trip·tych  

1. A picture or relief carving on three panels, typically hinged together vertically and used as an altarpiece.
2. A set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.

How is that for an lead-off?! Who knew you were going to learn Greek on a photography blog? I'll throw in even more amazingness... it's "triptyque" in French. That sounds even better. I think I'll start using that version instead.

This week's theme was my suggestion. I think. We put our suggestions into the "hat" so long ago that I'm not entirely sure. However, since you are reading my blog, it was my idea. And it was a wonderful idea. The best! Or at least it was a good topic that I have wanted to do for a while now. I am really pleased with what I got, and I feel like all of the submissions make for strong art pieces. It was nice to have a more serious theme since we have had several weeks of more silly (or at least, less-than-serious) themes.

Why use the idea of a triptych for a photo challenge theme? In the design world groups with an odd number of items are more aesthetically pleasing than groups with even numbers. See for yourself. Look around, especially at good design, and see if you agree. Even-numbered groups can work in some cases, but usually an odd-numbered group is better. Having a central image gives your eye an obvious place to begin and then work to either side to find more of the artwork. Besides, you're reading this on the internet, and everything on the internet is true. So there.

There are two main ways of creating a triptych (or triptyque for my French teacher mother). One is to use 1 image and split it into 3 sections for display. The other is to use 3 images that have a common theme between them. I went for the second option in this exercise because I have wanted to have some options in my portfolio that are intended to be displayed as a group.

Intro. Done. Move on to pictures, Matt.

"Some may boast of prowess bold
Of the schools they think so grand
But there’s a spirit can ne’er be told
It’s the Spirit of Aggieland."

What's that? Not everyone loves the Texas Aggie class ring? Nonsense. It's the best. I played with my dad's ring as a child and longed for the day I had my own. I have photographed it a few times, but I think this is the best one yet. Doing all three sides of it was my wife's idea (but I came up with the execution here). Go here to read about this amazing symbol of the tradition of A&M (and what all the elements of the ring represent).

DSC_2327

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness." ~ Psalm 29:2

This is the first time I have shot Christ Chapel Bible Church. I love that even though it is so big, it still looks like a church. I didn't go during a great time of day, so I would like to try again with better light (and some clouds!). It's such a huge building that it's hard to decide what to focus on. I'll have to go again.

DSC_2282_7_8

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that.  It is a mystique closely approximating a religion.  And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox.  But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing.  For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America.  Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study and the passionate possession of all Texans." ~ John Steinbeck

What more can I say than that? It's Texas. It's awesome.

This was a good theme, and, once again, I didn't even come close to exhausting the possibilities. Thanks for reading. Leave me some feedback if you have ideas for what might make a good triptych.

I have an email newsletter to send out monthly to keep people up-to-date on things they might have missed. You can sign up here, and I promise not to bug you with anything other than updates. Also, go Like me on Facebook to see what I am working up lately.