Eighteen Percent Gray #15

---

"Don't Look Down"
Morrisville, NC - July 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Eighteen Percent Gray Saturdays on Why? What Have You Heard?

---

Stumble This!

Thematic Photographic 83: "What I Did On My Vacation" v.6.0 - E.T. Phone Home

---

"I'll be right... here"
North Topsail Beach, NC - December 2009(Click to embiggen)

 Hosted by Written Inc.

---

You can find some very unique rocks on Topsail Island, among them fossilized sea creatures of bygone eras. Most of these are shellfish, and most are far too worn down to determine what specific kind of shellfish they once were. Then there are the ones like the E.T. lookalike you see here. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that this was some sort of coral or possibly sponge when it was alive. How long ago that might have been I wouldn't venture to guess, but the patterns in its surface suggest that it grew while anchored to the sea bottom. Weathering and erosion can only account for so much of its features, and in fact, most of the stones that have been shaped by the ocean are smooth and rounded, not fluted like this. We found literally hundreds of specimens along the four-mile stretch of beach we walked, some of which bore resemblance to continental land masses or other -- much smaller -- objects. But this one, which looked shockingly like Steven Spielberg's now famous lover of Reese's Pieces was easily the most captivating. But being too big to fit in a pocket, I opted for a photograph instead. Much easier to carry.

---

Stumble This!

Thematic Photographic 70: "Hard" v.1.0 - Between A Rock and a Hard Place

---

"Peabody Park, UNC-Greensboro"
Greensboro, NC - April 2009 (Click to embiggen)

 (Normally) Hosted by Written Inc.

Note: Please take a moment to stop by the Written, Inc. and visit this post. And pay your respects to TP's creator, Carmi, on the sudden loss of his father. Best thoughts for you and your family Carmi.

---

I could tell you that I was going for the metaphor when I took this shot, that I envisioned this post as I studied the moss covered solidity of these sizable chunks of stone. I could claim all manner of artistic vision and genuis and vision. But I'd be blowing smoke. The truth is more that I just thought it was a neat looking rock. I had no idea as I was cursing the harsh afternoon light that I'd be using this shot to illustrate a theme that I'd come up with for the photo meme I've been participating in longer than any other. And that I'd be keeping said photo meme on life support because its creator was dealing with the hard reality of losing a loved one.

And you know something? Even when -- or perhaps especially when -- you conceive the theme yourself, it can be hard to find enough original illustrations for it to fill a week. Last week's "Transition" theme turned out to be quite a challenge. So I picked something a little less hard this week: "Hard". As in rock hard, hard headed, hard charging, hard rocking, hard working, hard... you get the idea. Whatever interpretation you choose, be it literal or metaphorical, I hope you'll link it up here. It should be interesting to see what you come up with.

I sort of suspect that the only ones who have found their way here are TP regulars, and you all know how it works. But on the chance that there's someone new in the crowd, and in the interest of keeping things as normal as possible I give you the "Preflight Safety Instructions":

• Every Wednesday evening, at precisely 7 o'clock Eastern, I post a new Thematic Photographic entry.
• Each entry has a unique theme. This week's is...Hard!
• You post a similarly themed image over on your blog.
• You paste a link to your entry in a comment here.
• If you've already posted something that fits (on a blog, Facebook, MySpace, wherever) simply post the link to the existing entry. Old or new, all photos are welcome.
• You may post as many photos or links as you wish. For the next week, I'll be supporting this theme with a related picture/posting each day. I encourage you to do the same. This is all about sharing, so feel free to share to your heart's content!
• Please share this link with friends, too, and encourage them to join in. The more, the merrier.
• And please accept my thanks for your enthusiasm. Your participation has made TP a true highlight for me each and every week.

So please fasten your seatbelts, make sure that your seat backs and tray tables are in the full up and locked position and prepare for takeoff.

---

Stumble This!