The Cleansing

Posted: July 27, 2009 
Filed under: Stonehenge
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I took this shot using a circular polarizer, a cheaper variety of Kodak 400 ISO print film at a shutter speed bracketed between 1/500 and 1/2000 of a second, a 28mm lens and my usual Nikon FM2.  The polarizer was angled for maximum effect (90 degrees from the angle of the sun’s light, giving a 2 stop decrease in exposure for which I compensated with an aperture of f/16).  As well, I underexposed the shot by a stop (dropping down to a total of f/22).  I could not eliminate the human presence in the shot, but since they are only silhouettes, one can imagine them to be the ancient druids of tale, perhaps the very ones who brought the stones (depending on which creation theory you subscribe to); however, unlike Exodus, the people are not a predominant element of the composition.  Most of the first private people to whom I showed this photograph gave a delayed reaction of “oh, and look at the little people down there”.  The colours direct the senses, rather, in this shot.  The lighting pouring down from the sun onto Stonehenge alone is white as a preacher’s collar, but the rest of the sky is a either a surreal, stone blue or the shadows of the tumultuous clouds.  The triangular shape of the light beaming on Stonehenge leads the eye to the sun, and is from there spread unto the rest of the sky and then the mind begins to take in the full composition as a whole.  It is only after they have surveyed the sky that the eyes come back to the silhouettes that began it all, the stones, and then the tiny marching people to the side.

I have titled this one The Cleansing because of the experience that I had while visiting the UK with my cousins and seeing Stonehenge.  Here is an excerpt from http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/ceremony.htm

“Individually, we say our goodbyes to this place of magic and wonder. On the surface, not much has seemed to happen. Inside, our hearts and souls rejoice at the time we have spent in the presence of the Divine, recharging our batteries, rededicating our lives, merging with the Source, at home with Spirit. We make our way back to the cars, cleansed, renewed, smiling, talking in small groups.”

I recommend visiting the link and reading the full passage.  It does not list an author, but it was last updated June 6^th, 2005.

If you would like to learn more about the origins of Stonehenge, visit: http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

To plan a visit to Stonehenge, visit: http://www.stonehenge.org.uk/