I’ve been meaning to write an explanation of my 2007 Reflections entry for some time, but haven’t gotten around to it. Here it is:

Why did I submit that picture to reflections? The short answer is: because it was funny and it was creepy. Most of all because it was stupid piece of art from a stupid kid. There’s no symbolism, or deeper meaning. Just a dirty kid in a dirty bathtub.

When I head that the theme for that years reflections contest was My Favorite Place I had to keep from retching. Reflections always has “thought provoking, inspiring” themes and since my art is neither I though that this would be another year when I let the contest come and go.

I mean, my favorite place is the bathtub. And who wants to see that?

But, hell. It’d be funny to turn in a picture of me in that grimy old thing. Wouldn’t it? An almost nude, creepy picture of me sitting, wet and expressionless, steaming in my own filth, with only soap and my thoughts. Water dripping from my head in the bath.

So I borrowed Bruce’s digital camera and took about four shots of me sitting in my bathroom. I chose my favorite and photoshopped it for color and modesty (because you could see a little of my swim suit sticking out on my leg). And in about two hours came out with my final product.

The reactions that I got were interesting, but almost entirely missing the point. Some thought it was gross, some stupid. Others were creeped out and haven’t quite looked at me the same since. On one occasion I showed it to three girls I was somewhat acquainted with. One by one they all looked at it and ran away screaming “Eww!”

The only person who really got it was one of the first people I showed it to, Bruce. When he saw it the only thing he did was laugh. Really hard. So hard that I started laughing. He got it, he got why it was funny and he understood the message. He also knew the implications of submitting it to Reflections.

We spent about ten or fifteen minutes laughing and talking about it when he said This’s going to take state. That made me feel good, because I like being complemented and because I liked it, but couldn’t tell what others would think of it.

So I turned it in and got a ten dollar gift certificate from Wall Mart for going on from school. After that I got 1^st place for photography division in district and a plaque with my name on it.

So that’s the story of the picture I took titled “The Bath”. I hope you enjoyed it, because it was really cold when I was jumping in and out of the bath tub to set the camera up for another shot

So there won’t be alot here for a bit.

I haven’t updated in a while. Mostly because I don’t feel like it.

If I can land a job in the next week, I’m moving out.

So this is a picture of Bruce that doesn’t make him look like a Polish immigrant, but where’s the fun in that?