7 apples and 2 legs... a visual interrogation Part 2...

So... here is the initial interrogation of this image. I'm re-shooting it saturday (hopefully) and I'm sure some things will change underway, but as I said... Initial Interrogation.

7 Apples, 2 legs

This image is an initial sketch for what I imagine will be the second image of the series (along with a third image to juxtapose the second, more on that later).  This is another staged exterior of 7 apples on the ground and a pair of legs. The legs are used instead of a body (as I was shooting myself it was the only part I could get to and still keep the stillness of the image). This image refers back to stories such as ‘Snowhite’ and ‘the Original Sin of Eve’, but also to desire, fertility and creation.

The legs represent innocence, femininity and bodily desire. They are what allows us to step in or out something. The crude sock marks reminds us of the act of undressing, of scarring and of reality. The legs are metaphorically those of Snowhite or Eve, not having eaten the apple yet, but not as picture-perfect, pointing back to the reality of beauty and reality in itself.  The implied movement hints towards a yet-to-be-seen action. Stepping forward and picking up the apple, perhaps taking a bite. 

The red of the apples represents passion and possibility. They are carriers of seeds with the potential for new growth. There are 7 apples in the image. The number 7 is a magical number, especially in fairytales. There were 7 dwarfs; there are 7 colors in the rainbow, 7 chacras, 7 seas, and 7 deadly sins... The number 7 is meant to be an activator of imagination.

The background for the image is soil and the base of a tree with a snake-like branch in the back and under one of the feet. (I will enhance this in the re-shoot.)  The earth represents the beginning and the end. It is fertile and has the potential for growth. The branch in the background is a meant to be read as the snake, a disturbance or threat if you will.

In post-production I have layered several exposures to compile the final image. I have selected areas of the other exposures where the light was to my liking and digitally sewn it together.

In re-shooting this image I would like to try adding a partially see-trough body over the apples instead of the legs. I would also like to superimpose a lock on one of the apples. The apple then presenting itself as another gateway to the imaginary. This, when juxtaposed with the image of a key, will present new readings and dualities. The body (or legs if I decide to keep them) will become not only a reference to ‘Snowhite’ and ‘Eve’, but will link it back to ‘Alice’, the rabbits, and the entering of another world. The femininity of this image will juxtapose the masculinity of the key.