Weekly photo challenge: Merge

This is an interesting challenge this week. I know a lot of people are using it as an opportunity to merge two separate pictures through Photoshop or double exposure or whatever. I have a couple of pictures that fall into that category … but in this case, I have a feeling that that approach is not exactly what’s being asked of us.

Perhaps I’m over-thinking it, but it seems it’s trickier than that. I think the challenge is to capture two subjects that don’t seem to fit together, and make it work in a single picture. I love the idea of it – but, probably because I tend to focus on nature, I have to admit I couldn’t find anything that fit.

I have, instead, trawled through some of my old “real” photos from back in the days of 35mm film (remember that?)

We had been walking in the Yorkshire Dales and clicking a few sheep pictures, when I saw this lovely black-faced sheep grazing at the top of a hill. In the very far distance was one of few working collieries (coal mines) left in this country. It looks closer than it really was, probably because of foreshortening caused by the zoom lens. There was something about this picture that caused me to keep it, and even scan it into my computer – grains, dust, scratches and all. I think the contrast of the colourful, peaceful sheep grazing and the grainy, colourless industry of the colliery in the background is pretty symbolic. Especially in Yorkshire.

Click on the picture for more clarity

 © Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]