to colour in the cold grey light
Yesterday I wrote about using the Dictionary of Symbols and finding a reference to Irish folklore that I used as a title.
When I was editing this photo, the U2 song “Lemon” was in my head, for reasons that are probably easy to understand. I Googled up the lyrics and read through them, finding the phrase “to colour in the cold grey light” which then became today’s title.
And then, further down in the song was the phrase “midnight is where the day begins” which you may recall was a concept of Irish folklore that I had JUST used to title yesterday’s image. It was weird and proof that the universe has a sense of humor. (And is, I guess, also Irish.)
Portland, Maine
photographed 3.15.2026
midnight is where the day begins
To add a little bit to the post from Saturday, where I mentioned my naming of images…sometimes I will read the Dictionary of Symbols to find phrases that catch my eyes/ears and that I can relate to a feature in the image. (You might be surprised at how lyrical and emotional the language in that book is.)
I was reading about the symbolism of night during my title search and learned that by ancient Irish folklore each new day begins at night, an idea I’d not ever given the slightest thought to. But I liked it, and liked it enough to use the thought at a title.
And then the next thing that happened was that a weird and magical connection happened when I was naming the photo that’ll post tomorrow. Come on back to see what that’s all about!
Portland, Maine
photographed 3.14.2026
color study, two
The worse-for-wear sign outside an abandoned cafe wasn’t holding on to much except its colors.
Not long after this shot, a woman came from across the street with a series of confrontational questions about what was going on. My usual charm* failed – it failed completely! – so it felt like moving on along was a very workable alternative.
Lamesa, Texas
photographed 3.5.2026
*”Usual charm” is a thing I assume that I have. There is, to this point, no unbiased confirmation.
color study, one
Because I am primarily a black and white photographer who tends toward pessimism, I always assume that the stuff inside an abandoned building is going to be brown (or otherwise monochromatic).
But then I see something like this.
Lamesa, Texas
photographed 3.5.2026
god’s mustache
I thought this photo was about the pew on the bottom left of the frame, the one that’s turned away from the front of the church. I had a title – “the unbelievers’ pew” – and everything.
But then, I was looking at those two round windows at the other end of the room, and how it looked like a face. A face with a mustache made from an altar cloth. And my whole idea about the photo changed.
Fort McKavett, Texas
photographed 4.12.2026
One Day | One Image 