The coral cactus turns out to be much more unusual than I thought when I picked it up a couple of years ago. I naively believed that it grew naturally like this. False. Apparently, it is comprised of two succulents grafted together into a new, Franken-plant. Still, a fascinating object to photograph with its complex surfaces. The image shown here was captured using the Rolleiflex SL66 and the 120 mm f/5.6 wide open at f/5.6. The film was Tri-X and it was souped in HC-110.
Then there is the lotus seed pod. I have always thought these were beautiful, and I was captivated by the fact that there was a single seed in this pod. Apparently, lotus pods are deeply horrific to some folks. This is referred to as trypophobia. Sounds awful. Also shot with the SL66 and 120mm lens, this time on Rollei Retro 400 S.
The last photo has absolutely no pretensions of goodness -- it is a simple snapshot of a beloved pet taken in the heat of the moment decades ago using a disposable camera. The stand out glowing eyeballs are the result of the lousy flash technology of the day.
Yet, if the eyes are indeed windows into the soul, then perhaps something fundamental about the nature of these mysterious and fascinating creatures has been revealed in this image?
Happy Halloween!
