Hello everyone. We are at week 90 already of this awesome contest, Show Me A Photo or SMAP, hosted by @nelinoeva. The rules and the contest posts can be seen here in case you still haven't heard of this. Read up and we are looking forward to your joining us soon.
The theme for this week is:
FREE THEME
My daughter visited Switzerland last August. It was a three day trip and on the third day she went to Neuchatel, a place about 50 minutes away by train from Berne.
Neuchatel (Neuchâtel) is a small town in western Switzerland and is part of French speaking Switzerland. This part is also called "Suisse Romande". Neuchatel is connected to Berne by suburban rail (Bern S-Bahn) with 1 train/hour and taking 50 minute to Neuchatel. Wikitravel
While she was there she went to a place called the Natural History Museum. Knowing my passion for Feathered Friends, she sent me a bonanza of photos which simply made me wish I was there myself. Take a look at these.
If you still haven't guessed my theme, it's about taxidermy of feathered creatures and how I have come to the realization that there is actually a very thin line separating taxidermy and photography. The latter freezes a moment, immortalizing life and motion. The former consists of preserving a bird or birds either in flight or while feeding or in solitary moments long after they are dead, immortalizing them as well.
While I was doing this post I came upon several quotes regarding taxidermy. One was when someone asked a friend why he mounted a deer's head in his house. When answered that it was attractive, she replied that her mom was also attractive but that she had photographs instead (Ellen DeGeneres). Another one where there was a discussion about substituting art for life and the the results are neither life nor art but taxidermy (Jane Jacobs). And finally one explaining that photograph is like taxidermy. It is like the animals she uses. They are posed in order to appear to be alive, but they are dead. Their time has passed. The photos have to do with time and loss, and conclusion (Annette Messager).
But what amazes me with these photos is how well these birds were taxidermied (if there is such a word. But you know what I mean.) They are so lifelike and the curators of the museum did even more wonders by creating the natural habitat of these birds as backdrop.
Want to see more? Here are the rest.
Now the remaining task to do is to choose which of these to enter in this round. Mmmm, let's see. I am partial to blue so I pick the 4th picture which, for easy reference, I am showing again below. I hope you agree with me @nelinoeva. I think it's a Kingfisher.
And that's it for this Round. Wishing all the participants a huge good luck in the contest. Thanking our sponsors The Feathered Friends Community and @melinda010100. And also to our most talented artist and creative support @barbara-orenya. Keep safe everyone and may peace be with you all.