A simple cross, in the hard ground
Just the other day I posted a photograph from the cemetery in Marathon; that one was taken in the part of the cemetery that must be the lowest point, where the scarce rain drains to: it was lush with grasses overtaking the headstone.
This shot is actually more typical of the place: dry, bare ground and dry, wooden crosses.
It’s hard country out there.
Marathon, Texas
photographed 8.17.2013
Posted on September 1, 2013, in Cemetery, Photography and tagged 365 photo project, black and white photography, cemetery, marathon, marathon texas, melinda green harvey, one day one image, photo a day, photography, texas. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
When I first looked at this photo I saw what looked like an aerial shot of a giant cross on a barren landscape towering over little trees. It’s a terrific photo.
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Wow – I hadn’t noticed that before, but now I can’t NOT notice it. There are several giant crosses in Texas (don’t ask me to explain, but here’s one of ’em: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groom,_Texas), so your first impression was very Texan, I guess.
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I hadn’t noticed that either, but now I certainly do.
I was busy admiring the beautiful simplicity of the cross and it’s shadow.
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Isn’t it interesting how we missed seeing that?! Now when I look at it, I am sort of starting to believe it really WAS a giant cross!!
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Haha!
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Very nice shot indeed! I like many things about it, but especially the subtle gradation in pebble size indicating the rain washed disturbed ground on one side of the cross. The simplicity of this shot goes very well with the cross behind a veil of grasses that you recently posted.
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Thanks, Ehpem. This location is one of my favorites.
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My first thought was exactly the same as Ken’s. The sense of scale is not immediately obvious – and that is a strength not a criticism. A very simple image but the composition is just right and it conveys a powerful message.
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Since reading Ken’s comment, I’ve almost convinced myself that it actually IS a giant cross.
Seriously, though, even though I didn’t see it myself until Ken pointed it out, I think that ambiguity-of-scale is what makes this shot matter. It meets the viewer wherever s/he is.
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