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Lotus Flower |
Getting good grades and preparing to go to good schools are all that I did in my youth. I have studied hard and supposedly learned and seen everything from the textbooks. As the years went by and my memories started to fade, I feel that I am back to a be a student again. But this time I want to make sure that I actually see it or touch it. It cannot be just the text or the drawings.
I wonder how these old textbooks were put together with the pictures (some of them have only drawings) that I later can not identify with what I see physically. Even with digital technology, we still rely a lot on post-processing not to mention the photos taken more than six decades ago.
Water lily is very common in water ponds, but I don’t recall that I ever saw an actual Lotus flower till I went to Lan Su Garden (Portland) in 2007. I took a picture with my point-and-shoot camera when I had no clue then what composition was about. Good or bad, that picture is always in my mind. At Northwest, Lotus Flower usually blooms in August. Ever since I started to use DSLR, I have been wanting to go back, and believe it or not, it took me seven years to finally go back there right in blooming season.

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Water Lily |
Lotus Root is used in Asian food, either in a soup with chicken or Porto stock or as a cold dish with soy sauce, sesame oil, and so on spices. It has an acquired taste and texture. It is not my personal favorite, but it has high fiber and rich in vitamin C. Lotus seedpod has a distinctive look and is a popular item for flower arrangement.
I don’t necessarily enjoy authentic Asian elements, but something has not changed, I love Asian style of windows. Either it is framed by white stone, constructed by bricks, or wood-carved panels. I love to peek through the windows and expect the unexpected.
I particularly like the idea how Chinese used the shapes of flowers and fruits to architect a window. A few specific fruits and flowers are chosen to be the designs because they either symbolize richness, fertility, tranquility, or anything in that aspect. So here comes a cluster of grapes. It is a multitude of grapes, not just one. Inside the stone window, there is another modern framed window with a piece of petrified wood and an overgrown plant. It says, Aged.

While drifting on the water is not something that can be done on a daily base or is randomly available, I think a boat image with long trailing greens and restful creek water will serve the purpose.
I have a hard time controlling myself not to paint or texture the gorgeous Lotus flower. However, as pure as it is, my respect for it overcomes my desire.