"One of the traditions of Yalda is reciting the poetry by Hafez, the 14th century Iranian poet. Most of the elements of Yalda festivities have roots from thousands of years ago; however, the recitation of Hafez poems has been added in recent centuries. Each member of the family makes a wish and randomly opens the Divan of Hafez to one of its pages and usually the eldest member of the family recites the poem on that page. What is expressed in that poem is believed to be the interpretation of the wisher’s wish and whether and how it will come true. This tradition is called fal-e Hafez. His poems are very mysterious and complicated. So everybody can have his own interpretation.
The 13th century Iranian poet Sa’di wrote in his Bustan: The true morning will not come until the Yalda Night is gone."
Well, this is it! Hope it helped :)
And of course there are many more useful articles about it.
Like this one
Thank you again for your comment :)
mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland
Bonne chance avec ton nouvel EOS450D! Beau sépia!
10 Dec 2008 8:43am
@mo.langel: Thank you so much!
I had this dream of getting a 400D. Well time passed by and I didn't buy it! (as I'm very good at postponing things...)
Now I've got my 450D and I'm happy about that!
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
I like the simplicity of this composition.
So sorry to hear about your brother's son...I am glad to hear that he is doing better.
Congrats on the new camera.
10 Dec 2008 1:20pm
@Laurie: Thank you Laurie. It's kind of you to say :)
Alphons from Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands
A very fine simple composition with a good idea. I love such abstract photos.
10 Dec 2008 3:49pm
@Alphons: Thank you Alphons :)
cat from tel aviv, Israel
This is simple and beautiful...and there's a feeling of disappearance in it too...
خیلی قشنگ آست...
10 Dec 2008 5:51pm
@cat: Thanks a million cat! :)
It's interesting that you know Persian! How so?
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
Most interesting and symbolic. Simple but lovely.
10 Dec 2008 5:53pm
@Michael Skorulski: Thank you Micheal :)
Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France
I love minimalist composition and texture ! beautiful tones
10 Dec 2008 6:21pm
@Anna.C: Yes, me too! :D
Thank you so much Anna for stopping by :)
vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
And from the wall we can see that life has its part of scrapes... so roses need to be tough! Very good shot!
10 Dec 2008 6:26pm
@vu@granby: Absolutely! Tough roses! I like the phrase :)
Thank you :)
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
When the walls crack and tumble down Nature will persevere. best...jerry
10 Dec 2008 6:30pm
@ordinaryimages: Thanks a million Jerry :)
No matter what, Nature will stand to the end.
willow from Chelsea, United States
This image and the story of your nephew both speak to the tenacity of life. It may be a struggle, but, still, it goes on. Glad you're back.
10 Dec 2008 7:02pm
@willow: Such is life...
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment :)
k@ from Paris, France
Victor Hugo painted with inks such beautiful things - bravo !
10 Dec 2008 7:16pm
@k@: Thats soooo nice of you to say!! And really, I'm nothing even near!!!!
Thanks for stopping by :)
@Alun Lambert: Thanks Alun :)
@Veronelle: Thank you Veronelle :)
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
I like this composition which gives us with the title free imagination !
10 Dec 2008 8:08pm
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Thank you so much! Glad you liked it :)
Pixim from Nice, France
Whouahhh, it is perfect. A delicacy in your catch of sight, an acute sight of the world which of entours. Really, this so major destitution is beautiful to see Bravo ;)
10 Dec 2008 8:44pm
@Pixim: I just tried to watch closely and couldn't resist this frame!
Last year (spring), I took the same photo at the same place. The plant was alive and kicking!
Thanks a million Pixim :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I love the balance here, the contrasts of the wall and the faded rose...nice to know it will rise once again. Poetic.
10 Dec 2008 9:09pm
@bluechameleon: Thank you so much Sharon :)
It was there last year. It's here now. Don't really know if this plant can make it another year.
@Vargmåne: Thanks :)
@Zorilla: I really love to keep it simple whenever I can!
Thank you so much for stopping by:)
Grahame from Mt Maunganui, New Zealand
A life within a room is a concept I understand.
Beauty flowering from concrete cracks is what makes it worth looking outside.
;)
11 Dec 2008 3:05am
@Grahame: The photos for 13 posts out of total 25 posts in my portfolio are taken at home! Looking through the windows, view from the rooftop, standing on the balcony, sitting near the window, CD on my desk, my own eyes, two cords, my knee with glasses...! "Black Fire" was also shot at the rooftop! It was last winter during Chaharshanbe Suri!! I don't even go out on Chaharshanbe Suri!!!
See?!
It's not that I'm always stuck at home (not always, but most of the times!!), but I'm not much of an outgoing person!
Maybe I'll practice it though! :D
Thanks for stopping by :)
@Monique: That's a hell lot of force ;) We mostly take it for granted though.
Thanks Monique! :)
@Linerberry: Thnaks :)
@rain girl: Thank you so much :)
@Zing: Thank you Zing :)
@Siam: Thanks Siam :)
Marhilde from Geraardsbergen, Belgium
Very observant ! I like the crack in the wall that starts just at het point of the plant.
11 Dec 2008 7:10am
@Marhilde: Thanks Marhilde! I'm glad you liked it!
Susankritha from Bangalore, India
Simple yet effective!
Love the tone and texture captured..Crack on the wall tells a sad story
11 Dec 2008 7:22am
@Susankritha: World is full of sad stories and this is another one.
Thank you so much for stopping by :)
@DaveB: Thnaks Dave!
Denise from Perry, United States
This photo is one to make you think. It can remind us that even in difficult times we, love, can persevere, if it is so chosen. My thoughts are with your nephew and hope he continues with a complete recovery. Always look forward to you writing as well as photos.....God Bless.
11 Dec 2008 10:57am
@Denise: Thank you Denise for your wonderful comment. I really appreciate it :)
What I really want to know is that why this so called "difficult" time never comes to and end! There's always more! That's one BIG question for me! Anyway, such is life!
I really love this quote:
"I remember one morning getting up at dawn, there was such a sense of possibility. You know, that feeling? And I remember thinking to myself this is the beginning of happiness. This is where it starts. And of course there will always be more. It never occurred to me it wasn't the beginning. It was happiness. It was the moment. Right then."
Well, the moment is also hidden! Maybe because I don't get up at dawn! I sit here for hours and hours, surf this same web, and then go to sleep at dawn! :D
Thank you again :)
Müge from Istanbul, Turkey
Hello Shirin, Dear Neighbour! :-) This photo is very impressive, I like it very much, and please do not say you do nothing! :-) The word “Shirin” passed from Farsi to Turkish means in my country “sweet, charming”, exactly like you! :-) I wish you a wonderful day and I wish your little nephew a quick recovery :-) Friendly greetings!
11 Dec 2008 1:11pm
@Müge: Hi Müge!
This vitrual world makes everyone seem to be sooo close, but in this case, your ARE so close!
Glad you liked this photo!
My mother is of Turkish descent (Azerbaijan-Iran). Her family tree goes somewhere back to todays Russia! (I mean her great...great-grandparents!)
Istanbul's Turkish language is something different from Azerbaijan's Turkish. Well I don't know neither of them! :D Maybe a word or two! But this is part of who I am.
Yes, "Shirin" means sweet! That's sweet of you to remind me, as I'm not usually in a sweet mood!
But I find you have a sweeter name! I just looked it up! "Lily" is surely sweeter than sweet! :)
Thank you for all of your kind words :)
Alaukika from Pune, India
Perhaps you should pick up your camera and go out and take some shot. You do have a flair for artistic shots.
11 Dec 2008 1:17pm
@Alaukika: Thanks a million Alaukika for your comment :)
Maybe I should really start to practice going out!
And thanks for the compliment :)
@Steve Rice: Just mere thinking about it is so great.
Thank you Steve :)
@Pradeep: Thanks Pradeep! It's nice of you to say :)
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Splendid composition end a very good title to say the feelings that it can translate.
Very good.
11 Dec 2008 9:53pm
@Paco Díaz: Thank you so much! Your comment means alot to me :)
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
This is an award winning type of shot, a perfect balance between the tiny dark branches and the line they must travel (along that crack). I love this kind of allegory in photography, I wish you well, and have fun with your new DSLR
11 Dec 2008 9:59pm
@Richard_Irwin: I really like this shot myself. Maybe because of the atmosphere of the place. It's a kind of rural place, right in the middle of Tehran. I like this place.
And this crack beginning right where the plant grows just caught my attention.
Thank you so much Richard, I really appreciate your comment :)
@danthro: Thanks danthro :)
Gary from Cochise County, United States
This is outstanding. the image is simple yet strong like the plant itself. Well done.
11 Dec 2008 11:01pm
@Gary: Thank you! The plant IS strong for sure :)
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
One of those photographs where the power is in what is not shown . . we can see the wall but want to visualize the rose. Left alone, the rose will always win in the end.
11 Dec 2008 11:45pm
@Ronnie 2¢: That's the beauty of Nature. No matter how ungrateful most of us human beings treat nature, it will always win in the end as you said :)
Thanks for your wonderful comment :)
@Elisa: Thanks Elisa! Glad you liked it :)
@Anita: Thnak you so much Anita :)
@akarui: Thank you akarui :)
@Mindy: Thank you so much Mindy :)
@Godo: Thank you so much Godo. I'm so happy you liked it :)
Canon EOS 450D
1/160 second
F/8.0
ISO 200
20 mm