Sunday, November 4, 2012

f/64


    Image: Charis, Lake Ediza, California, 1937 by Edward Weston

Take me as I am
unrefined and unretouched;
not a vessel to hold
your feelings,
or a mirror
 to reflect yourself back
to you.

Do not oppress me with your
need for perfection.
Accept my beautiful scars
and creases.
They are me.

Do not superimpose
your romantic notions on me,
but see me as I am:
brave, sharp, focused.
I will not flee;
I will not fly into the sun.
I am here.

Written for The Mag where Tess Kincaid provides a weekly writing prompt.  I highly recommend it.  

Notes: f/64 was a group of American photographers, including Weston, who usually set their lenses to that aperture to secure maximum image sharpness in the foreground and distance. In 1934 Weston  resolved to make only unretouched portraits.  This was taken in 1937, the same year Amelia Earhart disappeared.

59 comments:

  1. I love that your 'voice' supplied the words for which I searched ! LOL

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  2. Awesome! We both saw strenth. I'm sure that is what the photographer saw too.

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  3. this is wonderful...i love the feeling behind it...just take me as i am, not because you need me to fill a role but...

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  4. Love it. A woman who is her own person and will not be put into a box and labeled as 'suitable' for anyone.
    Great voice, strong without being over-powering yet, has her say.
    Like the little bit of background info too :)

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    1. Thank you, I thought the background was needed for the f/64 title to be meaningful.

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  5. Love this!! "Accept my beautiful scars and creases."

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  6. Ohhhh! I love this. I lover her, this speaker.
    Excellent!

    de

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  7. Oh I do love this...right on, girl

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  8. Yes, when you love only love matters, the poem is exquisite.

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  9. You have an uncanny knack for seeing to the heart of the matter. I enjoy your work.

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    1. Thank you Rebelle - I appreciate that more than you know.

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  10. You captured the feeling with the same clarity as Weston caught the image.

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  11. Nothing more than what you are
    More should take this to heart near and far
    Take the fake
    And drown it in a lake

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  12. This IS an Amelia like photo-I have a lovely soft photo of her here at home, my first collected art work!

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  13. Oh, wow, that's beautiful. wonderful job!

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  14. I too saw her strength and was drawn to it. Wonderful poem!

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    1. Thanks Dana, I like these images of strong women.

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  15. Beautifully expressed, and she does look like a woman who would say these things.

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  16. A feminist Charis; well done indeed.

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  17. Thank you Berowne. Of course I have no idea what she was actually like.

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  18. A perfect capturing of the photo Mary....and an amazing write!!

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  19. This as a poem for women everywhere is completely wonderful, but it speaks volumes for Charis herself- and if she were alive to read this, she'd be blushing!

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  20. Wonderful poem. I liked your last three lines best.

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  21. accept my beautiful scars. i quite like that line...oh, so many needs to accept their own beautiful scars. they mark us as survivors.

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  22. Wonderfully good- loved the authentic bite of this.

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    1. Thank you Buddah (hmmm...not something I expected to write, lol).

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  23. So beautifully written...romantic yet refreshingly realistic. In 55 words, YOU ROCK GIRL!!!
    Mine is here
    Have you a TRULY BLESSED WEEK!!!
    hugs
    shakira

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    1. Thank you Shakira! You have a wonderful week too!

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  24. She seems so strong, like a singing sword, Artwmis like . Thanks Mary .

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  25. unretouched. Now that is something to admire... for photography and in relationships. Thanks for adding this piece to the puzzle of Weston & Wilson.

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  26. Your poem sets a perfect aperture for this image. Well done!

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