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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Forty-Five: Using clouds to imply meaning > Ascent, Petaluma, California, 2007
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11-JUN-2007

Ascent, Petaluma, California, 2007

A single cloud, a feathery vapor trail ascending into the sky over the tower of a cathedral, can express as much meaning as a sky full of clouds. In this case, the juxtaposition of cloud and church imply a spiritual ascent. I saw the vapor trail in the sky when I was a few blocks away from the church, and walked around it until I was able to position it directly over the tower. The deep blue morning sky was as clear as a bell, and the sun was low, brushing only one side of the tower in light. The lone vapor trail stood out in contrast – the church leans slightly towards it, as if it is willing the cloud into the sky. Of course, we could read the image the other way around as well – the cloud could be seen as descending rather than ascending, almost as if it was blessing the church.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/400s f/5.6 at 16.1mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis09-Oct-2011 23:47
Thanks, Long, for your comment. Nature provided the lighting, while I provided the exposure and the composition.
Long Bach Nguyen09-Oct-2011 18:55
beautiful composition, love the lighting and exposure
Phil Douglis24-Jun-2007 19:03
Thanks, Mo -- I saw it as a spiritual counterpoint to the despair I expressed in some of my other images. As I said, I try to balance mood and intention from image to image, looking at all sides of the human experience.
monique jansen24-Jun-2007 10:10
A plume of angel dust reaching to the heavens. Good evocation of Ascencion.
Phil Douglis21-Jun-2007 17:40
Thanks, Tim -- the most magical thing about that tiny cloud or vapor trail is that it is the only cloud we saw in the sky all day.
Tim May20-Jun-2007 23:33
Spirit is real and concrete to some - to others it is amorphous and fleeting. This image captures the range of spirit.
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2007 23:43
I think you meant to say "Phil" but it is a "Timesque" photo, and it was taken in Tim's home town, and Tim was a few feet away, shooting his own images of this sole cloud. Thank you for your interpretation. And yes, the cloud definitely expresses a spiritual meaning, since it hangs directly over a cross on a church.
Carol E Sandgren19-Jun-2007 22:26
I love this simple yet very expressive photo, Tim. The white cloud seems to ascend from the cross, a symbol of Christianity. The white is a symbol of peace.
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