Thursday 10 June 2010

Satellite of Love

I wonder how many pictures have been taken of the moon over the last 50 years. I wonder how many have been taken over the last few hours. The one above is from my friend's house in Cornwall, taken through their little telescope by holding the camera against the eyepiece, which is why it is so blurred. I wish I was back there now, but I will be before the summer is out.

If you believe - like some primitive tribal people are said to - that every time your photo is taken, a part of your spirit is taken with it, then the moon would be nothing but a dead lump of rock, floating up there in space. But we civilised people know that it is - of course - the living embodiment of Diana the Huntress.

I can't remember which comedy film the following scene comes from, where a bearded, Aboriginal Australian tribesman - in full paint, with spear - says to a European tourist who is about to take his photograph:

"You can't do that, Mate."

"Why not? Will it take your spirit away?"

"No. You've left the lense-cap on."

5 comments:

  1. Amazing photo, it looks a bit like a half -eaten rusk. I've watched Crocodile Dundee about three times. Brilliant film!

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  2. Ah - Is that what it was. I don't think I've watched it all the way through - must have been just that clip!

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  3. The OZ Aboriginal's sense of humour is priceless. A politician, helicoptered into a remote indigenous community in central Australia, was asked by an old man if he knew their traditional name for helicopter.
    "No, tell me," his tone all reverential.
    "It's helicopter, mate!"

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  4. Maybe that's where the white Ozzies get their great sense of humour from, Sarah? I love it. A VERY skinny friend of mine was walking down a dusty road in Oz, as a pick-up with a load of blokes rolled past. One of them leant out and said "Alright, Rambo?" and drove on. He thought he was getting a lift. Not a good example, but I laughed.

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