Sacred Spiral 6
by Jeanette French
Title
Sacred Spiral 6
Artist
Jeanette French
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Sacred Spiral, as above, so below. This form of Sacred geometry is found throughout nature, in structures as large as our galaxy and as small as the double helix in our DNA. Here we see it in a Chambered Nautilus Shell. When cut open, the structure of an almost perfect equiangular spiral is revealed. Nautilus shell spirals are logarithmic spirals with ratios averaging 1.33 to 1. These shells have sometimes been used as examples of golden spirals, however the golden spiral ratios is a bit different at 1.618 to 1. Nonetheless, the spiral is beautifully crafted by the nautilus, one of the oldest known cephalopods. The oldest fossils found are from the Early Pleistocene time period. Spirals symbolize growth and evolution; the cycle of birth and death; beginnings and endings, surrender and release of rigidity; movement between inner and outer worlds and the path from ordinary to deep intuitive understanding of reality..
The poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, paid homage to the inspiration and mystery of the nautilus. The conclusion of his poem borrows the spiral form as a metaphor for spiritual life, growth and death:
Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul!
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length are free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by lifes unresting sea!
Darling image was photographed with a macro lens. Macrophotography is an extreme close-up photo in which the subject size in the image is life size or greater than life size. The ratio of the subject on the plane of the sensor plate is known as the reproduction ratio. A macro lens is usually capable of producing images greater than 1:1. Reproductions of greater that 1:1 are also known as photomicrography. In this digital age, a macro photograph is practically defined as a photograph with its vertical subject matter at a height of 24mm or less.
Jeanette French, paintings, photographs, canvas prints framed prints, metallic prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, gift cards, fine art.
Creating portals of light, love, joy, beauty, compassion, hope and gratitude is my lifelong passion and gift for the earth, hence the name of my art business, For the Earth. My mother painted in oils when I was young and encouraged my own drawing, painting and handcrafting in all forms. My father, the photographer, gave me my first camera at age 8. As a result of these loving influences, I am a lifelong student of both mediums. I am grateful to my wonderful Pacific NW painter teachers, Stan Capon and Edi Olson, for training my eye and technique. I hope you will enjoy this image as much as I enjoyed its creation. More gifts for the earth can be found at these websites: jeanette-french.artistwebsites.com and jeanette-french.pixels.com.
Uploaded
February 28th, 2014
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