The image called “Lichen” continues the theme of contrast and tension that form the emotion of an image. Like “Moonscape”, the rough and harsh etchings of wind, moisture, and sun are healed by the fragile contours of superior beauty, thrust against the sky. The accompanying text by poet, Peter Crane, captures this power and emotion well. …. A thin and salty curtain hung in the air and draped itself about my skin. I lay on a lichen-covered rock that rose into the sky like a breached whale. I reveled in it’s raw and gritty texture and cast my gaze to the heavens, knowing I was already there. Note that in the text, the woman in the image is speaking to us–the observer–sharing her thoughts and reveling in her power and beauty. The image and text says ” come celebrate with me”. The first person narrative of the text helps draw us into the scene, interpreting and augmenting the image’s visual power. So it is with poetry! I will have much more to say about this later. The image “Lichen” was taken from an overlook above the Pacific Ocean near Half Moon Bay, a small town south of San Francisco. The ocean fog bathes the area frequently producing a micro-climate where lichen thrives. This image is also included in the “Masterpiece” section of the book ” Humanlandscapes- Interpreting the Human Form”. It is available from the New Mexico University Press. It is also available in selected bookstores. P. Miller
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