Mom finally loses her head.

IMG_2417, originally uploaded by lisacillessen.

This picture has gotten many the question. Here is the simple answer: It was just random. Don't read too much into it. I don't really share my love of the gothic much (Hello, O'Connor and Faulkner are two of my fave writers), but I love the juxtaposition of creepy with the normal. I don't like it all to be puppies and soft carpets and softer light. Sometimes I like it to be edgy. And weird.

My parents re-landscaped their yards last year. On the fringes of the front yards, they built these mulchy hills called 'berms.' The nice Arizona-rejects (ha!) who put in the berms also planted all sorts of grasses and trees and crazy, almost too-bright tulips. So, when I arrived at dinner club (that's a whole other blog) it happened to be the magical hour of light. I grabbed camera, patio table and set up some shots. I stood in the mulch. I just showed toes. I sat and extended legs from left edge of photo in. Upon review of that last pose, it looked like there was a body on the berm. I reset the shot and placed my legs as though I were an extra on CSI: Suburbia. Presto. I had gone dark in the magical hour of light. So, I went with the full body shot.

I did not purposely obscure my head. That was a lucky angle. And I'm sorry, folks, but that is a kick-ass picture. It's morbid and dark and all that...but the lighting, the color and--dare I say--the model are all well composed in the photograph.

I promise not to channel too much more of my inner-Poe, but it will happen again. I'm committed (pun intended) to Flickr's 365 days project--a self-portrait every day for a year. I'm working to become better at taking pictures. And if that means I have to be crime scene model here and there, I am sorry if I upset...the reaction is unintentionally garnered, even if the shot is not.

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