The little gnat flailed about helplessly in the web. No chance of getting free. He was stuck. In an instant the spider was upon him. If he was wrapped up before what followed was an embalming. Her expert legs moved around him turning and positioning him as she pleased. The spider worked quickly and deftly. Smoothness is speed. As she wrapped him over and over his world went darker and darker. He just focused on breathing. She took him into her mouth and it was all over. Life passed from him. He knew nothing. She slowed her movements. The excitement had passed. She savored what little lifeblood he had to offer. She cleaned him up and disconnected him from the web as not to make a mess of things. The spider then carried his body up to the corner where the others were and carelessly placed him. Once again her web looked inviting. Back at her perch she waited. She did this all day. She was the only living thing in her home. Anything that came in served the sole purpose of keeping her alive for a few moments, a few hours. One day.
Others came. They died while she survived. The days became shorter and colder. Little gnats and flies didn't come around so often. Her long legs became weak and frail. When some lonely bug would get caught in her web she barely had the strength to subdue him. Then, no one came at all. She sat on her perch in the hungry cold huddling to keep warm. At last life crept out of her. The cold slowly breathed in her last breath and passed on unsatiated, seeking more.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Producers
There's some amazing cameras that have come out recently. I just watched this video shot on a Canon digital SLR. It's incredible, really. Now, I'm sure a Hollywood production crew was working on every shot, but the results are still impressive. They used a $2700 camera body to shoot all of that.
It's exciting and interesting, because as technology advances the availability of these tools will be more widespread. Technology is widening the access point to media that were otherwise off limits: podcasts, blogs, YouTube. Fifty years ago, big Hollywood studios could only afford the production costs of a quality film. Now it seems like any schlub who can afford a camera can create a masterpiece. It's not probable or likely, but possible. The Canon video certainly isn't some home recording done by two guys on the weekend, but how many Wes Andersons are out there that don't have the financial backing that he did for their own Bottle Rocket?
I remember reading a Kodak ad about 10 years ago when digital video was gaining momentum. The best digital cameras at the time could shoot about 3 or 4 megapixels. Trying not to sound too desperate, the ad said that film is indispensible because a single 35mm frame contains about 12 MP. The new Canon camera shoots at 21.1 MP. And ten years from now, who knows? They're going to have to eventually stop making cameras sharper because even Brad Pitt will look haggard close up at 50 MP.
New technology will create a new breed of artist. It will be interesting to see how both evolve and from what humble beginnings artistic genius will be birthed.
It's exciting and interesting, because as technology advances the availability of these tools will be more widespread. Technology is widening the access point to media that were otherwise off limits: podcasts, blogs, YouTube. Fifty years ago, big Hollywood studios could only afford the production costs of a quality film. Now it seems like any schlub who can afford a camera can create a masterpiece. It's not probable or likely, but possible. The Canon video certainly isn't some home recording done by two guys on the weekend, but how many Wes Andersons are out there that don't have the financial backing that he did for their own Bottle Rocket?
I remember reading a Kodak ad about 10 years ago when digital video was gaining momentum. The best digital cameras at the time could shoot about 3 or 4 megapixels. Trying not to sound too desperate, the ad said that film is indispensible because a single 35mm frame contains about 12 MP. The new Canon camera shoots at 21.1 MP. And ten years from now, who knows? They're going to have to eventually stop making cameras sharper because even Brad Pitt will look haggard close up at 50 MP.
New technology will create a new breed of artist. It will be interesting to see how both evolve and from what humble beginnings artistic genius will be birthed.
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