Tuesday, February 21, 2006


Most of us have read of the tribes of primitive peoples who were terrified to allow their photography because they feared it signified the capture of their soul. They were right, but only if a special camera were involved. Cameras such equipped are rare, and only the combined magic of a morally lapsing Buddhist monk working with an Initiate in the ways of Gypsy mysticism and a fallen Hindu Brahman could bring together the waves of thought necessary to bless a camera in this way. What favors Ariel applied to garner such a camera is not known. But she wandered the streets, towns and nature in search of souls to collect. When she saw one, a smile and her pleasant please sufficed for permission to capture the light she saw in the eyes of her subject, though they knew not what they granted. Like most collectors, she collected and collected, with never an intention of surrendering one of her finds or ever of stopping. But because Ariel had taste and an eye for beauty, the souls she amassed lived quite happily together in their own private heaven.

Story #339

Thank you to Ariel for contributing today's photo.

14 comments:

The Mushroom said...

Okay, now I know where mine got off to, Ariel... Please treat it gently, I might need it when I'm old.

(This is a self-portrait, everyone.)

Doug The Una said...

I've seen the wizard of Oz. The eye steals souls, not the camera.

Indeterminacy said...

Mushroom: This means that Ariel captured her own soul!

Doug: Looks like the Eyes have it.

Sar said...

I love that picture. Your story was somehow romantic, Indie.

The Mushroom said...

And we always fear losing our souls... hers she can burn to CD. :)

*kisses*

Ariel the Thief said...

in the name of myself and my camera thank you for the magical story, Indie! we are so flattered! and a camera doesn't need mirror to take away its owner's soul, you know. :)

Mushroom, the kitchen was always good here, you're gonna get back such a happy soul, your God is gonna love it. :-P

Doug, you wanna try?

Sar, thank you!

Indeterminacy said...

Ariel: I think I've owed you a story for a long time. I'm glad you're happy with this one. I was trying to think of a name for the woman with the camera, but in the end it only made sense to use yours.

Sar: Thank you. (that's all I can think of to say, either).

Indeterminacy said...

I'm working on a post that's turned out longer than I expected. That combined with non-Internet life forces me to take a break until Friday's story. After a week of solid steady posting, I feel I've at least redeemed myself for leaving you alone so long in the last weeks.

Cooper said...

Being that one of my mjors is photography I now feel that I will not rest until I get a camera full of magic............perfect story....if only..

Ariel the Thief said...

you didn't "owed" a story but I love this one, yes. NOW you can take a rest. :-P Ariel is a good name, isn't it. maybe too good to me. but I was there first. :)

Indeterminacy said...

Alice: Did we know that about you? That explains how you might have discovered Andre Kertesz (who you link at your site). My favorite volumes of photography are the collections of his works, then Les Americans by Robert Frank, then the work of Erich Solomon. Also a lot of interesting things going on in Germany with photography during the 1920's. P.S. I think any camera you touch will be full of magic.

Ariel: I like the idea that your story is on the top. Yours is a welcoming image to great someone loading the indeterminacy url.

Footprint said...

I like this story. The part I like the most is the description of the mystics who have the power to enhance such a camera. Outside of their orders and carefree of being a "renegade".
Very cool.

Ann Marie Simard said...

Hi there in "Europe"... I come from Paris, France, live in Canada. Whatever. I came from Antonia's site. Cool idea to ally pics and stories inspired by them. My pics are mere illustrations, the texts are the plat de résistance. There is consistency, substance and a clear voice in your writing. No useless rhetorics - sounded like published short stories. I liked this. Thanks.

Ann Marie

Indeterminacy said...

Sorry, I'm behind in my comment answering....

Footprint: Thanks for that comment. The way I originally had that passage I think it was not working, and I changed it to what you read - so I'm glad you noticed it. Incidentally, you're blogs look really cool - I have to go in soon and add some new links...

Poeticjustice: I like your blogger name. I used to read these Tales From the Crypt comics which always ended with some delicious poetic justice crashing down on someone. "Poetic justice" was always one of my favorite literary terms - most languages don't have a poetic way to express this.

Thanks for so much encouragement in just a few sentences. It really makes it feel worthwhile, what I'm doing. I just wanted to write stories for people.