 "Can't Quite Explain #1" Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, Texas |  "Can't Quite Explain #2" Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, Texas |
Today's This or That pair is a study in black and white although both were taken in color. It's also my observation of nature's hand at abstract art.
Both have an element of mystery and left me with questions. In the first photo you'll see the chalky rocks remained white while the grass is charred jet black -- there had been some sort of grass fire, thankfully small, on the upper edge of the lake. How did the rocks stay white, without burn marks or soot? I don't know. Maybe they were at one time sooty, but the wind sandblasted it off? I don't know. It's a bit of a mystery to me.
You might have thought we were tromping in snow from yesterday's photos at Muleshoe -- one of the few places in Texas pronounced exactly like you would figure it would be like "mule" and "shoe" -- but it was not. The white stuff is created by salt sediment in the playas (pronounced ply-ya). The strange creature you see in the second photo here is not a fossil or aquatic skeleton or other oddity, but rather grass, flattened to the ground by the heavy deposits and mineral growths. Also odd was that at other areas the sediment was granular, understandably, but here they were weirdly fibrous. So, how does this much salt accumulate, why was it fibrous only here, and how do the cranes tolerate the salty water (when there is water) or caustic deposits (when it's dry) all night, winter after winter? All mysteries to me.
By the way, I've tweaked the experiment a bit more by refraining from giving individual titles to these photos as per Neda's suggestion so as not to influence the voting. How hard it is not to do so, but I do want to know your preferences. Each is of great interest to me.
Which photo of nature's mysteries do you prefer?
14 comments:
I love these photos. I have often thought that nature comes up with better abstract art than any thing people could come up with.
I like the first one best. Great to see the pure white stones, quite a mystery when everything else is blackened. As a housekeeper I like the lack of effort involved! Maybe they are chalky stones which repel any hint of black, like on a blackboard.
I'm having such a good time looking at the 2 photos and trying to decide which I like best, some days it is easy and others, well... Today it is #1. I love the pattern the stones make against the black earth. Now from an interest standpoint #2 in more interesting. I've seen this before at Bottomless Lakes in Roswell, NM and marvalled over it. It is almost like a living thing has taken over. And the cranes bearing up to this assault on their legs. Truly a wonder.
I like both, but the second is more original and unusual and shows you have a special view on this and notice stuff others might not. So for the originality and interest of the picture I vote for 2. Both are lovely as photos, hope you don't think when we vote for one we don't like the other. You are forcing us to choose, but it is interesting as a learning exercise, and good for us to explore why we have the preferences we have.
Oh, I know what these are. Pick me! Pick me!
No. 1 is a close-up of the last remaining bicuspids and molars in the mouth of a fossilized giant. And no. 2 is a micro-image of a set of varicose veins in the leg of the aforementioned giant.
Hm. I think I didn't get enough sleep last night. I'll go away now.
Oh, and I like no. 1 best. No. 2 sort of creeps me out, frankly!
Salt??! Wow
I know it is very hard not to title these pieces. Thanks for trying it this way. However, now, I am in a dilemna because all I see are the photos with no hint of interpretation. This is a real homework. So, I decided to give them titles myself (another cop out way to make the choice easier?)
My title for #1 is "Zen meditation" and for #2 "Pernicious." Although I truly love both, the first image is calming and zen-like while the second reminds me of a tough time in my life (don't ask why!), so I vote for number 1.
I may be the only one, but I pick no. 2. I love the complexity and how unsettling it is. Even though both are absolutely superb.
I choose #1. (I'm always amazed at the things you see that most of us don't see at all.) I like the contrasts in #1, and wonder, too, how the rocks managed to stay white. And, also wonder why they are in that arrangement????
Hi Debi,
I go with Rima ... I like #2 for the delicacy ... I think it is quite beautiful.
I don't find it unsettling at all ...
An ice storm prevented us going so next week I will disappear for a few days.
~ Diane Clancy
www.dianeclancy.com/blog
I choose #2. It's more mysterious, close to being the skeleton of an octopus, if octopus' had skeletons.
By the way, I use a Lumix too, a FZ50.
I like 'Can't Quite Explain It #1,' though both are so interesting to me. I like mysteries like this!
I love the high contrast of tones in #1, and its mystery is more mysterious. How did these white rocks end up on black earth?
I also love the texture and pattern of #2.
LOL DC Confidential!!!
Too funny.
But yes I agree, number 2 is kinda scary and alien spider like. I love B&W photography but my personal pref is for strong dramatic tones and I think your first photo does that. I enjoyed your account of the surroundings and their origins too. Very moon terrain like!
HOLY MOLY GUACOMOLE!!!!!! I just can not pick!!! I love both of these, love is an understatement!! I am in awe of what your "eye" captures... Oh, I can see a nature serious of "Debi Cates" photos hanging on my walls!! :)
Rocks, no, no, ok, Rocks it is #1.
For this post I will vote for "Can't Quite Explain #1" The contrast and clarity is excellent!! Way to go Debi!
Thank you everyone for your votes!
Bev, with the acute way you view the world I knew you would have already observed the variety of art in nature. LOL on the housekeeping crack. I can relate.
Mom, I know where I get my awe and wonder from. ;)
Frances, you are sweet to remind me that a vote for one is not "against" the other. Don't tell anyone, but most days I have a favorite too, but still love the other little feller.
D.C. LOL. Get some rest, dear. They were just rocks and a bad dream.
Neda, you are not going to believe this. I had this tiny little bitty nagging slight feeling that YOU would add titles. ha ha ha ha
Rima, thanks, doll.
Nelda, I liked the rock arrangement too and wondered about it. And now you know why it takes me so stinkin' long to get from one place to another -- I stop to look at everything!
Diane, I didn't find it unsettling either -- interesting and weird but wasn't creeped out at all. But, on the other hand, I'm horrified of scary movies and ghosts. I'm sorry about the snow storm. Stay warm.
Mr. K. I owe D.C. Confidential a great big H.U.G. for routing you my way. And not just because you are a fellow Lumix Lover. Because your photos are haunting.
Kris, glad to know the email/comment thing is worked out. I'm going to go back and re-comment. There was one work of yours that I'm still thinking about...especially when I see your pic in that red dress.
Lisa, I'm always glad to see you and your new blogger icon. It suits you to a Tee.
Windy, can I hire you as my publicist?
Zan, thank you. I'm so glad you are blogging your photos now, too.
Oh, and after such a long delay, and such a long comment section do you still want to know which is the winner? I can't explain. No, wait, I can. I Can't Explain #1.
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