This column, commemorating the anniversary of one of Ecuador’s military victories in its 19th century war of independence with Spain, stands in the middle of an intersection in a busy Cuenca neighborhood. The religious statue on top of the column seems to be blessing those standing below. I used a 24mm wideangle lens to make this photograph, while standing very close to the base of the column and shooting straight up at the statue overhead. My perspective lends great thrust to the outstretched arms of the statue as they extend outwards -- a threatening sky of churning clouds fills the frame behind them. Two narrow celebratory banners are attached to the column as well, and I place one of them emerging from the upper left corner of the frame to complement the base of the column, which enters the picture at the lower left corner of the frame. I get the feeling that the statue is doing its best to hold back an oncoming storm.