A little play. A little imagination. A little creativity. And in a single moment the whole world is reinvented.
“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.”
― H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds
I grew up an avid reader, and Herbert George Wells was a popular author that sparked my young imagination. Later, in my teens, Jeff Wayne released his ground-breaking concept album, War Of The Worlds. I and most of my generation were instantly hooked. I wore that vinyl out and had to buy another copy. I still listen to that album over four decades later.
On a lonely back road I set up my tripod and waited in the cold and dark. I figured I would have some fun and play around a little. Experiment is good for the heart. I knew the shot I wanted and had already dialled in all the settings. There was nothing to do now but wait.
As the car approached I triggered the shutter. The camera took the predetermined 30-second exposure which I knew from test shots would give me the dark and moody setting I was aiming for. Of course, those headlights would look like lasers, I well knew.
Nailed It
After doing the prep I was confident the shot would be in the zone. I did not expect to get it right first time. But I did. This is the keeper, right out of camera with no Photoshop, no AI. I nailed it.
I can almost hear the screaming Martian heat ray as it vaporizes everything it touches. The sound of battle is in my head drowned out by the exultant cries of the Martian fighting machines and the music.
I realize, this hyperbole might not resonate with younger generations, who may ask what any of this drivel means. “Is this guy OK?”, I hear them mumble. Yes. He is. And I encourage you to listen to the music for yourself, or dare I say read the book. Do not watch the movie, it is terrible. Hollywood changed the whole story. But I digress…
To these younger minds I say this. Think not of War Of The Worlds. Think Marvel. Think Iron Man’s repulsor beams, or X-Men’s Cyclops visor blast. Now do I have your attention? Can you hear it, too? 🙂
Which of these three destructive concepts resonates most with you? I’m curious. Let me know in the comments. Is it:
- H.G. Wells – War Of The Worlds
- Marvel – Iron Man
- X-Men – Cyclops
I grew up with and love all three, but when it comes down to the wire, for me, there is only one choice. War Of The Worlds all the way. Oolong!
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