Hallelujah, a photo from Victoria, East

Photographer's Note

I wasn't going to post an image as a tribute to Leonard Cohen, but seeing that only one person had done so, this one is mine.
The Baby Boomers are losing their idols one by one. As a university student I used to listen to L.C. in the student library's music room. As a stranger in Melbourne I found his lyrics moving and insightful, his voice like a cry in the wilderness.
I hope Yahweh has received him with a smile that dried his tears and that he has been reunited with Maryanne, his muse and eternal love.

Photo taken in Ballarat, where I spent my teens.

The Age has an article about Cohen, written by Chris Johnson. I include a part of it concerning Leonard Cohen's most enigmatic song:

"That's because it's a riddle that we all think we know the answer to. One single meaning or narrative is absent. It can be many things, it can fit any circumstance, it can be profound and visceral for anyone about anything they deem meaningful to them.

It is holy and spiritual � even for atheists.

At the very least, it is about sex, religion and the complex (for most) act of writing a song: "Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift." That first verse opens with the mystery of a "secret chord that David played and pleased the Lord" and ends with "the baffled King composing Hallelujah."

In between is the sardonic line "but you don't really care for music, do ya", reminding us that over and above the biblical references and theological cast, it's about, perhaps, a woman. Or women. Biblical women, maybe. "You saw her bathing on the roof � she tied you to her kitchen chair, and she broke your throne and she cut your hair."

Cohen once said it was about trying to make a secular world understand spirituality better. "I wanted to push the Hallelujah deep into the ordinary world. The Hallelujah, the David's Hallelujah, was still a religious song. So I wanted to indicate that Hallelujah can come out of things that have nothing to do with religion."

During a BBC interview Cohen explained his Hallelujah :

Talking to BBC抯 Stuart Maconie, Cohen said: 揟he word 慼allelujah�, of course, is so rich � it抯 so abundant in resonances. It抯 a wonderful word to sing, and people have been singing that word for thousands of years. It seems to call down some kind of beneficial energy� in the face of the kind of catastrophes that are manifesting everywhere, to say 慼allelujah� � to praise the energy that manifests both as good and evil, just to affirm our little journey here. It抯 very invigorating to sing that word.�

pajaran, jhm, delpeoples, COSTANTINO, BennyV, kajenn, GFSSD-1, kaZ has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (148094) 2016-11-11 22:54

Salut Kaludio,
A lovely photo with a so pleasant light, well captured, Good title and tribute to Leonard Cohen, good idea, well done.

cargus (14004) 2016-11-11 23:16

Beautiful composition, beautiful colors, well framed and rendered, image well done.!
cordially
Adrian

delpeoples (60342) 2016-11-11 23:29

Ciao Klaudio

This year has seen so much talent pass away and so many loved icons. I heard someone joke that poor old Leonard couldn't handle the fact that Trump was elected President, so escaped. I don't blame him. A beautiful, serene scene, with superb colours and silhouettes. And of course, a very aptly-named photo.

Un abbraccio e buon weekend
Lisa

No_One (4) 2016-11-11 23:45

Hi Klaudio
The colors of the sky her are beautiful and you've got a great silhouette against it. I really like that the but asked a slight line of view of that color through the structure. Great composition
Cheers
Noel

COSTANTINO (117652) 2016-11-11 23:51

Hello dear KLAUDIO and have a nice time
and a happy weekend
thanks for sharing with us this romantic postcard
presenting a romantic sunset I love the
whole inspiraion and the dedication
to Leonard Cohen
welldone
regards
Costantino

jhm (211738) 2016-11-12 0:27

Hello Klaudio,

He was one year ago in Antwerp and Ghent, a very specially singer.
But your picture is wonderful through the fantastic pink colour to the sky.
An excellent composition and good presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

kasianowak (17676) 2016-11-12 1:56

Zdravo Klaudio
Great choice for a tribute post, with the setting sun having disappeared below the horizon but the glow clearly visible, like Cohen's music, even though he is no longer with us.
I listened to him as a university student (he was, and probably still is, a big thing in Poland) and, 20 years on, I still do. We spent yesterday evening listening to his songs and drinking wine. It felt like a good way to celebrate his life and music. But I didn't know what image to post. I'm glad you did.
Srdacni pozdrav
Kasia

Sergiom (117241) 2016-11-12 6:31

Bonjour Klaudio,

Une photo superbe qui se d閙arque et qui attire dans la galerie. Le coucher de soleil est sur ses derni鑢es minutes et les formes en ombres chinoises sont belles.

Bon samedi

Serge

BennyV (34748) 2016-11-12 6:39

Great shot and an even greater note, Klaudio. Glad to see you join the Leonard Cohen tibute(s).

Benny

Tue (93296) 2016-11-13 11:07

Hello Klaudio,
A beautiful tribute to Leonard Cohen. The sharpness is excellent in these low lighting conditions and the silhouettes of the trees are seen very clearly against the beautiful warm and cold colours of the sky.
Lars

emka (158672) 2016-11-13 20:20

hello dear Klaudio,

Thank you very much for this beautiful note about Leonard Cohen, and specially about this famous song Hallelujah.
Cohen was very popular in Poland, specially his Dance me to the end of love. He was in Poland, see here. More than 60 songs were translated and sang in Polish by other artists. Sad news about his death.
And the picture that accompany the note is marvelous too. Beautiful sunset in Ballarat.

WArm regrads MAlgo

GFSSD-1 (5888) 2016-11-14 13:09

Hello
Very nice and very meaningful sharing,
thank you

gervaso (28381) 2016-11-16 2:08

Hello, Klaudio!

Beautiful colors of the sunset and its reflection on the water, the light was very well managed! The silhouettes are very sharp and beautiful! Wonderful composition! Excellent job!

kordinator (8738) 2016-11-17 3:58

Drgi Klaudio
Jedan od lep歩h zalazaka sunca na TE.
Odličan sastavi fina igra svetla i silueta.
Boje su predibne.
Jepa posveta Leonardu koenu, njegovoj predivnoj poeziji a isto tako i odličnoj muzici, lepe je godine pro瀒veo.
Budi mi pozdravljen.
Sa歛

cagla (4342) 2016-11-17 4:38

Hi Klaudio, the sunset reflection on a pond sceneries have always been my favorite places to be at or to capture, but of course I was mainly impressed by your touching note and dedication to LC. A wonderful sharing. Thanks for it.

claudeD (47754) 2016-12-09 8:53

Hello Klaudio,

wow! what a wonderful picture from Ballarat showing this amazing colors of the sunset. Nature can be a wonderful painter. thje proof is to be seen here with your shot.Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

kaZ (768) 2017-01-05 11:43