Even though the “official” title of this piece is “Fallen” or “Fall,” the unofficial title is certainly “The Dead Deer,” because that is what everybody calls it. This is a pretty polarizing piece actually. Either folk really like it, even if they still find the deer disturbing, or they cannot get past the disturbing aspect in order to see the beauty that still is retained in the deer, its glory as a creature, fallen though it be, and the beauty of its autumnal bower.
Well, I like this piece for all those reasons, and actually have been wanting to work on it a bit so as to make it a bit more stylized, and then hang it up in my house. I greatly regret that this was not taken with my latest camera, and, so, it is rather grainy when blown up. This is, indeed, part of the reason for stylizing it, to hide the graininess. And when I print out this piece (I have a gold frame already selected for it) I plan to add the finishing touch of getting some textured gold paint with flecks in it (kind of like zinc oxide for you nose, but gold) and guild the protruding ribs with it.
Weird? Perhaps, but what I want to convey is the the dying glory of the the beast and how it is a “glorious ruin,” which, indeed, will be the name for the new piece and the term which Francis Schaeffer used to describe postFall human beings, because, in the final analysis, it is that event which this scene most evokes for me.
Without further rambling, here is “glorious ruin” (make sure to view it large).
I like “glorious ruin”, but I’m still more taken with “fallen”. I think it’s because I appreciate how the damp fur looks slick against the bright, fallen leaves. It’s the crispness that I like.
Now, in “glorious run” the red leaves on the top of the photo lose form; they look more like patches of light shining from a stained glass window rather than leaves. Don’t get me wrong, that is pretty cool. In one way, it adds to the otherworldly feel-which was the point- but I love to see the new shot with the peripheral leaves more defined.
Keeping the deer otherworldly while keeping the leaves crisp may make the deer seem even MORE glorious. But, maybe my enjoyment of original is preventing me from accepting change. Who knows.
What do you think?
P.S. I’m digging the gold paint idea.
Ah, Heidi, thanks much for you comment. I really appreciate your engagement with the piece. I see your point, the crispness is lost. I may kind of want that, but there is certainly something lost. I have not gotten to the point in my photo editing saga where I edit parts of a picture separately (i.e. photoshopping) but I may one day and see how it goes. Since I have already worked this picture over pretty good, it would be hard to argue that that would much more of step down the road of unduly modifying images. Oh, and I am glad that you “get” and like the idea of the gold paint. Thanks again for your comments.
Neil- I like the new image, very “painterly” effect- it kind of has a “creepy” feeling of movement which matches the subject matter! Makes it seem almost like its swooshing down before our eyes.
If you need some gold leafing supplies, I have some from college.
Thanks, Heidi. I may take you up on the gold leafing supplies. Thank you. I am really interested in some texture to, so it that does that, I will be especially interested.