Part 1: The picture

A giant. I am a freakishly tall, gaunt giant standing on the pock marked beach. A reflection of myself distorted, without the aid of a mirror. Deep black cutting through the paleness of the sand, carving a temporary picture among the grains. Sharp contrast of a strip of perfect blue seeps into my vision and the beauty of the scene explodes. The blurred lines and gritty textures, marred only by my futile attempt at an interesting, “artsy” snapshot. I have ruined the storybook picture, but created my own joy in the destruction. Smooth rifts in the sand and the tiny, three-clawed markings of waterfowl. There is a dignified air about this sandbar, gently forbidding the modification of the natural form. As I lower my finger to the shutter button, I take a cautious step forward to perfectly position myself. My toes sink into the wet sand and I have ruined it. But the beauty of my destructive act is forever captured in the relative permanency of photography.

(image exercise from English 274, copyrighted 1/22/04, Jen Mood)