12 thoughts on “Photo Gallery by Chistopher J Ananias”

  1. Christopher

    Once again a stunning group. Them birds on the roof would give me a start! I’ve never seen one in person, but I hear they can be found on the other side of the Cascades. And the drive in certainly brings home memories. Such lively places when I was young.

    Brilliant stuff

    Leila

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  2. chrisja70778e85b8abd's avatar chrisja70778e85b8abd says:

    Hi Leila

    Glad you like the pictures! We see a lot of Turkey Vultures in Indiana. These two guys or gals are Black Vultures. They are less common than their red headed counterparts, and always fun to see. I think vultures are some of the greatest soaring birds. They just float around and have a beautiful shape in the sky.

    Thanks!

    Christopher

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  5. DWB's avatar DWB says:

    CJA

    Your pictures capture the weird, uncanny beauty of Middle America. And the weird, uncanny beauty of the heart of the country is the weird, uncanny beauty of the whole thing. These pictures also capture the spooky and gloomy beauty of autumn. All in all, these are spooky, beautiful, uncanny pictures, each one totally cool all on its own, but maybe more importantly, they SPEAK TO EACH OTHER in a series like this. And that in itself is weird (in the good way), uncanny, and totally cool.

    The shot of the birds is amazing. I’ve seen those guys floating around in the sky here in Illinois (or their relatives) many times. The way they can slowly swoop through the air in great, vast, distant arcs is unlike any other creature I’ve seen. This picture captures them in all their realistic glory while also making them symbolic.

    This whole series is like Edgar Allan Poe in pictures. I’m curious if you thought about Poe when arranging this series? Either way, it has that Poe feeling to it, so relevant in the darkening season of autumn as in this darkening season of America’s history right now, too.

    There’s something about great photographs that say things without words that is unlike any other form of art. As distinctive as a sculpture is from a painting or a poem is from prose.

    Some pictures have a larger-than-life “presence” behind them and these are some of those.

    Great work, worth your own museum!

    DWB

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  6. chrisja70778e85b8abd's avatar chrisja70778e85b8abd says:

    Hi Dale

    Wow I really like how you described the vultures flying! This is exactly what I have noticed about how they soar. You really put it into words.

    “slowly swoop through the air in great, vast, distant arcs” What a terrific image! Perfect! Very impressive!

    I can’t claim Poe, at least not consciously, but there was definitely a dreary theme. Poe is such a master in Gothic. His name invokes the gloom. He’s one that if I haven’t read for a while I think my education into the writing life is lacking something–same with Chekhov, and Carver. I love these masters of short stories.

    I’m glad you found the weirdness in the photos. It’s great they resonated something beyond the mechanical aperture’s winking eye.

    Thanks for your great comments!

    Christopher

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    • DWB's avatar DWB says:

      Christopher

      The vultures remind me of Poe’s Raven. “Nevermore.” Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh’s pal, has several paintings where the word “nevermore” appears (in English, even though he was French), and he stole it directly from Poe.

      Also, extending Mick’s commentary, the bipolar sky behind the American flag speaks volumes. Half light and half dark, half blue and half black, it captures the schizoid nature of this country, which often appears to be half good, half evil.

      Wonderful work/s!

      Dale

      PS,

      I also think Stephen King would enjoy these photos.

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      • chrisja70778e85b8abd's avatar chrisja70778e85b8abd says:

        DWB

        I think people have been ripping him off for a long time. Poe was such a lightning bolt artist, his after-flash still hurts the eyes.

        I was hoping the flag might cause this reaction. Yes, well said. It is a flag of two half’s, and the “haves and have-nots.”

        Thanks!

        CJA

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  7. mickbloor3's avatar mickbloor3 says:

    I feel I should offer a comment, though I know nothing about photography as an art. I was really struck by the shot of the vultures on the roof: it was the big louring sky behind them that gave the birds an air of menace, even though they were in repose. Nice work. bw mick

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  8. chrisja70778e85b8abd's avatar chrisja70778e85b8abd says:

    Hi Mick

    Glad you like the pics! “big louring sky” I’ve never heard the sky described that way. Excellent!  

    Thanks

    Christopher

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