I just read the weekly photo challenge article over at the Daily Post on WordPress.com.
This week the subject is ‘solitary’, and the suggestion is to share a photo that evokes the idea of ‘solitary’ to each person joining the challenge.
The photo that illustrates the challenge is of a woman in the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. It immediately made me think of a photo I took at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
I have stood at the Wall, thinking about whether there is a God to whom one might be praying, or whether one is alone, solitary.
solitary |ˈsäləˌterē|
adjective
done or existing alone: I live a pretty solitary life | tigers are essentially solitary.
• (of a place) secluded or isolated: solitary farmsteads.
• [ attrib. often with negative ] single; only: we have not a solitary shred of evidence to go on.
• (of a bird, mammal, or insect) living alone or in pairs, esp. in contrast to related social forms: a solitary wasp.
• (of a flower or other part) borne singly.
noun ( pl. solitaries )
1 a recluse or hermit.
2 informal short for solitary confinement.
DERIVATIVES
solitarily |-rəlē|adverb,
solitariness noun
ORIGIN Middle English: from Latin solitarius, from solus ‘alone.’
Interesting word origin … solus > alone, yet solace > comfort. I imagine a visitor to the West Wall probably experiences both.
Yes, comfort is so important.
It’s not such a long way from standing erect to bowing just a little to rest one’s head on the Wall – it’s bend or break.
She is solitary and praying to god for a companoin or may be she is spending some time with god to kill her solitude.
Love your entry David! Your words add meaning to the stark image. Would love to visit Jerusalem someday.
Thanks, Madhu. I debated with myself whether to put those words. Glad you liked it.
To be by oneself – an opportunity I think: Who am I? You put it well with an interesting picture too. Thanks for the follow
Thank you. Yes, I am interested in how deep personal identification goes: It’s a wide topic.
Powerful image, David … and your words certainly added to it. Eternal question, perhaps, but one day we’ll know.
I am enthralled – lighting, composition, colors and I believe you’ve hit the challenge head-on. Can’t stop looking.
Thanks for that.
Profound… and a great shot. I was told once that you can feel the power of centuries of prayer at the Wall in Jerusalem… that it is palpable… I wonder and would love to visit some day.
I hope you take the chance to visit and find out for yourself.
Thanks for the comment about the photo.