Self-portrait in proverbs

This entry is part 11 of 15 in the series Self-Portraits

frost hand
Click on image to view the full-size version

A footprint is a sign; a handprint is a message.

This one says: I choose transparency because that’s the best way to hide.

Solitude is a salt lake with five inlets.

Sand can return to stone, but can glass ever return to sand?

My hand was so thick, I couldn’t see the fog in front of me.

 

tree face

 

Ice is a form of immobility that doesn’t keep. By the time I got my photos of the ice storm home & took them out of my camera, they had already lost almost all their glitter.

When the sky falls, it clings to everything. Trees snap with the weight of it. Beauty is best kept at arm’s length.

If it weren’t for wonder, I might have to go make something of myself.

Trees in the winter aren’t sleeping; they’re procrastinating.

Always remember that nature is out to kill you.

__________

Inspired by the posts at the communal self-portrait site Autography (tagline: “Self-Portrait as Story”).

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About Dave Bonta

Dave Bonta (bio) crowd-sources his problems by following his gut, which he shares with one quadrillion of his closest microbial friends --- a tight-knit, symbiotic community comprising some 500 different species of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
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16 Responses to Self-portrait in proverbs

  1. dale says:

    :-)

    Liked this.

  2. Jim Murdoch says:

    Enjoyed the proverbs especially the one about sand and glass.

  3. Peter says:

    I really like “My hand” and “When the sky falls.”

    It made me think: any proverb’s a self-portrait. (I remember my prof’s point: Polonius’s aphorisms are in the context of a play.)

  4. Theriomorph says:

    I love this, Dave. May I please please cross post it at Autography?

  5. Dave says:

    Thanks for the comments. It’s fun hearing which ones y’all like. And Polonius: hadn’t thought of that, but yes! Good negative role model for me.

    Theriomorph – Oh, you think it’ll fit? I thought it was probably a little too “out there.” But sure. I’d be honored.

  6. Anonymous says:

    LOVE the hand print, so ephemeral yet ancient, like the proverbs too!

  7. Lucy says:

    ‘If it weren’t for wonder, I might have to go make something of myself.’
    Yes, yes, yes, me too!

  8. Sally says:

    Thanks for stopping by at Romantic Naturalist, Dave. Yes, I’d appreciate seeing the Reed Noss piece if you find it; haven’t read anything of his in awhile.

    By the way, I really enjoyed this post and the very intriguing photograph. Layers of imagery…

  9. Natalie says:

    Fan-bloody-tastic photo of the blue and gold hand. Stunning. I can’t work out how you took it if it was your own hand?

  10. Dave says:

    Natalie, it’s a handprint on a window. I’m still not sure why I made the print, but immediately after I did so, I thought “picture”!

  11. Natalie says:

    Now I see.

    You have a whole series of photos of icy, snowy subjects in tones of blue/white/gold that are absolutely stunning. They would make a great installation somewhere suitable – have you thought about it?

  12. Dave says:

    Natalie, I’m honored by your high opinion of them. At the moment, I’m not thinking much beyond learning the craft. I’ve never even made a print!

  13. Natalie says:

    Print them, Dave, print them! But try out different photo papers, it makes a huge difference, and some of the ones out there are just crap.

  14. zoe says:

    this is another beautiful post, everything in it fits together perfectly to make a whole. i really enjoy your blogs..