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The Luxury of being yourself
We have selected pictures on our website, but can always add more depending on the requests we do get and the current trend in the world of luxury fine art:
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We tend to celebrate light in our pictures. Understanding how light interacts with the camera is paramount to the work we do. The temperature, intensity and source of light can wield different photography effect on the same subject or scene; add ISO, aperture and speed, the camera, the lens type, focal length and filters…the combination is varied ad multi-layered and if you know how to use them all, you will come to appreciate that all lights are useful, even those surrounded by a lot of darkness.
We are guided by three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, our longing to capture in print, that which is beautiful, the constant search for the one picture, and constant barrage of new equipment and style of photography. These passions, like great winds, have blown us across the globe in search of the one and we do understand the one we do look for might be this picture right here for someone else out there.
“A concise poem about our work as stated elow
A place without being
a thought without thinking
creatively, two dimensions
suspended animation
possibly a perfect imitation
of what was then to see.
A frozen memory in synthetic colour
or black and white instead,
fantasy dreams in magazines
become imbedded inside my head.
Artistic views
surrealistic hues,
a photographer’s instinctive eye:
for he does as he pleases
up to that point he releases,
then develops a visual high.
- M R Abrahams
Some of the gear we use at William Stone Fine Art are listed here:
Some of our latest work & more!
Embedded galleries within a gallery on various aspects of Photography:
There are other aspects closely related to photography that we do embark on:
All prints though us is put through a rigorous set of quality control standards long before we ever ship it to your front door. We only create gallery-quality images, and you'll receive your print in perfect condition with a lifetime guarantee.
All images on Flickr have been specifically published in a lower grade quality to amber our copyright being infringed. We have 4096x pixel full sized quality on all our photos and any of them could be ordered in high grade museum quality grade and a discount applied if the voucher WS-100 is used. Please contact us:
We do plan future trips and do catalogue our past ones, if you believe there is a beautiful place we have missed, and we are sure there must be many, please do let us know and we will investigate.
In our galleries you will find some amazing fine art photography for sale as limited edition and open edition, gallery quality prints. Only the finest materials and archival methods are used to produce these stunning photographic works of art.
We want to thank you for your interest in our work and thanks for visiting our work on Flickr, we do appreciate you and the contributions you make in furthering our interest in photography and on social media in general, we are mostly out in the field or at an event making people feel luxurious about themselves.
WS-31-301428503-181461333-0317062-3112022183024
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
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On the eastern side of the park's Middle Falls and facing southwestward.
This shot, like the previous one in this album, was taken at a time of high flow rate. Nevertheless, a lot of evidence of columnar jointing is still discernible on the upper surface of the North Shore Volcanic Group basalt.
Of course, the columns farther back from the current spill face of the waterfall are still fully embedded in the bedrock, but you can spot their polygonal tops. Together they present quite a sculptural effect.
For more on how columnar joints form, see this post from another album. And for a review of the significance of the park's basalt in the context of the Midcontinent Rift, take a look at the description of this set's Part 18.
Finally, for an explanation of why this and other North Woods waterfalls have water that is tinted yellowish brown, take a quick trip across the Wisconsin border, to this post.
To see the other photos and descriptions of this series, visit
my Integrative Natural History of Minnesota's North Shore album.
Embedded in my heart is this amazing sunrise in Bogota, Colombia the day I left. Most of my Bogota photos were taken from my brother and sister-in-law's flat, which is located in a building in the mountains that overlook the whole city.
Have a glorious Sunday! I hope I can go take some awesome photos of Buenos Aires today, it is a great sunny day down here!
Bogota, Colombia
January 2008
Photo captured via Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor-X 35-70mm F/3.5 lens. Rialto Beach. Olympic National Park. Coast Range. Olympic Peninsula. Clallam County, Washington. Late May 2016.
Exposure Time: 30 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/11 * Bracketing: None * Filter: Vü Sion Filter ND-10
Asahi Pentax SP1000, CZJ Tessar 2.8/50mm, APX100, Wehner developer
This polished aluminium Tessar came with a Contax F (which is not operational), interesting lens.
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
I hope you enjoy my work and thanks for viewing.
NO use of this image is allowed without my express prior permission and subject to compensation/payment.
I do not want my images linked in Facebook groups.
It is an offence, under law, if you remove my copyright marking, and/or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you will be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable and you will be barred by me from social media platforms I use.
The same applies to all of my images.
My ownership & copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
We visited Beelitz 3 separate days totalling 16 hours of shooting. Honestly, 750 shots later, it wasn't nearly enough. It was as if the corridors alone were different at every turn begging to be captured.
On tour with urbandecay. & chriscreek. Thanks to Photoportee for showing us a few of the less obvious parts of the place, including the wet tunnel crawl underneath. Good times!
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
You are warned: DO NOT STEAL or RE-POST THIS PHOTO.
It is an offence under law if you remove my copyright marking, or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you WILL be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable.
The same applies to all of my images.
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Call number: ON 588/ Box 27/ 42
Digital ID: c071810042
Format: glass photonegative
Find more detailed information about this photograph: digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?emb...
Search for more great images in the State Library's collections: archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/home
From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales www.sl.nsw.gov.au
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
I hope you enjoy my work and thanks for viewing.
NO use of this image is allowed without my express prior permission and subject to compensation/payment.
I do not want my images linked in Facebook groups.
It is an offence, under law, if you remove my copyright marking, and/or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you will be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable and you will be barred by me from social media platforms I use.
The same applies to all of my images.
My ownership & copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
You are warned: DO NOT STEAL or RE-POST THIS PHOTO.
It is an offence under law if you remove my copyright marking, or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you WILL be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable.
The same applies to all of my images.
My copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
Gee, I wonder what statement I'm trying to make here.
Shot this Sunday less than 2 miles from the fires raging in Southern California. (The smoke was at my back, but I hadn't done a shoot in a bit, so I decided to give it a shot.)
AB from left. Sun from high and right. 580 ex from the right. Triggered by PWs.
There were gusts of 80 mph wind (according to the weather station). And one of the gusts ripped the large softbox out of my (and my assistant's) hands. It shot 20 feet up in the air and took off. We managed to chase it down before it disappeared into the desert forever and we wrangled it into the car.
It was fun times and mouthfuls of sand.
I like the way some leaves become almost embedded or welded flat against gravestones after a few weeks. In the churchyard of St Edward the Confessor, Leek, Staffordshire
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
I hope you enjoy my work and thanks for viewing.
NO use of this image is allowed without my express prior permission and subject to compensation/payment.
I do not want my images linked in Facebook groups.
It is an offence, under law, if you remove my copyright marking, and/or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you will be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable and you will be barred by me from social media platforms I use.
The same applies to all of my images.
My ownership & copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
This building was erected in the late teens or early '20's (I believe) for use as a Vaudeville theater house. In the next decade, a large Michigan theater chain, W. S. Butterfield Theaters (headquarters in Lansing) purchased this and turned it into the largest movie theater in town. They also built two other theaters in Holland. One was further west on 8th St, in the middle of town, named the "Centennial." This was torn down in the '50's and a lovely little park is in now in the location where it once stood. The old "Colonial" was turned into the "Park" Theater on River Ave - still in existence and, along with the neon sign, beautifully restored. When the Park was the Colonial, there had been a fire at one time, long ago. You can still see black soot, embedded in the brick on the south side of the building. This side is currently exposed as a very small, but very old building, next to it, was recently demolished. A developer has plans for the current vacant lot. Another slice of Holland, Michigan history GONE. Anyway, this local district part of the chain - the three Holland theaters and the Starlight Drive-In, on Blue Star Highway, south of Holland, near Saugatuck - where under the ownership of the aka Carley Amusement Co.
W. S. Butterfield Theater Co. built theaters in towns and cities throughout Michigan. Among the those I can remember, many of the various original facades and signs on the buildings are gone (remnants of the buildings are still in some of these towns). They also owned drive-In Theaters, including the Starlight near Saugatuck. Fortunately, some of the theaters, such as the Regent in Allegan, the Grand in Grand Haven, and the Michigan in South Haven are still as lovely as ever and have been accurately restored and look as they should. With the help of various people who have shown interest in keeping these alive, the fine old relics are still as beautiful as ever! The two most ornate of the theater palaces in Michigan are still with us in their former glory. The State in Kalamazoo, is still being used for notable entertainment venues and the Michigan in Lansing is restored and integrated into an office environment. The integrity of the interior seems to have remained intact from what I have read. These beauties were designed by the reknowned architect / designer John Eberson. The Lansing theater was built in 1920 formally called "The Strand.". He also created the State Theater in 1927 - still considered a gem in Kalamazoo.
Most people know that Holland's Park Theatre has since been revived by Hope college (they did a fabulous job of renovating the neon sign) where events are held upon occasion. The Starlight Drive-In had never been remodeled, much beyond a new coat of paint on the sign or the concession stand. Also, the neon was removed from the Drive-In Sign in the early 1980's when it was purchased by Goodrich Theaters out of Grand Rapids. I have pictures of both the existing park and the renovated (later removed) Starlight in my stream. Unfortunately, when I was in college, I wasn't around the area as much and didn't get a picture of the original Starlight sign. I also worked there for a short time in '79. When Goodrich bought the Starlight and removed the neon from all of the signs, I realized finally, that I should get a few shots as I feared that it would, as it did, go out of business. I should have feared before Goodrich ruined the look of the place.
I have a small picture of the old Centennial Theater (formerly called The Strand) in a postcard that I have in my stream. As a chain, W. S. Butterfield Theaters folded in the mid '80's. Again, among the many towns where their theaters were located, are Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo (The heavenly State Theater), Lansing (Michigan Theater), Allegan (with the still vibrant Regent Theater, thanks to local historical preservation efforts, also in my stream), Niles, Grand Haven (the beautiful Grand Theater, also restored and in my stream), South Haven (the neat old Michigan Theater, still much in use and with original facade, also in my stream), and many other downtown areas in the state.
Jack Loeks, a man who used to work for Butterfield, left the company to start his own company. He went on to build the first huge multiplex theater in the country, once located on the busy 28th St. in Wyoming (Grand Rapids suburb), of which he named, "Studio 28." This was next to the Beltline Drive-In Theater (also in my stream) that was demolished in 1989. His company was quite successful since he was the leader of the multiplex model that has now become the norm. This has been closed for many years. Recently, the abandoned structure was torn down; Sadly, it did become an eyesore, really. Today the site is unrecognizable.
When I worked at the Holland and Park Theaters, and later the Starlight Drive-In, little had been changed; this still in the mid to late '70's. Most of the old projecting equipment was still in place and was used. The projectionist's were part of a union.
The upstairs office in the Holland Theater was large and no one had ever gone under the stairs of the large balcony. I took a flashlight one day, I decided to go under there and search with a flashlight, just to see if it was possible to find traces of anything old. I found an old ticket stub, from the former Knickerbocker (from the original era - vaudeville plays and live stage presentations) in the insulation on the floor and was quite pleased that my effort panned out! The new manager (Rudy Ball - A Hope College student at the time) took credit for finding it and convinced a writer to feature my find in an article (no mention of me) in the local paper, The "Holland Evening Sentinel." Elsewhere in the room, in a more accessible and visible place, there was a very large bin stuffed with filed, divided rows of old illustrated or photo lobby cards from old past movies, dating back to, at least, the 1940's (perhaps earlier as I don't recall having time to look at them all) up until the early '60's. The previous managers, during that era, had kept and subsequently left these behind, for the sake of the theater's history, after each had retired.
The manager, Mr. Ed Hochschild, hired me as an assistant at the Holland (and later sent me to run the Park). He also had been with Butterfield for many years. He was transferred (and probably demoted) to Holland from the State Theater in Kalamazoo. Mr Hochschild was an older, genteel man. He left everything alone inside of the theater - nothing had changed, not even the carpet. However, a doorman convinced said manager to let him have the original penny scale. I don't know what happened to the original candy machine. In later years, some time after I left, the theater was sold and the original interior, including the concession counter, seats and the rest were removed. After my manager retired, he was replaced by the district supervisor (Mr. Harry Himes, another old timer but more of a curmudgeon) by an an aggressive young male student from Hope College (the jerk who took my ticket stub) as he decided that a man should be at the Holland full time - he could oversee the Park and the Starlite Drive-In. Needless to say, it was a better paying job. After he took over (like a tidal wave) he kept me at bay so I don't wonder where the old, original movie posters went. I always did think that Harry Himes made poor decisions and should have retired himself. Even in the '70's he was completely OLD school and Mr. Ball knew how to work him (or wear him down as he did with most people - loud and boisterous).
Technically, I was the assistant manager of the Holland when I worked with the older manager (who hired me). I laid out the weekly newspaper ads for all three of the area theaters (Holland, Park, and Starlight). He smoked Cigarillos and drove a Fiat! I have memories of the cigar smell that permeated the office and seeing his car turn into a rust bucket.
My main job was to manage the smaller Park Theater at the time. It had been semi-out of commission for a number of years so I was hired to clean it up and keep it open nightly but for Sundays. In later years, prior to my arrival, it been a week-end purview. The Holland had most of the first run films that were anticipated as those that would bring in the larger crowds, such as "Jaws" and the first "Star Wars." I was shocked at the "Star Wars" crowds and now wish that I had bought all of the original memorabilia or taken a sign or poster! I always was out of touch with sci-fi - dummy me. The Park did manage to snag "Annie Hall," "Taxi Driver," "Carrie," and "Blazing Saddles" to name a few. If the movie was considered a bit more controversial, for the most part, it would end up at the Park. Sometimes Butterfield miscalculated on what kind of turn-out a particular movie would bring. Anticipating smaller audience interest for certain films. "Carrie" was huge at the Park, with lines around the corner. That also brought out a number of people from churches, armed with pamphlets, who fervently attempted to appeal to people in line to not expose themselves to this evil film. It got pretty wild; when the pamphlet preachers tried to get into the lobby, I had to call the police, as they were not allowed on the property. The Park ran plenty of stinker films (Heaven's Gate for example) but had some overlooked, first run classics.
Incidentally, I certainly should mention that when Hope college ultimately purchased (still owns) the building in this picture, it was immediately "renovated" (entire facade removed). It is known again as the Knickerbocker Theater. Hope College has a very large theater department and plenty of money to purchase and maintain and use both theaters. It is a influential force in the city. In recent years, the town allowed the college to wipe out an entire block, behind this theater, of old and historic Victorian homes; many were large and well intact. There is a big building and parking lots where they once stood. It makes me physically ill to think about the ruination of Victorian / Edwardian era architecture that was demolished in later years, when historic preservation was a priority in many areas; particularly in nearby Grand Rapids when awareness for preservation took hold in the early 1970's - thus, we have the splendid "Heritage Hill." for generations to behold and cherish.
UPDATE: I have just read, on the Facebook page called "Remembering Holland, Michigan" that in it's heyday, the old Knickerbocker was quite a colorful entertainment spot. Circus animals - elephants and such, also adorned the stage. Incidentally, I did find out that an elephant had died during this period and was buried in the grounds of the Starlite Drive-In site - a fact from a friend who is a Saugatuck / Douglas historian (shout out to Ken Kutzel). Also, quite surprisingly, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke here, on stage, while he was serving as the secretary of the navy. I'll try to get more details, in the future, from any sources re all of the Holland area theaters.
UPDATE: I only recently found this fascinating article online, which has been there for more than several years (now 2022): The Knickerbocker Theatre
The Knickerbocker Theatre
Location86 East Eight Street
Completed1910
Original OwnerTieman Slagh
Current OwnerHope College
Content
Founding
The Death of Slagh
Change in Ownership and Financial Struggles
Operating Under Hope College Ownership
Bibliography
Written by Joshua Briggs
First announced in autumn 1910, the Knickerbocker Theatre was called “one of the best little playhouses in the state.” Since entrepreneur Tieman Slagh first constructed the edifice on Eighth Street more than 100 years ago, this “beautiful playhouse” has exhibited all varieties of entertainment, from Navy Secretary Franklin Delano Roosevelt to a seven-ton elephant. Although the historic theatre has faced financial struggles and changes in ownership nine times, the Knickerbocker Theatre remains on Eighth Street to this day, now under the ownership of Hope College.
Founding
By the autumn of 1910, local Holland resident Tieman Slagh had constructed a local business district along the east end of Eighth Street, despite public skepticism against the venture. The Holland City News described the endeavor as one that “took nerve” and later extolled Slagh for constructing “four of the handsomest business blocks that ornament our public streets.” By December of 1910, Slagh completed his most risky pursuit: a refined, upper-class entertainment facility, a little theater he called “The Knickerbocker.” Chosen by means of an elaborate contest and an executive committee, the name translates to “the very best in life.”
The Death of Slagh
On February 25, 1911, while adorning the Knickerbocker’s sign with decorative lights for opening night, a chain on the scaffolding parted, and Slagh fell 28 feet to the cement sidewalk below. On March 2, 1911, the Holland City News reported an “almost immediate death.” Slagh’s funeral, held at Third Reformed Church in Holland, was described as “one of the largest that has been held in Holland for years.” For months after the burial ceremony, the Knickerbocker’s windows remained dark.
Change in Ownership and Financial Struggles
In August of 1911, more than five months after Slagh’s death, the Knickerbocker Theatre was “leased for a period of two years to Charles Agnew and John C. New of Evanston, Illinois,” according to The Holland City News.
The first production in the reopened theatre, Brewer’s Millions, premiered on November 3, 1911. Although the show was a success, the Knickerbocker suffered from financial troubles for nearly four years before a new owner purchased the theater in 1915. Mr. A. Berlin, a resident of Holland who originally hailed from New York state, was “prepared to experiment,” and “ready to put his best efforts into giving Holland a theatre.” However, just a year later, Berlin sold the theatre. According to the July 20, 1916 edition of the Holland City News, the Knickerbocker was sold at a public auction to Frank A. Ogden who later refitted and remodeled the facility. The business floundered and was eventually acquired by advertising magnate Jon Vanden Berg Jr., better known to the theater-going public as “Vaudie.” Vanden Berg’s expensive investments in the Knickerbocker promised an entertainment venue “second to none in Western Michigan.” Again, the venture fell short of projected goals and was repossessed in 1923.
Later in 1923, businessmen Horace Morton and Harry Jones purchased the Knickerbocker Theatre. They premiered a special Christmas Eve showing of The Courtship of Miles Standish. A short time later, the owners went into bankruptcy.
In 1947, a $29,000 renovation effort was funded, and by January 1986, the theater remained an unsuccessful venture. Goodrich Theatre Company purchased the theater in an effort to acquire a more local audience. Goodrich advertised with the slogan: “Our Progress Strides Forward.”
In December 1987, Hope College proposed to preserve the theatre. In January 1987, a memorandum explained that “the [Hope College] trustees authorized the purchase from Goodrich Theaters Incorporated of the Holland Theater on East Eighth Street near the Hope Campus.”
Operating Under Hope College Ownership
Initially, Phil Tanis managed the Knickerbocker Theatre. He assumed leadership for a short period of time and began the popular film series program still in existence. Erik Alberg succeeded Tanis. “I won’t say I pack them in here,” Alberg confessed to the Holland Sentinel. He added, “a core group of independent movie fans shows up regularly.” To this day, Hope College’s Knickerbocker Theatre continues to promote showings of film and stage productions.
The following is a response to a comment on Facebook re Kalamazoo's State Theater: The district manager for W.S. Butterfield (a crusty and quite elderly guy with old fashioned clothes - all black suit, coat, hat) ALWAYS waxed eloquent about the State in K-zoo, every time he dropped in. I managed the Park Theater, was asst. manager at the Holland Theater ('76/'77) and was the asst. manager at the Starlight Drive-In near Saugatuck ('79) - www.waterwinterwonderland.com/driveintheaters.aspx?id=93&.... The Holland Theater was renovated, in 1941, out of a Vaudeville and / or local events theater called the Knickerbocker, built in 1911. Decades later, in 1988, Hope College purchased the vacant theater building and reverted it back to their version of the new Knickerbocker Theater. hope.edu/directory/buildings/knickerbocker-theatre/knicke.... The three aforementioned theaters were part of the latter year "Carley Amusement Co." franchise under Butterfield - www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hollandsentinel/name/robert-.... During that time, the Park Theater was named "The Colonial" and there was one other Carley owned theater, The Center Theater, located a few blocks west from the Holland Theater on 8th St). The Center was torn down in the early 1960's. Incidentally, Jack Loeks -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Loeks - started his career, working for Butterfield. The State in K-zoo, along with the Strand theater in Lansing - lansingcitypulse.com/stories/vaudeville-and-vivisection,1...) - in the once thriving Butterfield chain (most built in the 1920's) - were both considered THE showcase Butterfield theaters in Michigan. Smaller ones, still exist, such as the restored Regent in Allegan, the State in South Haven, the Park in Holland, and more - cinematreasures.org/chains/169/previous. Butterfield sold off the chain in the early '80's, as I remember. Still, new owners and city preservationists kept some of the theaters alive (previous link). The State in K-zoo was and still is the paragon of all of the many in Michigan . I shall ALWAYS remember when you guys took me there in the '70's and I was SO impressed and just blown away as I've always loved old and great theaters! - www.kazoostate.com/about/history/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Theatre_(Kalamazoo,_Michigan)
withered blossom of Zantedeschia
(White or common arum lily, Zimmercalla)
for my new set flowers on white
On a street beneath the medieval citadel, Carcassonne, France...(iPhone5, PerspectiveCorrect, snapseed)
In January 1912 John Cavitt deeded two acres to the Hill County School District. His home, built in 1910, became the first classroom. A marker noting the donation and honoring John Cavitt is embedded in a huge stone located 16 1/2 miles north of Galata. It was placed by American Legion Post No. 69 of Galata.
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
You are warned: DO NOT STEAL or RE-POST THIS PHOTO.
It is an offence under law if you remove my copyright marking, or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you WILL be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable.
The same applies to all of my images.
My copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
You are warned: DO NOT STEAL or RE-POST THIS PHOTO.
It is an offence under law if you remove my copyright marking, or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you WILL be reported for copyright infringement action to the host platform and/or group applicable.
The same applies to all of my images.
My copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
Copyright © John G. Lidstone, all rights reserved.
I hope you enjoy my work and thanks for viewing.
NO use of this image is allowed without my express prior permission and subject to compensation/payment.
I do not want my images linked in Facebook groups.
It is an offence, under law, if you remove my copyright marking, and/or post this image anywhere else without my express written permission.
If you do, and I find out, you will be reported for copyright infringement action to the host åplatform and/or group applicable and you will be barred by me from social media platforms I use.
The same applies to all of my images.
My ownership & copyright is also embedded in the image metadata.
The pomegranate (/ˈpɒmᵻɡrænᵻt/), botanical name Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between 5 and 8 m tall.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere from March to May. As intact arils or juice, pomegranates are used in cooking, baking, meal garnishes, juice blends, smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails and wine.
The pomegranate originated in the region of modern-day Iran and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region and northern India. It was introduced into America (Spanish America) in the late 16th century and California by Spanish settlers in 1769.
Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, north Africa and tropical Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, the drier parts of southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin. It is also cultivated in parts of California and Arizona. In recent years, it has become more common in the commercial markets of Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
ETYMOLOGY
The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum "seeded". Perhaps stemming from the old French word for the fruit, pomme-grenade, the pomegranate was known in early English as "apple of Grenada" - a term which today survives only in heraldic blazons. This is a folk etymology, confusing Latin granatus with the name of the Spanish city of Granada, which derives from Arabic.
Garnet derives from Old French grenat by metathesis, from Medieval Latin granatum as used in a different meaning "of a dark red color". This derivation may have originated from pomum granatum describing the color of pomegranate pulp or from granum referring to "red dye, cochineal".
The French term for pomegranate, grenade, has given its name to the military grenade.
DESCRIPTION
A shrub or small tree growing 6 to 10 m high, the pomegranate has multiple spiny branches, and is extremely long-lived, with some specimens in France surviving for 200 years. P. granatum leaves are opposite or subopposite, glossy, narrow oblong, entire, 3–7 cm long and 2 cm broad. The flowers are bright red and 3 cm in diameter, with three to seven petals. Some fruitless varieties are grown for the flowers alone.
The edible fruit is a berry, intermediate in size between a lemon and a grapefruit, 5–12 cm in diameter with a rounded shape and thick, reddish skin. The number of seeds in a pomegranate can vary from 200 to about 1400. Each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp — the edible sarcotesta that forms from the seed coat — ranging in color from white to deep red or purple. The seeds are "exarillate", i.e., unlike some other species in the order, Myrtales, no aril is present. The sarcotesta of pomegranate seeds consists of epidermis cells derived from the integument. The seeds are embedded in a white, spongy, astringent membrane.
CULTIVATION
P. granatum is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens. Mature specimens can develop sculptural twisted-bark multiple trunks and a distinctive overall form. Pomegranates are drought-tolerant, and can be grown in dry areas with either a Mediterranean winter rainfall climate or in summer rainfall climates. In wetter areas, they can be prone to root decay from fungal diseases. They can be tolerant of moderate frost, down to about −12 °C.
Insect pests of the pomegranate can include the pomegranate butterfly Virachola isocrates and the leaf-footed bug Leptoglossus zonatus, and fruit flies and ants are attracted to unharvested ripe fruit. Pomegranate grows easily from seed, but is commonly propagated from 25– to 50-cm hardwood cuttings to avoid the genetic variation of seedlings. Air layering is also an option for propagation, but grafting fails.
VARIETIES
P. granatum var. nana is a dwarf variety of P. granatum popularly planted as an ornamental plant in gardens and larger containers, and used as a bonsai specimen tree. It could well be a wild form with a distinct origin. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The only other species in the genus Punica is the Socotran pomegranate (P. protopunica), which is endemic to the island of Socotra. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit.
CULTIVARS
P. granatum has more than 500 named cultivars, but evidently has considerable synonymy in which the same genotype is named differently across regions of the world.[15]
Several characteristics between pomegranate genotypes vary for identification, consumer preference, preferred use, and marketing, the most important of which are fruit size, exocarp color (ranging from yellow to purple, with pink and red most common), seed-coat color (ranging from white to red), hardness of seed, maturity, juice content and its acidity, sweetness, and astringency.
CULTURAL HISTORY
Pomegranate is native to a region from Iran to northern India. Pomegranates have been cultivated throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Mediterranean region for several millennia, and also thrive in the drier climates of California and Arizona.
Carbonized exocarp of the fruit has been identified in early Bronze Age levels of Jericho in the West Bank, as well as late Bronze Age levels of Hala Sultan Tekke on Cyprus and Tiryns.[citation needed] A large, dry pomegranate was found in the tomb of Djehuty, the butler of Queen Hatshepsut in Egypt; Mesopotamian cuneiform records mention pomegranates from the mid-third millennium BC onwards.
It is also extensively grown in South China and in Southeast Asia, whether originally spread along the route of the Silk Road or brought by sea traders. Kandahar is famous in Afghanistan for its high-quality pomegranates.
Although not native to Korea or Japan, the pomegranate is widely grown there and many cultivars have been developed. It is widely used for bonsai because of its flowers and for the unusual twisted bark the older specimens can attain. The term "balaustine" (Latin: balaustinus) is also used for a pomegranate-red color.
The ancient city of Granada in Spain was renamed after the fruit during the Moorish period and today the province of Granada uses pomegranate as a charge in heraldry for its canting arms.
Spanish colonists later introduced the fruit to the Caribbean and America (Spanish America), but in the English colonies, it was less at home: "Don't use the pomegranate inhospitably, a stranger that has come so far to pay his respects to thee," the English Quaker Peter Collinson wrote to the botanizing John Bartram in Philadelphia, 1762. "Plant it against the side of thy house, nail it close to the wall. In this manner it thrives wonderfully with us, and flowers beautifully, and bears fruit this hot year. I have twenty-four on one tree... Doctor Fothergill says, of all trees this is most salutiferous to mankind."
The pomegranate had been introduced as an exotic to England the previous century, by John Tradescant the elder, but the disappointment that it did not set fruit there led to its repeated introduction to the American colonies, even New England. It succeeded in the South: Bartram received a barrel of pomegranates and oranges from a correspondent in Charleston, South Carolina, 1764. John Bartram partook of "delitious" pomegranates with Noble Jones at Wormsloe Plantation, near Savannah, Georgia, in September 1765. Thomas Jefferson planted pomegranates at Monticello in 1771: he had them from George Wythe of Williamsburg.
CULINARY USE
After the pomegranate is opened by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seeds are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the seeds is easier in a bowl of water because the seeds sink and the inedible pulp floats. Freezing the entire fruit also makes it easier to separate. Another effective way of quickly harvesting the seeds is to cut the pomegranate in half, score each half of the exterior rind four to six times, hold the pomegranate half over a bowl, and smack the rind with a large spoon. The seeds should eject from the pomegranate directly into the bowl, leaving only a dozen or more deeply embedded seeds to remove. The entire seed is consumed raw, though the watery, tasty sarcotesta is the desired part. The taste differs depending on the variety or cultivar of pomegranate and its ripeness.
Pomegranate juice can be sweet or sour, but most fruits are moderate in taste, with sour notes from the acidic tannins contained in the juice. Pomegranate juice has long been a popular drink in Europe, the Middle East and is now widely distributed in the United States and Canada.
Grenadine syrup long ago consisted of thickened and sweetened pomegranate juice, now is usually a sales name for a syrup based on various berries, citric acid, and food coloring, mainly used in cocktail mixing. In Europe, Bols still manufactures grenadine syrup with pomegranate. Before tomatoes, a New World fruit, arrived in the Middle East, pomegranate juice, molasses, and vinegar were widely used in many Iranian foods, and are still found in traditional recipes such as fesenjān, a thick sauce made from pomegranate juice and ground walnuts, usually spooned over duck or other poultry and rice, and in ash-e anar (pomegranate soup).
Pomegranate seeds are used as a spice known as anardana (from Persian: anar + dana, pomegranate + seed), most notably in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Dried whole seeds can often be obtained in ethnic Indian subcontinent markets. These seeds are separated from the flesh, dried for 10–15 days, and used as an acidic agent for chutney and curry preparation. Ground anardana is also used, which results in a deeper flavoring in dishes and prevents the seeds from getting stuck in teeth. Seeds of the wild pomegranate variety known as daru from the Himalayas are regarded as quality sources for this spice.
Dried pomegranate seeds, found in some natural specialty food markets, still contain some residual water, maintaining a natural sweet and tart flavor. Dried seeds can be used in several culinary applications, such as trail mix, granola bars, or as a topping for salad, yogurt, or ice cream.
In the Caucasus, pomegranate is used mainly for juice. In Azerbaijan, a sauce from pomegranate juice narsharab, (from Persian: (a)nar + sharab, lit. "pomegranate wine") is usually served with fish or tika kabab. In Turkey, pomegranate sauce (Turkish: nar ekşisi) is used as a salad dressing, to marinate meat, or simply to drink straight. Pomegranate seeds are also used in salads and sometimes as garnish for desserts such as güllaç. Pomegranate syrup or molasses is used in muhammara, a roasted red pepper, walnut, and garlic spread popular in Syria and Turkey.
In Greece, pomegranate (Greek: ρόδι, rodi) is used in many recipes, including kollivozoumi, a creamy broth made from boiled wheat, pomegranates, and raisins, legume salad with wheat and pomegranate, traditional Middle Eastern lamb kebabs with pomegranate glaze, pomegranate eggplant relish, and avocado-pomegranate dip. Pomegranate is also made into a liqueur, and as a popular fruit confectionery used as ice cream topping, mixed with yogurt, or spread as jam on toast. In Cyprus and Greece, and among the Greek Orthodox Diaspora, ρόδι (Greek for pomegranate) is used to make koliva, a mixture of wheat, pomegranate seeds, sugar, almonds, and other seeds served at memorial services.
In Mexico, they are commonly used to adorn the traditional dish chiles en nogada, representing the red of the Mexican flag in the dish which evokes the green (poblano pepper), white (nogada sauce) and red (pomegranate seeds) tricolor.
IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
In the Indian subcontinent's ancient Ayurveda system of traditional medicine, the pomegranate is frequently described as an ingredient in remedies.
In folk medicine pomegranate has been thought a contraceptive and abortifacient when the seeds or rind are eaten, or when as a vaginal suppository.
NUTRITION
A 100-g serving of pomegranate seeds provides 12% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C, 16% DV for vitamin K and 10% DV for folate (table).
Pomegranate seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber (20% DV) which is entirely contained in the edible seeds. People who choose to discard the seeds forfeit nutritional benefits conveyed by the seed fiber and micronutrients.
Pomegranate seed oil contains punicic acid (65.3%), palmitic acid (4.8%), stearic acid (2.3%), oleic acid (6.3%), and linoleic acid (6.6%).
RESEARCH
JUICE
The most abundant phytochemicals in pomegranate juice are polyphenols, including the hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins formed when ellagic acid and/or gallic acid binds with a carbohydrate to form pomegranate ellagitannins, also known as punicalagins.
The red color of juice can be attributed to anthocyanins, such as delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin glycosides. Generally, an increase in juice pigmentation occurs during fruit ripening.
The phenolic content of pomegranate juice is adversely affected by processing and pasteurization techniques.
PEEL
Compared to the pulp, the inedible pomegranate peel contains as much as three times the total amount of polyphenols, including condensed tannins, catechins, gallocatechins and prodelphinidins.
The higher phenolic content of the peel yields extracts for use in dietary supplements and food preservatives.
Health claims
Despite limited research data, manufacturers and marketers of pomegranate juice have liberally used evolving research results for product promotion. In February 2010, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to one such manufacturer, POM Wonderful, for using published literature to make illegal claims of unproven anti-disease benefits.
SYMBOLISM
ANCIENT EGYPT
Ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition. According to the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical writings from around 1500 BC, Egyptians used the pomegranate for treatment of tapeworm and other infections.
ANCIENT GREECE
The Greeks were familiar with the fruit far before it was introduced to Rome via Carthage. In Ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate was known as the "fruit of the dead", and believed to have sprung from the blood of Adonis.
The myth of Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, prominently features the pomegranate. In one version of Greek mythology, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, Demeter (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter, thus all green things ceased to grow. Zeus, the highest-ranking of the Greek gods, could not allow the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the Fates that anyone who consumed food or drink in the underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner, so she was condemned to spend six months in the underworld every year. During these six months, while Persephone sits on the throne of the underworld beside her husband Hades, her mother Demeter mourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This was an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons. Dante Gabriel Rossetti's painting Persephona depicts Persephone holding the fatal fruit. The number of seeds Persephone ate varies, depending on which version of the story is told. The number ranges from three to seven, which accounts for just one barren season if it is just three or four seeds, or two barren seasons (half the year) if she ate six or seven seeds.
The pomegranate also evoked the presence of the Aegean Triple Goddess who evolved into the Olympian Hera, who is sometimes represented offering the pomegranate, as in the Polykleitos' cult image of the Argive Heraion (see below). According to Carl A. P. Ruck and Danny Staples, the chambered pomegranate is also a surrogate for the poppy's narcotic capsule, with its comparable shape and chambered interior. On a Mycenaean seal illustrated in Joseph Campbell's Occidental Mythology 1964, figure 19, the seated Goddess of the double-headed axe (the labrys) offers three poppy pods in her right hand and supports her breast with her left. She embodies both aspects of the dual goddess, life-giving and death-dealing at once. The Titan Orion was represented as "marrying" Side, a name that in Boeotia means "pomegranate", thus consecrating the primal hunter to the Goddess. Other Greek dialects call the pomegranate rhoa; its possible connection with the name of the earth goddess Rhea, inexplicable in Greek, proved suggestive for the mythographer Karl Kerenyi, who suggested the consonance might ultimately derive from a deeper, pre-Indo-European language layer.
In the 5th century BC, Polycleitus took ivory and gold to sculpt the seated Argive Hera in her temple. She held a scepter in one hand and offered a pomegranate, like a 'royal orb', in the other. "About the pomegranate I must say nothing," whispered the traveller Pausanias in the 2nd century, "for its story is somewhat of a holy mystery." In the Orion story, Hera cast pomegranate-Side (an ancient city in Antalya) into dim Erebus — "for daring to rival Hera's beauty", which forms the probable point of connection with the older Osiris/Isis story.[citation needed] Since the ancient Egyptians identified the Orion constellation in the sky as Sah the "soul of Osiris", the identification of this section of the myth seems relatively complete. Hera wears, not a wreath nor a tiara nor a diadem, but clearly the calyx of the pomegranate that has become her serrated crown.[citation needed] The pomegranate has a calyx shaped like a crown. In Jewish tradition, it has been seen as the original "design" for the proper crown. In some artistic depictions, the pomegranate is found in the hand of Mary, mother of Jesus.
A pomegranate is displayed on coins from the ancient city of Side, Pamphylia.
Within the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele, near Paestum, Magna Graecia, is a chapel devoted to the Madonna del Granato, "Our Lady of the Pomegranate", "who by virtue of her epithet and the attribute of a pomegranate must be the Christian successor of the ancient Greek goddess Hera", observes the excavator of the Heraion of Samos, Helmut Kyrieleis.
In modern times, the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. On important days in the Greek Orthodox calendar, such as the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and on Christmas Day, it is traditional to have at the dinner table polysporia, also known by their ancient name panspermia, in some regions of Greece. In ancient times, they were offered to Demeter[citation needed] and to the other gods for fertile land, for the spirits of the dead and in honor of compassionate Dionysus.[citation needed] When one buys a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate, which is placed under/near the ikonostasi (home altar) of the house, as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and good luck. Pomegranates are also prominent at Greek weddings and funerals.[citation needed] When Greeks commemorate their dead, they make kollyva as offerings, which consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated with pomegranate. It is also traditional in Greece to break a pomegranate on the ground at weddings and on New Years. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece and sold in most home goods stores.
ANCIENT ISRAEL AND JUDAISM
Pomegranates were known in Ancient Israel as the fruits which the scouts brought to Moses to demonstrate the fertility of the "promised land". The Book of Exodus describes the me'il ("robe of the ephod") worn by the Hebrew high priest as having pomegranates embroidered on the hem alternating with golden bells which could be heard as the high priest entered and left the Holy of Holies. According to the Books of Kings, the capitals of the two pillars (Jachin and Boaz) that stood in front of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem were engraved with pomegranates. Solomon is said to have designed his coronet based on the pomegranate's "crown" (calyx).
It is traditional to consume pomegranates on Rosh Hashana because, with its numerous seeds, it symbolizes fruitfulness. Also, it is said to have 613 seeds, which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.[61] This particular tradition is referred to in the opening pages of Ursula Dubosarsky's novel Theodora's Gift.
The pomegranate appeared on the ancient coins of Judea. When not in use, the handles of Torah scrolls are sometimes covered with decorative silver globes similar in shape to "pomegranates" (rimmonim). Some Jewish scholars believe the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.[60] Pomegranates are one of the Seven Species (Hebrew: שבעת המינים, Shiv'at Ha-Minim) of fruits and grains enumerated in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 8:8) as being special products of the Land of Israel. The pomegranate is mentioned in the Bible many times, including this quote from the Songs of Solomon, "Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks." (Song of Solomon 4:3). Pomegranates also symbolize the mystical experience in the Jewish mystical tradition, or kabbalah, with the typical reference being to entering the "garden of pomegranates" or pardes rimonim; this is also the title of a book by the 16th-century mystic Moses ben Jacob Cordovero.
IN EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN MOTIFS
In the earliest incontrovertible appearance of Christ in a mosaic, a 4th-century floor mosaic from Hinton St Mary, Dorset, now in the British Museum, the bust of Christ and the chi rho are flanked by pomegranates. Pomegranates continue to be a motif often found in Christian religious decoration. They are often woven into the fabric of vestments and liturgical hangings or wrought in metalwork. Pomegranates figure in many religious paintings by the likes of Sandro Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, often in the hands of the Virgin Mary or the infant Jesus. The fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus' suffering and resurrection.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, pomegranate seeds may be used in kolyva, a dish prepared for memorial services, as a symbol of the sweetness of the heavenly kingdom.
IN THE QUR´AN
According to the Qur'an, pomegranates grow in the gardens of paradise (55:68). The Qur'an also mentions pomegranates three times.(6:99, 6:141, 55:68)
AFGHANISTAN
Pomegranate, a favorite fall and winter fruit in Afghanistan, has mainly two varieties: one that is sweet and dark red with hard seeds growing in and around Kandhar province, and the other that has soft seeds with variable color growing in the central/northern region. The largest market for Afghan pomegranates is India followed by Pakistan, Russia, United Arab Emirates and Europe.
ARMENIA
The pomegranate is one of the main fruits in Armenian culture (the others being apricot and grapes). Its juice is famous with Armenians in food and heritage. The pomegranate is the symbol of Armenia and represents fertility, abundance and marriage. For example, the fruit played an integral role in a wedding custom widely practiced in ancient Armenia: a bride was given a pomegranate fruit, which she threw against a wall, breaking it into pieces. Scattered pomegranate seeds ensured the bride future children. In Karabakh, it was customary to put fruits next to the bridal couple during the first night of marriage, among them the pomegranate, which was said to ensure happiness. It is likely that newlyweds also enjoyed pomegranate wine. The symbolism of the pomegranate is that it protected a woman from infertility and protected a man's virility. Both homemade and commercial wine is made from pomegranate in Armenia. The Color of Pomegranates (1969) is a movie directed by Sergei Parajanov. It is a biography of the Armenian ashug Sayat-Nova (King of Song) which attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally.
AZERBAIJAN
Pomegranate is considered one of the symbols of Azerbaijan. Annually in October, a cultural festival is held in Goychay, Azerbaijan known as the Goychay Pomegranate Festival. The festival features Azerbaijani fruit-cuisine mainly the pomegranates from Goychay, which is famous for its pomegranate growing industry. At the festival, a parade is held with traditional Azerbaijani dances and Azerbaijani music. Pomegranate was depicted on the official logo of the 2015 European Games held in Azerbaijan. Nar the Pomegranate was one of the two mascots of these games. Pomegranates also featured on the jackets worn by Azerbaijani male athletes at the games' opening ceremony.
IRAN AND ANCIENT PERSIA
Pomegranate was the symbol of fertility in ancient Persian culture.[citation needed] In Persian mythology, Isfandiyar eats a pomegranate and becomes invincible. In the Greco-Persian Wars, Herodotus mentions golden pomegranates adorning the spears of warriors in the phalanx. Even in today's Iran, pomegranate may imply love and fertility.
Iran produces pomegranates as a common crop.[citation needed] Its juice and paste have a role in some Iranian cuisines, e.g. chicken, ghormas and refreshment bars. Pomegranate skins may be used to stain wool and silk in the carpet industry.
Pomegranate Festival is an annual cultural and artistic festival held during October in Tehran[citation needed] to exhibit and sell pomegranates, food products and handicrafts.
PAKISTAN
The pomegranate (known as "anār" in Urdu) is a popular fruit in Pakistan. It is grown in Pakistan and is also imported from Afghanistan.
INDIA
In some Hindu traditions, the pomegranate (Hindi: anār) symbolizes prosperity and fertility, and is associated with both Bhoomidevi (the earth goddess) and Lord Ganesha (the one fond of the many-seeded fruit). The Tamil name maadulampazham is a metaphor for a woman's mind. It is derived from, maadhu=woman, ullam=mind, which means as the seeds are hidden, it is not easy to decipher a woman's mind.
CHINA
Introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the pomegranate (Chinese: 石榴; pinyin: shíliu) in olden times was considered an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny. This symbolism is a pun on the Chinese character 子 (zǐ) which, as well as meaning seed, also means "offspring" thus a fruit containing so many seeds is a sign of fecundity. Pictures of the ripe fruit with the seeds bursting forth were often hung in homes to bestow fertility and bless the dwelling with numerous offspring, an important facet of traditional Chinese culture.
WIKIPEDIA
This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be embedded or used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Bruce Finocchio
Got the mother of all motherboards out again tonight. After zooming in to different parts of last night's shot I decided on this composition for this evening. Tripod swap for the two elements with the non modded Helios 44-2 mounted on the tubes. Board lit from below with torch n vape. Hit it from either side with red and blue gelled torches. Tripod swap to the selective masking using my phone and come black card.
Shot during a single lens capped long exposure with a raw conversion in LR with some minor fetling.