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PhilJW — Salt + Light
Published: 2005-02-12 12:38:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 1682; Favourites: 29; Downloads: 92
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Description
I thought I'd try something a little different and minimalistic in my photography. I've tried to avoid using too much colour, but without shooting in black and white. This is a triptych piece, and the inspiration is from what might be a well-known phrase of Jesus'.Salt & Light, or, The Christian in the World
"You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13,14)
Salt: A natural preservative, it prevents decay, adds savour and preserves what's around it.
Light: Essential to see, it helps to guide and avoid stumbling.
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Comments: 30
Hi! 
I'm currently putting together a church journal which will be distributed amongst our church members and just want your permission for this. We may be selling the journals, so we are willing to buy the jpeg (highest resolution possible) from you. Please get back asap. Thanks.
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Rreat picture and message! Have a look at some of my inspirational materail - [link]
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I really like this concept! And you pulled it off wonderfully, gotta love the message you portrayed
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Your very welcome, hope you keep the bible verse type messages going.
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Wow, this is an awesome picture(s). There's nothing that I would like to see different about it, except for maybe a little salt with the light on the bible. But then again, you wouldn't be able to see it very well. Keep up the great work!
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Dramatic combination, especially with the blue monochrome. I found the inverted text distracting, though it did get me thinking. If nothing else it\'s an image of the Word standing us on our heads or turning the world upside down!
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This is an amazing collage of photos. I just love to look and see how two real objects can be found in the Bible representing what we as Christians should do. It serves as a reminder to be the "salt of the Earth" and lights unto others. It is nice to get these reminders, find yourself scrolling dA and you come across a collage like this!
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Some interesting facts about Salt in the Bible
"Notwithstanding such virtually inexhaustible supplies, salt has not always been readily available to man. Wars and revolutions have been fought for it. In ancient China salt was second to gold in value. Wives and children have been sold into slavery just for common salt. Caesar’s soldiers received money to buy salt, the sum being called a salarium, from which comes the English word “salary.”
Under the Mosaic Law anything offered on the altar to Jehovah had to be salted, not because of flavor, but doubtless because salt represented freedom from corruption or decay. (Le 2:11, 13; Eze 43:24)
Certain healing, medicinal, and antiseptic values are attributed to salt. Newborn babies were sometimes rubbed with salt at birth. (Eze 16:4) In limited quantities salt is beneficial on certain acid soils or when mixed with manure, but if allowed to accumulate in the soil, it kills vegetation and the land becomes barren and unfruitful, as was the case with the once-fertile Euphrates Valley. A city condemned to total destruction was sometimes deliberately sown with salt, this act expressing the desire that the place be perpetually barren and sterile.—De 29:22, 23; Jg 9:45; Job 39:5, 6; Jer 17:6.
Salt is often used in the Bible figuratively. Jesus told his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth,” a preserving influence on others, preventing spiritual putrefaction and moral decay. The good news they carried would preserve life. However, he went on to say to them: “But if the salt loses its strength, how will its saltness be restored? It is no longer usable for anything but to be thrown outside to be trampled on by men.” (Mt 5:13; Mr 9:50; Lu 14:34, 35) One Bible commentator remarks on Matthew 5:13: “The salt used in this country [United States] is a chemical compound—muriate of soda—and if the saltness were lost, or it were to lose its savour, there would be nothing remaining. It enters into the very nature of the substance. In eastern countries, however, the salt used was impure, mingled with vegetable and earthy substances; so that it might lose the whole of its saltness, and a considerable quantity of earthy matter remain. This was good for nothing, except that it was used, as it is said, to place in paths, or walks, as we use gravel. This kind of salt is common still in that country. It is found in the earth in veins or layers, and when exposed to the sun and rain, loses its saltness entirely.”—Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, 1974.
Because salt prevented decay, it became a symbol of stability and permanence. Often when covenants were made, the parties ate together—eating salt together—denoting perpetual loyalty and fidelity to one another in the covenant relationship. “A covenant of salt” therefore was considered very binding. (Nu 18:19) Accordingly, Judean King Abijah’s statement that Jehovah had made “a covenant of salt” with David and his sons meant that the covenant with David’s line for the kingship would stand forever.
Using the term to convey a different sense, Jesus thereafter said: “Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another.” (Mr 9:50) The apostle Paul used it in a similar way, saying: “Let your utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how you ought to give an answer to each one.” (Col 4:6) One’s conduct and speech should always be in good taste, considerate, wholesome, and tend toward preserving the lives of others."
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I agree. All you hear about salt is that too much will make your blood pressure go up. haha
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I suffer from low blood pressure occasionally, so maybe I should eat more fast food?
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This is pretty sweet. But in more "art critical terms," this is very well orchestrated. I enjoy the minimalist aspect, what with the lack of color in both right and left panels, which really just echo the black and white of the bible's page. The shadow across the page also moves you on to the last photo, so it's all very nice and flowing.
I also like how the text is upside down, so you really have to sit a moment to read it.
Awesome. I wish I could buy it.
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Thank you
I appreciate the critique, I think this was probably one of my most 'planned' pieces so I'm glad people have picked up on things like that
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awesome concept...the Bible put so simply- wonderful
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I love it!
This is just beautiful!
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Aww, thanks
I'm glad you like it.
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It is a very effective use of light. I am glad you didn't take out all color completely. The blues make it cool and more mystical. You have brought these three simple, gorgeous images together really wonderfully. Kudos~
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Thank you, I'm glad you like the effect. I'm quite pleased with the colouring - it's subtle but I think it adds something. Thanks for the comment
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I really like the concept here Phil. You did a nice job on the 3 photos you used. Grand piece altogether!
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