My copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is from 1995. I've read it too many times. The dust jacket fell off about 10 years ago. The pages have turned yellow and during the years I've added little pieces of paper with notes, and marked my favorite quotes. But I didn't want to take a photo of the book for this theme. I wanted to take a photo of dolphins or mice or depressed robots or happy doors or bowls of petunias or seriously good computers or men with two heads or a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster or even just a towel on a windowsill against the night sky.
But it was late, my doors were depressed and my robot was happy and M had drunk all the Gargle Blaster and the night sky was overcast and I was tired. So finally, I just grabbed the book, and took a photo of the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything.
This post is a part of the 30 Days of Photographs II challenge. Please visit the rest of the participants for more fantastic photos: MikeWJ, Nicky and Mike, Mo, Meleah, John, aka nonamedufus, Bryan, aka Unfinished Person, Mariann, Malisa, Nora, LaughingMom, Tanya, Elizabeth A., 00dozo, Cheryl, Kristen and Katherine. *
Yeah, this theme was not my favourite. But it's done. Now I would just like to mosey on over to this fabulous little restaurant I know where you can get a great meal - and a show - for only a penny. Care to join me?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the question? So long and thanks for all the fish.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to sound like heresy, but I a few years ago I lent my copy of Hitchhikers Guide to one of Nicky's friends. And I never got it back!
ReplyDeleteI STILL think that "42" was the funniest thing I have EVER read in a book in my entire long, long life. Or I was very tired when I read it. Either one--just nicely done, Ziva.
ReplyDelete**slaps head with hand**
ReplyDeleteI should have known that was the answer!
I love the focus. Love. it.
ReplyDeleteThough I really am lost on this whole Douglas Adams thing.
Amazing composition, lighting, and focus. Did you do any post-processing on this one?
ReplyDeleteA Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster? Aren't they banned now in the Outer Galaxies? ;) <-- No, I don't know what I'm talking about, but then neither did Adams.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture and the story. I wanted to photograph the dolphins but they are two hours away and not on the schedule for this month. One of the first books I repurchased after our fire was Hitchhiker. It HAS to be on the bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteNice take on 42, Ziva! Cats would have been good too though.
ReplyDeleteDidn't read it, but pic look nice
ReplyDeleteI still remember the first time I read that book, and ran across The Answer. One of the most unexpected and brilliantly random bits of humour I'd ever run across. (And I'm guessing that photo wasn't taken with an old cellphone, right?)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThe angle and the focus, not to mention the light/colour of that precious line...superb.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how many times I've read the book, four or five I think. Time to read it again.
I always thought the Answer was a bit of a lunch-bag letdown considering the serious nature of the Ultimate Question.
ReplyDeleteHowever, your photo is not (a letdown, that is). I'll really have to learn the answer as to how one goes about taking such great pictures.
;-)
I love the angle of the photo and the focus! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteI said it once, I'll say it again...Douglas Adams was wrong...my post was the correct answer for 42, dammit. People just never listen to me. :(
ReplyDeleteNice photo, Ziva, even though it wasn't the one you wanted. Life is often like that: You don't get what you really wanted, so you settle for what you can get. In this case, it worked out pretty well.
ReplyDeleteIt also reminds me that I need to get a macro lens.
Of course I'll join you! Um, this restaurant wouldn't happen to be located at the end of the Universe, would it?
ReplyDeleteNever EVER lend your copy of the Guide to anyone! You'll never get it back now.
ReplyDeleteDufus, don't panic (written in large, friendly letters,) we'll learn the question eventually. Just give it a few billion years.
ReplyDelete42 is the funniest thing EVER, in a book, out of a book, in the universe. I love it. ;)
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad, Reffie, it took Deep Thought a pretty damn long time to figure it out, and that was one smart computer...
ReplyDeleteOh, you have to read the books, it's something everyone has to do at least once in their life. ;) Thank you, I'm really glad you liked the photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl! I ajdusted the white balance and contrast, and I have to confess, tinkered a little with the soft focus around the edges. BUT, the macro lens really is amazing and this photo here isn't too far away from the orginal straight out of the camera version. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've always greatly admired someone who can sound like he knows exactly what he's talking about while actually not knowing anything at all. ;)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, I have never let anyone borrow my copy, because I know I wouldn't get it back if I did. And frankly, I think I love that book more than I love M.
ReplyDelete(M, if you're reading this, I'm totally kidding.)
(Sort of.)
Cats? For 42? I don't know... Maybe for fire, though?
ReplyDeleteThe sheer brilliance of that line just never ceases to amaze me. (And no.) ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm so happy you liked it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely time to read it again!
But we don't even know the Ultimate Question, how can we know it's of a serious nature? ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you! I'm really glad you liked the photo. :)
Thank you, Nora!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's the problem with being famous, no one takes you seriously. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou sound a little bitter, Michael, do you often find yourself settling for something you can get instead of reaching for what you want? Like, say, a fantastic macro lens?
ReplyDeleteReally fine photo. I love books. E-books make me sad. Nothing like the feel of the page. The smell. You have so captured it all. I swear I can smell the pages of this book which has been sitting on your shelf for awhile. Wish I had a macro lens.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the Earth got vaporized in, say, less time than it takes an electron to orbit the nucleus of an atom, sending some poor bugger on a mad-cap quest to discover that the Answer is not 41 or 43 but exactly 42, one might rightly speculate that the Ultimate Question must be of a highly serious nature.
ReplyDelete;-)
Yes, very often, and yes, I am a little bitter about it. Once in while, though, everything works beautifully. And then I remember to be thankful for small things. Which I can't photograph because I don't have a macro lens, but I still appreciate.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the edges but was really wondering about the clarity of the macro. I'm becoming more and more convinced I have got to invest in a real macro lens. I want to be able to capture this kind of shot without having to do so much post-processing.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's the thought that counts, right? ;)
ReplyDeleteI love books, too, Malisa. Nothing can compete with a really good book, especially one you've read so many times that it automatically falls open to your favorite part every time you open it. I did, however, receive a Kindle from M a while ago, and it is pretty damn great not to have to carry around a heavy book wherever you go, but I'll still always prefer the real deal. ;)
ReplyDeleteFair enough, you make a valid point there.. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy macro lens is a 100 mm f/2.8 and it's amazing the kind of shots you can take. I bought it used, and while I obviously don't use it as much as my other lenses, it's great to have it for photos like this. If you can, I say go for it. I could have used my shot straight out of the camera, the letters were just perfectly in focus in almost every photo.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you guys. I love real books. the smell of them. But, do I get kicked out of the club if I say I've never read this book?
ReplyDeleteNope, you do not get kicked out of the club if you've never read this book. Do you know why? Because if you've never read it, that means you can read it for the first time, and the first time is amazing. ;)
ReplyDelete