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Athansor β€” Libra and her...Sparrow?

Published: 2007-10-22 12:34:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 4314; Favourites: 143; Downloads: 0
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Description Okay, okay--so it's a canary, not a sparrow. What, you think I've got sparrows just hanging around in my apartment, waiting for handy photoshoots? Nests, yes--wild birds, no. (Sadly, Tuppence died a few months after this shoot...so this is the last picture I have of him. )

Another image from a shoot I did with the marvelously versatile Daphne Damage [link] --we'd gotten so inspired by the wren's nest we'd used in Found Treasures , that we decided to use Tuppy in a shot, as well, and just continue the theme.

The treatment of the image itself, is a tribute to one of my photographer inspirations--Julia Margaret Cameron...and the title was snaffled from Edward Poynter's painting of the same name.

I have a vague memory of a story where a young girl was shut up without food--being starved for some infraction--who was so beautiful and good that she was kept alive by a bird (or birds?), who brought her food everyday...but I cannot remember the source of the story (fairy tale? myth?)--and haven't been able to find it online...if anyone else remembers the tale, or where it came from, do share--I'd be very grateful!
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Comments: 112

ninereeds-DA [2008-06-11 10:53:49 +0000 UTC]

This is wonderful. I love the dreamy softness.

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Athansor In reply to ninereeds-DA [2008-06-11 11:16:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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ninereeds-DA In reply to Athansor [2008-06-12 10:47:39 +0000 UTC]

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adagio-sostenuto [2008-04-07 03:16:28 +0000 UTC]

Athansor, I just found your reply & don't worry about not 'saying enough' or anything like that, your reply said a lot & was very much appreciated. (And I hope my replying here doesn't erase any files or comments!) Please know that any ' poems'β€”if my comments can even be called that!β€”come from your work: I viewed a number of them and they evoke a poetry all their own...and on influence: Stravinsky was once asked if he was "disrespectful" by transforming some Baroque masters into something 'Stravinsky-esque': He said, "you speak of respect, but I speak of Love." Yes...From the depths of your own vision, you can bow with love to the many who've moved you along the way; but, like Stravinsky, it's your work, your heart & vision, and you can say to those who've moved you, "thank you"...well, I'll be visiting again & probably leave a couple more long comments (just warning!). Hard to look & not say thank you for all I've seen...

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adagio-sostenuto [2008-04-04 13:33:21 +0000 UTC]

(i'm aware that you're influenced by JMC and other masters of that time; I know their work and I can see some of them in your style; but your work is wholly yours w/ your presence & vision, and it touches because of something deeply from inside of you, and it is magical...)

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Athansor In reply to adagio-sostenuto [2008-04-06 06:30:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! It is always a pleasure to have someone else understand the difference between "influenced by", and "trying to replicate". JMC was perfect--for her time. That I love her work, and have her sometimes subliminally, sometimes consciously, at the back of my mind while I work, does *not* mean that I feel the need to try to reproduce her work. Why would I? (Other than as an academic exercise, perhaps!) To do so would be silly--as I don't share her background--I only admire the end result of work that came from who and what she was. My own work must come from the same place--who and what *I* am--and while a deep admiration for her work is part of that, it's not the whole. And likewise, for any of my other influences.

And while I honestly don't mind if my watchers think I'm trying to reproduce her work (or anyone else's), it's sometimes a little trying to to come up with ways of dealing with good-intentioned advice as to how I can make Image XYZ more like her (or someone else's) work.

The flip side of that, is that it's twice as refreshing when someone groks what is actually happening.

As for your other comments...you must forgive me if I take more time to savor them, before responding...they have well and truly bowled me over, and left me speechless. Through your words, I see my work both anew--with a feeling of "yes, that's what I meant/was thinking/was feeling", and for the first time, with a feeling of awe, that you should see so much there.

That you are a writer, is obvious--you paint with words. That you are a true art afficionado, is equally obvious--and adds weight to your compliments.

I feel like someone has written me beautiful poems...and any attempt at talking about them will brush the bloom away...so, yes, they'll have to sit and percolate a bit, before I can properly respond to them.

Besides. Once I reply to them, they'll disappear from my message center, and then I can't reread them, and gloat over them as easily.

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adagio-sostenuto [2008-04-04 12:17:15 +0000 UTC]

I always feel a little out-of-place commenting here since I post in other arts; but my years studying art makes walking these galleries a great treat. I found your gallery and found myself almost stilled---your work is very intimate and inward. Your mastery of this style speaks of true intimacy, a deep regard for the one-on-one of a heart exposed, a sense of visual caress, and above all, love---for your subject, exuding from within your subject, and in everything you allow around your subject. Your lighting seems to come as much from within this woman as from without: from within her gown, within the space around her, and from places undefinable by 'locale'. I see this in a number of your works; and you don't seem to wane, ever; each work does it without artifice, as if you 'wish' it out of your subject (which I know you can't; I'm aware of the many streams that lead to a single work). You capture gown-lights as if they were painted on, or were pouring through the furrows themselves, emanating from within them & showing that it isn't just the costumes you choose, but what you do with them that makes them 'sing' (and the song would be a Lied, an intimate song, rather than an oratorio). The face has light, but not more than other parts of her body (another thing I've noticed in some of your works) allowing part of her to remain in subtle mystery; and, through focus, grays/sepias and an organic lighting, her presence is as much 'felt into' the picture as physically placed before us. These works, which could be so contrived, are instead quiet communions, both intimate and dear (even the light in the viewer's upper left corner seems to enter quietly, never breaking the solitude, never taking over the shot---choices which may be 'normal', but which show your sense of deep respect for your subject). The folk-legend is given a voice as eloquent as any tale; and you've ended up with portraiture that is both private but genuinely open, very dear, and filled with a word that's hard to use but the only one I can find: grace. Very sensitive work. I'll see more...

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Alene [2008-03-11 08:55:24 +0000 UTC]

Lovely photo - and I'm very fond of canaries!

The closest fairytale I can think of to what you're remembering is Madame d'Aulnoy's "The Blue Bird" [link] ) You never know, it might be the one you're thinking of.
(you'll have to add the closing bracket in the link - da hasn't translated the link correctly)

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-11 11:27:36 +0000 UTC]

Canaries are charming little fellows!

Hmmm...well, the source is certainly something I would've had exposure too, as I used to live off the Andrew Lang fairy books...(funny how many elements of the classic fairy tales this one had in it!)...so it's certainly *possible* this is what I had in mind, and that I was just confusing it with other fairy tales..."The Canary Prince", for instance, was another one I remembered, after following a link from the article you sent me...but I can't shake the feeling that the bird was feeding the girl...and I've got this image in my head of the girl sitting in a cottage window, and the bird pressing food against the girl's lips.

So many tales are alike, though, that I could definitely be confusing several tales together--and yours is certainly the closest I've come across so far! (And thanks--I hadn't read that tale in YEARS...I need to track it down and reread it now, after having read the synopsis! )

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Alene In reply to Athansor [2008-03-11 11:38:59 +0000 UTC]

They certainly are - I have a red factor called Freddy, who is indeed very charming!

It often very confusing how similar a lot of fairytales are, but I love them anyway. I was rather thankful for the synopsis in wikipedia, as it's years since I read the story - I knew which book I'd read it in, but that was in my highschool library, so (darn it) I haven't got access to it any more. About all I remembered was blue birds, windows, and bladed branches. Oh well, at least I managed to get close!

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-11 11:51:30 +0000 UTC]

That's better than anyone else managed! (I did NOT remember the specific book--as I read all those when I was in 5th grade...and I only own four or five of them now--but NOT the Green Fairy Book. )

Tuppy was a red factor, too! (Although I only lightly fed him the can-what-ever-it's-called, because I actually like the red factors best when the red it blending with the yellow...after one moult, when they've had none of the food at all, they're quite pretty. ) There is NOTHING like the song of a canary, is there?!

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Alene In reply to Athansor [2008-03-11 13:57:00 +0000 UTC]

I read it in an anthology of Beauty and the Beast and Other French Fairytales - a lovely book, but it's out of print, as is the wont of beautiful books.

My Freddy isn't very fond of that red-factor food, and has thus never been bright red, which suits me fine. There's a sketch of him in my scraps actually: [link] He isn't a big singer, but when he does, it's gorgeous!

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-12 02:26:56 +0000 UTC]

*sigh...* Sad, but true! The best, most lovely books go right out of print! Fortunately, they often have a second life on eBay!

I mixed Tuppy's red-factor food in with his normal pellets, so he didn't really notice...but he only got a little of it, even so. (Yes, I'm mean--I made my bird eat pellets. I gave him fresh greens every day, too--but unlike my LAST canary--he wouldn't touch 'em. I think it's because I didn't have any finches in with him, to teach him it was okay to eat them. )

Your Freddy is lovely--a very soft sort of red--just at the stage where they start to get really cuddly looking. He's charming. And your sketches of him are terrific--spot on! (You've PERFECTLY captured that cute, almost Disney-esque little face they have, as well as the pert way they stand. Aww...I miss my Tuppy, now! I need to get another canary--and some more finches. I'm jealous of your handsome little baby! )

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Alene In reply to Athansor [2008-03-12 03:40:02 +0000 UTC]

Freddy won't touch greens either - he does like weeds from the garden, though, thistles and the like. But no apple or anything like that. And no cuttlefish. He's very picky!
He is sweet, isn't he? And such fun to draw, too. I've been toying with creating canary characters in regency attire lately, too (Freddy is named after a hero in a Heyer novel I happened to be reading when I got him) and they're perfect for it.
I hope you do get some more birds, they're such friendly little things!

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-12 04:04:25 +0000 UTC]

It's so funny--because I used to LOVE putting broccoli and apples (covered with vitamin powder, of course! ) in, for my old canary and finches... The canary would start hopping all over the place like mad--up down, up down--wanting to get to the greens before the finches did...but afraid of something "new" in the cage!

Wouldn't take him long, though, and he'd gobble so much broccoli that his beak would turn green, and I'd have to wash all the crusty bits off, the next day!

And yes, Freddy's a sweetie. I think doing canaries in regency attire is VERY clever--and you should definitely go for it! I can just see it!!

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Alene In reply to Athansor [2008-03-12 09:23:26 +0000 UTC]

Ah, good old canaries...
I think I shall, indeed. I just haven't worked out how to do females yet, but I'm sure I'll get there!

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-12 11:49:05 +0000 UTC]

Yeah...I'm not quite sure how you'll manage the females...a canary in a dress would just be silly. I'd think you'd have to focus on fichus, posing, and headdresses. Definitely not so easy as the males--but I've faith in your creativity!

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Alene In reply to Athansor [2008-03-12 12:14:42 +0000 UTC]

Yes, that's about what I was thinking - they're just the wrong shape for empire-line dresses. But they look very cute in bonnets!

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Athansor In reply to Alene [2008-03-12 12:22:07 +0000 UTC]

LOL! Yep--those dresses weren't intended for bottom heavy folks--and canaries are pretty bottom heavy, if cute!

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fondaffections [2008-03-08 05:31:59 +0000 UTC]

Very nice work you have here. Enchanting. A pleasure to see.

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Athansor In reply to fondaffections [2008-03-09 22:30:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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mynti [2008-03-06 15:27:40 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful light and the hints of detail that you left are perfect for the subject and the composition.. The entire image, from costume, the way she holds herself, and the manip evokes a very old world feel... Nice work here; I'm not usually a fan of manipped lens blur.. it's rare that I find it done well, but you went with it and it works.

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Athansor In reply to mynti [2008-03-09 22:42:42 +0000 UTC]

I agree with you, actually, about adding lens blur in PS...but it's a technique I often will use when doing things inspired by Julia Margaret Cameron--since it helps create the "feel" of her works--without being a slavish reproduction. It's definitely something you want to use sparingly, though!

And thanks! This model was fantastic to work with--she seemed to have an instinct for what would make a dramatic picture...and when I gave her my canary to hold, she just went with it--and this was the result.

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AnnaKirsten [2008-02-05 22:53:56 +0000 UTC]

This is to let you know that this image (and possibly more that the one) is featured in my latest News Article on Expression in Art [link]

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Athansor In reply to AnnaKirsten [2008-02-19 21:25:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much, for the feature! I'm honored!

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Gloria-T-Dauden [2008-01-14 13:35:08 +0000 UTC]

wow. Its like Margaret Cameron came back to life

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Gloria-T-Dauden In reply to Gloria-T-Dauden [2008-01-28 14:26:24 +0000 UTC]

sure. I love her work ^^

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Athansor In reply to Gloria-T-Dauden [2008-01-22 00:26:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'm a huge fan of hers--she was quite magical!

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superdavej [2008-01-03 03:51:05 +0000 UTC]

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE the work you do with this Model !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Athansor In reply to superdavej [2008-01-03 13:58:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! She's quite creative and very versatile! She does very well for herself on various modeling sites--appears to be quite popular with other photographers--and with good reason!

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superdavej In reply to Athansor [2008-01-05 23:05:10 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I checked her out from your link and she does do an amazing amount of different things !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Versatility is a WONDERFUL thing to have and be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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InKibus [2007-11-20 23:45:50 +0000 UTC]

So very sweet, and it feels like closing ones eyes and seeing part of a fairytale.

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Athansor In reply to InKibus [2008-04-06 08:47:37 +0000 UTC]

You really do have the nicest way of looking at things!

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Bnspyrd [2007-11-19 09:38:00 +0000 UTC]

This is so emotive.

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Athansor In reply to Bnspyrd [2008-04-06 08:47:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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hicazz [2007-11-16 11:02:35 +0000 UTC]

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Athansor In reply to hicazz [2008-04-06 08:47:11 +0000 UTC]

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mmenathalie [2007-11-15 16:32:58 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations! This work has been featured in the "Visual Senses" article this month: [link]

Thank you for the wonderful art and keep up the good work!

Please, do not comment here, but leave your words or fav under the news article.

Nathalie

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Athansor In reply to mmenathalie [2008-04-06 08:47:03 +0000 UTC]

And I did comment under the news article...but after unearthing this, I thought I'd thank you here, as well. Thank you, my dear!

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Jack-Evans [2007-11-10 17:53:14 +0000 UTC]

Nice picture, now i so wanna know the whole story about the girl and the bird...
so have u found it yet? ^^

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Athansor In reply to Jack-Evans [2007-11-14 11:58:41 +0000 UTC]

No, alas--I haven't! I was so hoping that someone here would remember the story and point me towards it, too! (And searching online doesn't do a bit of good--as I'd already searched thoroughly before posting the image. I'm obsessive about checking my "sources" before I post--but this time, I couldn't find anything other than a vague reference in someone's blog that reinforced my vague memory of the original story...without providing me anything additional to work with.)

Ah well--I'm sure I'll stumble across it again at some point!

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Jack-Evans In reply to Athansor [2007-11-14 18:08:18 +0000 UTC]

Maybe its not in the correct language.... maybe is an spanish, french, german... even japanese story...
Who knows... I guess not every story is translated to a general public, so a few people could be aware of the story ...
without actually realising its not something they could find in their native tongue =S

well, WAIT, u said Alas??? ... xD okay, ( sorry id never had hear anyone said it on a conversation... u_U)
I guess i should start talking to smart people !

well still, i wish u the best of hopes !!!

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Athansor In reply to Jack-Evans [2008-04-06 08:46:15 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I'm afraid I DO say "alas"--even in casual conversation, sometimes. That's what comes of spending more time reading old books, than modern! (And so sorry for how long it's taken me to respond! )

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Jack-Evans In reply to Athansor [2008-04-06 18:11:16 +0000 UTC]

well !!! almost half a year!!! I bet the phrase "better late than never" applies to you xD
Did u drive ur teachers crazy for not ever giving Hw or projects on time ?
ahaha sorry I just wonder cuz ... u know...
its cute that u reply after such a long time hahaha

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Athansor In reply to Jack-Evans [2008-04-06 18:38:55 +0000 UTC]

No, I always managed to get assignments in on time...but on dA? Forget it! According to my stats, I've given 40 comments for every 10 I receive...with a grand total of 14,142 (make that, 14,143, after this one's crossed off! ), which is an average of 18.58 per day, if you subtract the year I took off...and I STILL average about 250 or so messages unanswered, at any given time. Last night, I worked 9 hours straight (until 6am, actually), to clear out approximately 150 messages (including reciprocal visits, etc)--and I STILL have 250 or so to go. Trust me--6 months is NOTHIN'--I've got at least 50 comments sitting at the bottom of my pile that were old, last January--which was when I managed to get down to only 87 or so, while away at a conference...who knows when I'll ever see THOSE comments again! :/

Given that I have exactly 1-2 free hours per day in which to cook meals and eat, work on my art, pay bills, maybe have a social life, read and respond to emails, and research things for new projects, the miracle is that ANYTHING ever gets answered around here!

More than "better late than ever", "there's never enough time" applies to me!

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Jack-Evans In reply to Athansor [2008-04-07 17:44:06 +0000 UTC]

ahaha your so sweet then
Im sure u do use the 25 plus hours of each day !
hahaha
well good luck ahaha

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Athansor In reply to Jack-Evans [2008-04-08 00:01:37 +0000 UTC]

Oh boy--I sure WISH I had an extra hour or more a day! If ya ever figure out how to get 25 or more hours in a day, let me know--I'll be first in line to buy it!

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vcrimson [2007-11-07 12:17:03 +0000 UTC]

another stunner from you, aurora!!! this is beautiful and i really love the colour treatment! it's gorgeous!

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Athansor In reply to vcrimson [2008-03-10 12:42:59 +0000 UTC]

This is positively embarrassing--I'm all the way back to the beginning of November--and I still have another 308 comments to go!

Nevertheless--thank you! Your support always means so much to me, my friend--whether I acknowledge it right away, or not!

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vcrimson In reply to Athansor [2008-03-12 14:14:25 +0000 UTC]

ahahahha...well at least you don't have to reply to this one! lol and i am glad to be able to throw some support your way!! you are a huge inspiration!

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