Current Events in Color

The second and final lunar eclipse of the year will bring a blood moon that is sure to be bigger and brighter than the first. The lunar eclipse will occur in the early hours of Wednesday morning, before sunrise in the Eastern Time zone. If you’re on the west coast you can get a glimpse in the middle of the night. When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it’s called a solar eclipse. When the Earth passes between the moon and the sun it’s called a lunar eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, the use of special telescopes and fancy goggles won’t be needed to view the eclipse, binoculars could help enhance the view though. The appearance of the moon during this lunar eclipse will appear to be a dark red, almost burgundy. A Lunar eclipse is the earth’s shadow appearing on the moon so why the red color? The Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are all in a straight line. That's why. The Moon appears red because the reflection of every sunrise and sunset is happening simultaneously because they are aligned.

I’ve heard a few urban legends about the occurrence of a blood moon. Some Christians attribute prophetic significance to the blood moon that just occurred on April 15, 2014 because it will be the first of a lunar "tetrad" or four total lunar eclipses in a row, occurring in 2014 and 2015. Also because each of those eclipses falls on an important Jewish holiday, Passover and Sukkot. I’ve always heard that the spotting of a red moon meant the “end of times” were coming. The blood moons never have an impact on me, negative or positive. However, I am repeatedly amazed at what happens in our universe. 

Image credit: CNN

Image Interpretations

"Origins"

The first time I saw Sean Mundy’s work I was amazed. Sean Mundy is a surrealist photographer. He takes basic images and manipulates them in a way that makes you think deeper about what your eyes are actually seeing. When I look at “Origins” the first thing I notice is the giant red smoke rising to the sky from a single persons silhouette. The red smoke stands out to me against the gray and misty sky and the black silhouettes of people resembling shadows. This photograph contains contrast that is noticeable without having to stare at the image too much. I also feel that there could be many explanations to the meaning behind the photograph. 

Red is the color of extremes. It’s the color of passionate love, temptation, anger, violence, danger, and adventure. Our prehistoric ancestors saw red as the color of energy and primal life forces. Most of red’s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past. I connect Mundy’s use of red and his title for the photograph “Origins” to mean that following the red smoke is like following the path that modern society has laid out before us. In the photograph everyone is seeking the person with the red smoke. It is like an uphill battle, or a quest the feel they must take. Almost like life itself. “Origins” is a photograph that I would hang in my home because I find the colors, along with whatever message one pulls from the image to be shockingly refreshing. It could serve as a reminder to be yourself at all times.

Image Credit: Sean Mundy Fanpage