The Eyes of Spirit Ancestors, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

I thought the windows here looked like eyes. This is another view of Hovenweep, the ancient Anasazi ruins found in southeastern Utah. The Anasazi are now largely felt to be the ancestors of the Hopi and other pueblo Indians who now live in Arizona.

I've been reading the heartbreaking book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee which covers the "ethnic cleansing" that the U.S. did to the American Indian in the 19th century. These people had vanished long before the white man arrived on America's shores, however, probably due to many years of drought. Hovenweep, from the air, shows many roads and trails in all different directions. It was indeed a hub of activity. Many archeologists feel that it was a sacred place for many nations, hence its central location and elaborate buildings.

It was a fun and exciting place to be. I can actually say that it did have a "spiritual" feel to it, especially when I quieted my thoughts and meditated on the people that once lived here.

nwoehnl, papagolf21, robiuk, klyee75, avigur_11, mdetay, PLD_images, rafelito, pablominto, riclopes, weswang, jhm, turkamerikali, macondo, berek, ramthakur, jrj, feather, Didi, xuaxo, Vato_Law, singuanti, jlynx, MLINES, FORJP001, RJD, Henryk_Bilor oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

rosaline (0) 2006-06-03 17:38

Hi David
I have often wondered why America's historical sites are so unknown around the world, and in America for that fact. These sites are seldom, if ever, mentioned in holiday brochures. I have never heard of this particular site, though I know there are many of these ancient sites in the US. Mexico, of course, is the place that is popular for historical sites in the Northern part of the continent, but I am glad you have posted this as an insight into the earlier American Indian culture. Nice work, and I like the silhouette effect.
Aubrey

mpb001 (4602) 2006-06-03 17:51

Very nice redition of this scene, David. I think for me, the success of this shot is attributed to the windows, which help balance the sillouette and composition. The light seen in the windows provides the "connection" the wonderful sky.
Mike

fanny21 (867) 2006-06-03 17:52

magnifiques couleurs, et le titre est trčs poétique. Męme sur la toile, on pense ressentir ces "esprits" jusqu'ici. Beau travail.

papagolf21 (152607) 2006-06-03 18:00

Bonsoir David,
La beauté me plaît en quelque lieu que je la rencontre.
[Balzac]
Il y a une sorte d'envoűtement dans cette photographie, la beauté se męle ŕ l'étrange.
Trčs belle photographie et trčs intéressante.
Amitiés.
Philippe

robiuk (10807) 2006-06-03 18:46

Well David,
you've certainly succeeded in conveying this 'spiritual feel' of the place by this simplified yet warm and tranquil silhouetted composition.
I haven't seen such a natural sunset sky (on TE) for a long time...
Thank you,
Robi

klyee75 (778) 2006-06-03 23:32

the success of this shot is attributed to the windows, which help balance the sillouette and composition. Good composition

klennon79 (0) 2006-06-03 23:43

Hi David.

Great composition. The sillouettes against the sky create a very mysterious feel. Great colors, contrast, and sharpness. I'm sure it was an amazing experience to be there.

"Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" is an incredible book.

Kirsten

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2006-06-04 2:06

Excellent silhoutte of the ruins against the orange sky. Well composed.
Have a nice Sunday
Sabyasachi

nwoehnl (122) 2006-06-04 4:04

A beautiful and evocative play of the silhouetted ruins against the magnificent sky, David. It gives a haunting mood, and now that you mention it in your note, it seems indeed that the remaining window openings appear to be eyeing the viewer of your photo. It's also nice how the tonality of the sky gets darker towards the top, but is at its most luminous where the outlines of the structures appear at its most interesting. Very nice work again.

kensimage (8563) 2006-06-04 13:04

These ruins are really well suited for a sunset silhouette, David, and you have taken full advantage with your fine composition. Nice balance of black vs. orange areas. The image captures the spiritual feel that you describe. Regards, Ken.

avigur_11 (22553) 2006-06-04 16:26

Stunning colors work grat as a background for the silhoutted ruins, David. It feels like a mysterious face is looking at you, thought it is hart to point exactly where. Very moody shot, with strong element of mystery.
regards,
Y.

mdetay (4929) 2006-06-05 8:21

Hi David,
I can feel the eyes and the spirit of the ancestors. Well done. Nice POV and colors. Congratulation. Cheers.
Michel

banyanman (7797) 2006-06-05 10:02

A fabulous photograph, David, and you really do feel like the eyes of the spirits are on you. Did you think about cropping a little off the right to accentuate that feeling (see workshop). Great contrast between the black silhouette and orange sky, and good balance overall. Cheers . . . David

PS: I am adding this to my favourites to remind me to look out for similar photo ops in the future :)

[workshop] [compare]

PLD_images (7149) 2006-06-05 16:54

Hi David,

Really nice shot here. I like the play on the shadows. All here is very charming. Well framed and good use of proportions.

Paul

rafelito (3648) 2006-06-05 20:50

Hi David, excellent silhouettes of Anasazi ruins,great background.Many regards, Rafael

pablominto (53746) 2006-06-06 2:18

Hello David,
A very moody capture, almost in an abstract nature..!
Interesting effect of see-through, pleasant (but not too sharp) silhouettes...
Nice change of colour tones in the sky!
Greetings,
Pablo -

riclopes (35577) 2006-06-06 4:47

Hi David,
What a great atmosphere that you got in here, enhanced by the excellent note and title. Very well balanced sillouette, against the amazing colours of the sky. The evocative windows as eyes make this a more spiritual one, which I love. Congratulations!
TFS,
Ricardo

imrek (4) 2006-06-06 6:34

Hi David,
beautyful light and great composed picture, the silhouetts are very nicely placed...well done!!!
rgerads,
imre

weswang (18247) 2006-06-06 23:14

Hi David, An impressive shot of the colorful sky. The silhouette view of the ruin has added a special spirit and mood to this picture. You have done a good job to soften the colors, which added mystic feeling to the view. A well composed picture with an excellent effect.

jinju (14265) 2006-06-07 4:39

Hi David,

I like the use of silhouettes here. Nice soft backlighting that nevertheless produced this really mysterious looking black masse at the botom. Only the windows allowing the light through. I agree with others that this sort of balances the shot, relieving the dominance of that blackness. Great light, which is all down to your decision on when to shoot this photo.

sufi (9588) 2006-06-07 6:44

Hi David...
Wonderful place and wonderful ambience... The sky is also wonderful... The colors of the sky and the silhouette of the ruins are perfect... Also perfect point of view and shot... The note is very educational...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

gebala (0) 2006-06-07 7:30

hello,this is this point of view and technic what I would like to know in next 5 years;) really I admire this photo, so clear, so clever and beauty, I would like to have a eye in 10% like you, exellent work

rgs

jhm (211738) 2006-06-07 12:41

Hi David,
Splendid contrast picture, alone the small windows are the really eyes catchers through the few light between the dark silhouettes.
Wonderful light and shadows, you did very well!
Greetings,
John

turkamerikali (3291) 2006-06-08 1:37

Hi David,
Excellent Silhouette composition.
I like your pov,dof,note,framing,colors,silhouette and composition.Well Done.TFS
Tolga

oochappan (4880) 2006-06-08 3:00

A fine colred sunset with the gabarit of this ruin in counterlighted graphic to it. Very nicely done David.
greetings from Henk

macondo (20449) 2006-06-08 9:28

A hauntingly beautiful but incredibly simple shot, superbly composed. It would not be as effective at all without those 'eyes', I must add. The tones in the sky are wonderful, without a suggestion of being over-tweaked. I appreciate your excellent notes, too.
Regards,
Andrew

danyy (0) 2006-06-08 12:23

Bonjour David,
tes trois derničres photos sont bien différentes les unes des autres, surtout dans les couleurs.
Celle-ci propose des couleurs intenses de coucher de soleil et des ruines en ombres chinoises, tout ce la dans un cadrage et des proportions des plus agréables et harmonieuses.
Bien ŕ toi.
Daniel.

Fis2 (171991) 2006-06-08 12:48

Witaj David!
Your photo is romantic! I like the composition and colours. Curious sky adds mood! Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

ramthakur (1559) 2006-06-08 14:58

A truly monumental image, David.
The mood it evokes is spiritual, no doubt, as you have mentioned in your note.
It is very gracious of you to look at my picture and say kind words about it.

poulinp (4528) 2006-06-08 22:10

Beautiful silhouette with this backlight sunset shot. I like it!

berek (50518) 2006-06-08 23:12

Hi David,
this is your style. very good light and colours management. Congratulations.
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-))Framing :-))Idea :-)))

jrj (34843) 2006-06-09 4:59

Hi David
A very moody and silhoetted presentation of this place. Perfect to go with your always well considered notes.
As usual a well composed and disposed compo with good use of the few details - and a little 'addon' those 'windows' up there.

feather (51130) 2006-06-09 5:29

Wonderful image. I love how the silhouettes of the buildings are etched on the beautiful sunset colours. The "eyes" are indeed watching.
Kath

roconnell (327) 2006-06-09 12:18

There is a an etherial quality to this composition of beauty and pognancy. The sky is warm and starkly contrasting with the silhouetted ruins. The windows do indeed look like eyes from beyond, through time, making the title an excellent one. Well done.

Didi (61589) 2006-06-09 14:11

Bonjour David
J'entends le Tam tam dans le lointain et j'imagine un sorcier qui invoque les esprits.
Cette composition donne une ambiance de mystčre; c'est une trčs bonne image avec les ruines du passé en silhouettes.

Hello David
I hear Tam tam in sound in the area and I imagine a wizard who calls upon the spirits. This composition gives an environment of mystery; it is a very good picture with the ruins of the past in silhouettes.

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2006-06-10 16:14

Hi David,
Woww! Excellent seen, captured and composition. Perfect colours...Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice weekend.
Ahmet

xuaxo (6854) 2006-06-12 14:30

Hi David
This is a photo to meditate. Well done in that objective.
That's interesting that you refer to the ethnic cleansing.
Francisco
>> My points system is off; see details at my intro/profile

Vato_Law (12732) 2006-06-15 19:32

Hi David,
Great scene this one. Love the colours and shapes created by the silhouetted building. the small windos gives even more interest as they 'brake' this 'black wall' letting us apreciate the colours of the sunset.
Well seen and executed.
rgds.
Paulo

singuanti (15250) 2006-06-19 0:16

Hi David. Now that's some truly stunning scenery. You looked to be there at the perfect time of day considering the lighting conditions. I love the silhouettes and particularly like the windows with warm sunset sky peeking through. Beautiful shot David!

jlynx (12647) 2006-06-21 10:41

Hi David,
When once here I came this already surely more often I will look these photo. I cannot myself detach. from them fascinate shown me by You scenes. There are very interesting and beautiful. Also this picture as many earlier surprises with its own mood and the beautiful realization. My great congratulations for You too this shot!
Best regards,
Jerzy

david (3992) 2006-06-25 22:22

there's a quote from a song i like:

darkness envelopes the scene like a shroud

and this sums up your shot well. i like your composition very much because i think the darkness works well. my eye wanders amongst the silhouettes and dark orange sky.

it's unconventional, and i like it!

saguzar (862) 2006-07-13 10:39

Hi David,
No time now, critique later.

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2006-08-26 14:22

HEllo David
Great, mysteric place. I like the mood you`ve captured here. Very interesting shapes and nice colours of the red sky.
Regards

Angshu (56760) 2007-08-17 0:30

Hello David
Always a wonderful experience to see your photographs and reading your notes. the atmosphere is so well captured, with the natural colours of sunset. The small windows of the ruins do appear like eyes & moreover they offer some balance to the solid dark silhouetted ruins. Would be interesting to see & compare this with a day shot, so that we can see the details. Excellent work!
Regards
Angshu