Editorial
Visually prosaic
IMAGIO
Melanoma
2025
Digital mixed media; submitted photography
"I stuck my toe into my backyard pool. It was 66°. That's really too cold for me to do laps, so I have no more excuses not to go to the community heated pool a couple of blocks away.
But then I would have to deal with exposing the holes—not that hole, my melanoma holes.
I've had three melanoma removals and several pre-melanomas, all of which leave a grape sized hole that heals by secondary intention, i.e. it is not stitched shut because it would be too big a scar. To get clear margins, they must cut a wider swath of skin and go deep. It looks like a horror movie when it is first done, eventually it fills, in but this takes about eight months. I name the scars—the Pepperoni, the Manhole, the Bing Cherry.
It is not a pleasant experience, and I have gone through it too many times. This is the cumulative effect of no sunscreen when I was a kid in fire Island, in college etc., and now at 63 my multiple moles from my redheaded mama have come here to try and finish me off.
I also have cervical radiculopathy, which is, in my case, a congenitally small spinal canal in my neck, where bone spurs are causing pressure on the nerve roots that exit to my arm/hand. 24/7 pain and no solutions..
I think my body is trying to kill me.
Maybe years of lambasting it because it didn't look right is coming back to haunt me. I wish I could be one of those people who could say 'it's what's inside that counts,' even though I innately know this to be true. But early pre-teen weight issues followed by, ironically, a modeling career and fashion photography have put me on the beauty-trumps-all highway for longer than I care to admit.
(Though it could be the horror movies I wrote and directed and love; life imitates art.)
It's the community pool or nothing. I sigh and get my gear together and walk the three blocks. And guess what, nobody is there. There is no one to witness my decaying flesh. But I'm sure that time is coming soon enough. And I guess I'll just have to deal with it . As they say, “at least I am still here.” — Les. D
I hope it is true that women of my age are invisible. Or at least people enjoy a good horror movie!”
Also in Collections: BODY | Les D.
Power and Love
2025
Digital mixed media; submitted photography
“Many people who may have struggled in life for purpose, love of self, or sanity, have found grace, after any time, in the spiritual teachings and practices of religion(s)."
Often, those teachings come from very old texts, often regarded instructions on how to replace the often-regarded human passions of fear, with the the more humbling practice of faith.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) and "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7) are two examples of many quotes from the Christian Bible that each are commonly employed as ideologies or mantras—ideas on how to develop and maintain faith in God and in Jesus Christ.
The Philippians 4:13 verse speaks to the source of one's strength being Christ. It's often used to express confidence in being able to accomplish tasks, no matter how difficult, because of divine support.
The 2 Timothy 1:7 This verse directly contrasts the spirit of fear with the spirit God provides. It states that fear is not from God, but rather the gifts of power, love, and a sound (or self-controlled) mind are from Him.
Together, they convey the message that with faith in Christ, one is empowered to overcome challenges with courage, love, and a clear mind, rather than being controlled by fear.
I, a formerly extreme cynic of religion, have found a spiritual practice that allows me to practice humility to support the following of spiritual ideologies by others (even when I feel their actions stray wildly from the core humanitarianism of that religions fore beliefs) without feeling challenged by those who would defy my spiritual practice.
We all want to have peace and found it often in being of service to others, which requires a modicum of faith that removes ego from us so that we have the required humility to do so. The subject in this art piece wanted to express her gratitude for her present faith and peace by citing verses whose core ideas explain how she gets to that gratitude.
Female Loneliness Epidemic
2025
Digital mixed media, submitted photography
| Also in Portraits
Frame Work
2025
Digital mixed media; submitted photography
“Frame Work” relates to how woman are constantly asked and expected to fit in certain “boxes,” sometimes if not often contradictory. Between sociological predisposition, societal expectations, and cultural dictate (and gaslighting), women’s near entire history has been fraught with how they individually define themselves—how to “frame” themselves, individually and/or collectively.
I can only assume that it is impossible for most women to comfortably fit into any one frame (or even few, many), any “boxes” created by outside ideology. They still struggle to be fully realized or wholly appreciated, and the boxes, no matter which ones, do more to restrict them than to freely, and fully support and respectfully honor them.
(And the lines represent how often the various ideas of “women” are put “through the wringer.”)
Also in Collection: BODY
The Cool Kids
2024
Digital mixed media, submitted photography
My Own Best Comapny
2020
Digital mixed media, submitted photography
Hester Magdalene
2024
Digital mixed media, submitted photography
The Fall of Rome
2020
Digital mixed media, original photography
Juneteenth
2020
Digital mixed media, original photography