Full English

#photography #food #still_life #film #Kodak

Early Bloomer.

This is the shot I was talking about, which I was supposed to include in last Friday's post but I thought I've deleted it.
The shot was a long exposure (~2h 15mins) rehearsal or trial for the main shot (Late Bloomer). Upon inspection, I didn't really like it much because of the level of the noise mainly, but also the movement of the hands didn't quite depict the passage of time as I've envisioned it (the overall look was on a portion of the clock face only). There was also some color cast, not sure why though.
So here you go, just to not let the shot be wasted, I'm posting it today!

#longexposure #LE #long_exposure #time #clock #stilllife #still_life #surreal #surrealism #goodmorning

Can I Tempt You?

#photography #still_life #coffee #kitchen #film #Kodak #Pentax

Mornings Are Hard

#photography #monochrome #film #ilford #pentax #still_life

Why Won’t This Drawer Open?

#photography #still_life #cutlery #film #kodak #pentax

4D-2 (3D).

3D Saturday and with another hypercube! After abandoning the idea, I've "discovered" some remnants of magnets that my brother used to stash and his collection was lost except for few pieces. These pieces were smaller and could build a smaller cube and thus I could be fitting it inside another cube from the magnets I've got lately. It was so-so, and the thing had to be twisted because the lengths of the magnets connecting the bigger to the smaller cube are not of the perfect length. It's hard to make things straight, but probably this would do for my next shot, hopefully!!!

#3d #anaglyph #illusion #stereograph #stereogram #4d #hypercube #cube #stilllife #still_life #model #goodmorning

أَحْـلامُ الـيَـقَـظَـةِ (Daydreaming).

We talked about escapism before. One essential pillar of that trend, I'd argue, is daydreaming. Years ago, there was a debate on whether "Maladaptive Daydreaming" (MDD) is real or not. Not sure about the updates regarding this, but whatever the case is, I guess we don't have to be psychologists or psychiatrists to reflect on this issue. An issue that many link to creativity, but totally forget about its destructive side.
Personally, I would place this issue at an equal footing with anxiety. Both can be sides of the same coin; while one looks at the negatives of the issue, the other is imaginative about some non-existent issues (and actually this imaginative side is not necessarily happy or positive).
We all are allowed to daydream. Yet, there are cases when such daydreaming takes the mind wandering off the real issues and the real dangers looming directly above the heads.
There is a question, though, that might be hard to answer: Whom to blame? Why would one waste such a time (sometimes hours) in daydreaming? Is it neurological? Trauma? Procrastination? Lack of motivation? Or maybe just all of that? Probably each individual case has its own roots. Knowing them is at the core of helping people to snap out of it, but probably something general can be done; something along the line of showing affection, a pat, a soft word, a song, or even an innocent tease… topics that are usually, but not necessarily, the main theme in daydreamers' minds. Probably, all that daydreaming is just to compensate for some essentials that had been lost in the lives of these folks, and what better way there is to fill in that dreary void but to imagine it is there?
In case you know (and love) someone dwindling in such realms, please hurry up and hold their hands. You just don't know how much addictive (and destructive) daydreaming is…

#daydream #daydreaming #stilllife #still_life #match #matchstick #dreaming #MDD #goodmorning

تَـوْقْ (longing)

When was the last time, when someone asked "how are you?"? When was the last time, when someone asked "why are you sad?"? When was the last time, when someone asked "are you happy?"? When was the last time, when someone told you that they miss you? When was the last time, when you had a pat on the shoulder when you were down? When was the last time, when someone comforted you with words? When was the last time, when someone hugged you? When was the last time, when you leaned your head on a shoulder to cry? When was the last time, when someone caressed you with care? When was the last time, when you've been kissed in any way? When was the last time, when you said to someone "I'm tired (of life)"? When was the last time, when you were able to vent without the fear of being judged? When was the last time, when someone cooked or ordered food for you without you asking, because they know you like that particular food? When was the last time, when someone prepared your coffee or tea for you before asking for it? When was the last time, when someone praised you for something? When was the last time, when someone considered you a choice and not an option? When was the last time, when someone considered you a priority? When was the last time, when someone told you that they love you?
If you don't remember, or the answer was "never," then this is for you; because I care, and someone out there does as well.

#longing #missing #match #matchstick #stilllife #still_life #minimal #minimalism #goodmorning

Escapism - Behind The Scenes;;

For caption (too long for Pixelfed) please check: https://cara.app/post/a1530814-3c9a-479e-9a98-7360f6b4c6e1


#escapism #project #behindthescenes #making #water #match #matchstick #stilllife #still_life #highspeed #high_speed #HSS #motion #goodmorning

اِنْـفِـصـالٌ عـاطِفِـيٌّ (emotional detachment);

There are times when you stare at your reflection and just wonder: Who is that on the other end? Or how about that time when you remember when you were 10, and now suddenly you're just… 45, as if there was nothing in between? Or how about looking around you, and just can't make a connection or feel any to anything that "used" to have a meaning for you at some point in life? Not the most pleasant experience, surely.
Many say that one becomes "foggy" after 40 and will typically lose focus. However, there is definitely something exceptional in this process when it comes to living a war around the age of 10, and growing up with its consequences; which would last decades. A war that still pushes buttons inside and gives a mental strain after all these years.
Meanwhile, the retirement (at 41) has this "strange" transformation; Things don't feel as they were, as in my 30s and 20s, when I had some bits of social life. My life was closing down slowly, but with retirement, the circle tightened to the limit that meeting people, new or old, sounds… just weird.
Those lost memories, good and bad, that occurred some time between 10 and 30: Where did it all go? Those friends that I passed by and had fun with, where are they now? Suddenly, everything disappeared and changed, in such a quick pace that my mental capacity can't find the proper algorithm to cope with.
Things that I used to love (or miss) sound and feel detached from my mental process, like a new born baby trying to learn the world from scratch and make sense of it all from the very beginning. A process that probably a 45-year-old mind is not yet capable of bearing with. It's the feeling of being born in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people, while all there is left is a murky pond to stare at, not knowing what to do…

#detachment #emotional #emotions #reflect #reflection #stilllife #still_life #project #match #matchsticks #goodmorning

فُـقْـدانُ الْـلَـذَّة (anhedonia);
Amidst the flood of psychological jargon,this term specifically is considered a symptom,not a disorder by itself. Nonetheless,it drops down heavily on the mood,the soul,& the mind whenever it arrives. Such a colorless life,not befitting even to a lonely scarecrow in a field,would definitely deserve something more than just being a descriptive term or an accompanying symptom;even if psychology says otherwise. This is something for us,common people,to deal with & to consider.
Probably each one of us passed thru some experience like that: Favorite food not tasty anymore,favorite place not exciting anymore,favorite actor doesn't bring joy as he used to… a long list here. Now imagine if most of these are combined all together at once & went on for months;How'd life look like,or rather,how'd life feel if it is out of feelings? When everything looks sparkless & the will to ignite that excitement is just in vain? No sun,nor moon,or anything in between can probably get you out of that situation,except for your own will,which ironically is not there to begin with & the reason for all of this absence of joy.
As a simple human & not a psychologist,I don't have any further say in this or solutions to the situation,but I keep wondering how many of us,how many around us,are faking the smile not bcoz they are fake, but bcoz they are just trying to be members of our community (which we directly or indirectly make it complex & harder to go along with by time)? A colorless smile that is not a sign of ill intention,but an ill spirit that needs someone to add colors to,& a flame.However,if one is used to lick their own wounds for the most part of their lives,until all the colors of their lives are gone,who'd be willing to lick these wounds off for them & give them some short time to enjoy the tiny bits of this mundane life?

#anhedonia #stilllife #still_life #IR #infrared #depression #monochrome #monochromatic #blackandwhite #bnw #goodmorning

اِكْـتِـئـابْ (depression);

A lot had been said about this topic. In a world where science is leading all aspects of life, almost, it seems that professionals somewhat jump over some issues related to this phenomenon and stick to science. Not to say this is a bad thing, but also don't expect one with depression to just have the mind and the spirit to digest what had been said about the status, or the feeling. Actually, to someone with depression, it is all feelings, and no room for science there.
It is sometimes classified as chronic, clinical, or temporal; but I'll tell you something that always clicked with me in life, so far. It is an old saying from my folks that goes like: "Too much beating dismantles the iron." I'd argue depression works the same, and what is temporal or clinical, can easily turn chronic with no hope in horizon to be reversed.
Genetics are genetics, but when scientists describe the issue as a "pandemic of modern times," it is obvious that it is way beyond genetics for such staggering levels. Idle hopes, broken dreams, shocking disappointments… one burden after the other build up that bubble around the heart, block by block, until one lies there in the blue, unaware of what does it mean to be happy, or what does it mean to expect good in life (if any), or how it works to be an optimist.
The bulk of humanity is placing the trust in medicine and medics, and talk about magical pills and scientific miracles that would alleviate this plague and help one function relatively normal (to the society); yet I wonder how much would these do for the soul and spirit? Meanwhile, no one is talking about a kiss, a caress, a hug, and a shoulder where one can rest a head, and shed some tears without the nuisance of the usual advice that they are so sick of hearing: "you must be strong"…
… trust me, they tried.

#depression #depressed #depressive #stilllife #still_life #project #match #matchstick #feelings #blue #sad #sadness #bubble #psyche #goodmorning

غَـضَـبْ (anger);

Across cultures, I bet most of us (if not all of us) come from a background where culture looks negatively to the issue of anger, and encourages individuals to suppress their anger and substitute that for self control, instead. The dilemma is, would anger be a sin? If so, why it comes naturally at times? If not a sin, then why it is viewed negatively?
Fast forward to our modern times, where psychology thrives and with the abundance of the self-proclaimed psychologists, we often encounter the so-called "anger management" treatments, as if anger is actually a disease or a syndrome of some sort. Is it really so? Now, what about those who suppress their anger most of the time; don't they deserve a treatment as well for putting up with the stupidity of life, trying to keep their nerves in check at all times?
I'm pretty sure that the answer is not a black-and-white scheme. Anger must be a necessity of life if it is there by nature, somehow.
What inspired me to make this shot is a domestic incident, which made me question everything about my life lately. I didn't go berserk with shouting as much as I did in that incident for quite some time; maybe since my 20s. Yet, looking back, I justify for myself, and in other times, I do not. Am I not killing a part of me with every incident where I keep anger buried inside? On the other hand, and to me this is one important question, why do some people believe that they are always doing the right thing regardless of my feelings, and when I'm angry, I become the villain? That can't be fair, is it?
In a sense, it does sound like slavery of sorts, and no escape but through anger and lashing out; because already, many personas died inside (hence the falling burned matchsticks).
An old Arabic adage says: "Beware the clement when angry"; and I say: Understand the angry one, and don't judge before you know...

#anger #angry #angst #emotion #emotional #matchsticks #red #wrath #stilllife #still_life #goodmorning

Loneliness - Behind The Scenes;

For the past 2 weeks I've posted successive results without talking much or posting about the trials or behind the scenes shots and such; namely for "Introversion" and "Loneliness".
The fact is, the two shots that I've posted in the past 2 weeks are for the same set and I didn't change anything in the set except the camera position and perspective. So, for this post, I'm posting trials from the perspective that I've used for the latter shot, "Loneliness".
You can see here from these shots (which are not processed or adjusted much except maybe for the exposure a bit) how the background where I pin the matchsticks is covered in holes - such a lengthy work needed at the end of the day to fix those in PS. I've taken many shots here but I'm just displaying 4 of them. Each one is different in some aspect regarding the shadows (and some did have undesired flare to them). During the trials, I was reluctant to whether make the shadows point towards or away from the single matchstick on the box, until I've finally decided to let them point towards the box, as shadows in this manner would (or supposed to) keep the eye of the observer within the frame and not wander out or expecting something out, and in some way act as a focus-driving element to that single match on the box. All trials were done with f/16 and I didn't find it necessary to try out lower f-numbers (that is, to reduce the focus on other elements in the image by reducing the depth of field).

#behindthescenes #stilllife #still_life #project #match #matchsticks #tryouts #goodmorning