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Cecilia Lim | all galleries >> Galleries >> life > Praying For Clarity
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3 October 2004 Penang

Praying For Clarity

The smoke from the incense sticks shrouding the worshipper in a haze tells my story here. Many people who pray, often do so when they face confusion in their lives over relationships, careers, health or money. Perhaps it is no different for this man who is holding his joss-sticks up in prayer, offering all the confusions in his life for some clarity and direction.


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Guest 18-Aug-2006 20:03
As the mother of a young man who regularly lights sweet incense in his devotions and meditation, this wonderful image is very familiar to me. I can almost smell the various elements in the air, and recall how the addition of the sacred smoke enhanced the atmosphere of our Yoga Meditation evenings. Now I can't have one without the other. The use of these fragrances in the far East go back thousands of years, and are highly revered. I love how you have arranged the shot so that the sticks appear to be whole trees, hastening the smoke to whichever diety is listening.
Cianni Cao19-May-2006 08:23
It's an amazing capture!
Tim May16-Apr-2005 19:48
I am surprised that no one commented on the relationship between this image and the birthday image. By you similar point of view you have created a common thread of hope. In this image the prayer is facing us and beautifully colored sharp incense. In both pictures you give up the hope that comes from thinking about and praying about the future.
Jennifer Zhou04-Apr-2005 02:48
Wonderful concept Cecilia! I always have similar feelings when seeing people praying. But never be able to bring out this confusion as you did here. This image also ask a question whether people are confused at the first place or the religion is the very thing that conceals us from the truth and clarity.
What a coincidence! My latest photo is also related with religion, you can find it here:http://www.pbase.com/angeleyes_zyl/image/41288080

Jen
Guest 02-Apr-2005 14:26
I really like how you used the heave smoke to abstract the human figure to symbolize the faith.
Phil Douglis01-Apr-2005 23:48
Wonderful use of selective focus to abstract this image and make the key point about seeking clarity. Human values are implied this image is all about both confusion and faith, which is for many is the essential dilemma. The vantage point has created a scale incongruity -- big sharp candles, small obscured man, which implies that the principle of faith itself is more important than any individual. Your marvelous image expresses a question that many viewers will also ask. "Where are my answers?"