Howard Moo Young, Contributor

'Reclining Nude'

IT WAS after a lengthy period of continual rain back in 2002, about six weeks of it, on and off. Everything was soaking wet, and looking out unto the hills one evening, the black clouds receding. A cool fresh breeze started to put some movement in the well-soaked banana leaves which, caught my attention at eye level.

As the first glimpse of evening sunlight pierced through an opening in the clouds, it focused on the wet leaves of a grown patch of mature banana trees, towering about 12-15 feet from the sunken garden patch below. I literally stood in awe as each individual drop of water settled on the surface of those dark green leaves. Each tiny droplet of rainwater formed perfect ovals, as the low angle of the blazing sun created hundreds of diamonds reflecting mirror-like images within each of them.

HYPNOTIC ATMOSPHERE

There was something hypnotic about the entire atmosphere, drawing my attention as never before to that healthy growth of banana leaves at the back of the house where I lived. Little did I know that this was the start of me 'going bananas'. I rushed inside, grabbed my camera, filters, film and tripod. There was water all around, as the drains were now blocked with leaves, creating a large puddle, and my bare feet felt good in it. I found myself along with the legs of my tripod fully planted in about three inches of fresh, clean, filtered mud.

As I hurriedly attached my 300mm telephoto lens to my camera, I mounted it on my tripod loaded with a roll of Kodak Supra 400 Colour Film, I quickly scanned the leaves, looking for pictures of a subject that I had passed by time and time again, without ever giving a second glance. But, something happened that late afternoon, as I encountered, visually through the lens of my camera, a whole new world of images. I started to photograph these leaves from every angle ­ young leaves, old leaves (even the dead brown leaves) in every type of lighting conditions. During varying periods of growth, back-lit, front-lit, you name it ­ I shot these leaves everywhere I went. I literally became a banana freak from that very evening. My polarising filter made a big difference to many of my images and I also experimented with other lenses wherever I went.

That was about four years ago, and 250 banana leaves after. I had planned to have an exhibition, and even found a willing sponsor, but personal matters intervened. Recently, I decided to put together just 18 of those rare images of banana leaves, printed two collections of nine images each, for the Liguanea Festival of Fine Art & Photography held recently in May, and exhibited them for the first time to the public.

I was quite pleased at the reaction of many of those who viewed the collection, among my other photographs, and was even more pleasantly surprised, when a visitor to my booth quietly told me to wrap the two pieces for him, as they would fit perfectly on the walls of his new boardroom. Little did I know that Oral McCook was quietly admiring my banana leaves.

Since then, some of my friends have been encouraging me to go ahead with the exhibition, but before I decide on the date, time and venue, I will now expose you to a few of my images, until I have decided to go completely 'bananas.'

Maybe some of you photo buffs out there could try other leaves e.g. ferns, palms, crotons, coleus, wild grass, etc. just start looking with fresh eyes and you would be amazed!

Photographers! Please put this date in your diary and don't miss the Festival Exhibition Opening of the National Visual Arts 2006 Competition on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. at Shortwood Teachers' College. You are going to be in for a real visual treat, viewing the winning entries in Photography and Fine Arts.

Howard Moo Young is an advertising/graphic design/photography Consultant with over 40 years of experience. Email:howardmooyoung@getcaughtmedia.com