composing with images a side-by-side photoblog with weekly themes

Weekly theme: Religion

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date take: June 20, 2010
Film: N/A
Camera: Nikon D-90
Lens: 18-200mm
Exposure Time: 1/125 (.0008 sec)
Aperture: f/4.8
ISO: 400
Macro: none
Edited: PhotoShop CS3

About the photo: I have carried on a musical affair with Bruce Springsteen since 1975. The afternoon my then boyfriend played me “Thunder Road,” I was hooked. I needed those words. I needed those musical riffs. I didn’t realize it at the time, but music had saved me. Bill Wolff and I are both Springsteen fans. In fact, Bill and I met for the first time at the Springsteen symposium in September 2009, and our photo excursion to Asbury Park was a highlight of that trip. Nevertheless, music has been a religion, a savior, to a whole generation of people, and the jukebox at a local diner or a tinny transistor radio offered hope and future. The music was an altar call. “Come join us,” it seemed to say. The music that emanated from these devices saved lives. It saved mine. Springsteen recognizes this power of music as religion and the saving grace it provides. During his concerts the past decade or so, he proclaims to the frenzied crowds, "We're here to re-dedicate you to The Power, The Passion, The Mystery, and the Ministry of Rock and Roll!" And the crowd responds. They commit. They receive the saving grace of music. Just like I did oh, so long ago.

photo categories: B&W, Billie, Religion
tags: future, hope, music, Religion, savior, springsteen

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