I’ve always had a deep appreciation for cut stone. It’s not just the rich texture and earth tone colors or even the solid strength of something built to last hundreds if not thousands of years. Working with stone is an art and a science. In fact I’d say that stonework is probably the oldest science. Even the most primitive stone arrowhead requires an understanding of the nature of the stone. A person may not have the mathematics of physics or chemistry but they must be able to look at a stone on the ground and understand how to strike it so that it breaks in just the right way.
Some years ago I became so interested in stone masonry that I spent days in a library reviewing VHS tapes of old techniques. (yes I’m that old.) I went out and bought a two pound sledgehammer and a variety of chisels. I experimented with stones out of the creek and got some advice from my wife’s grandfather who had worked with some stone masons at one point in his life. I by no means achieved a mastery over all of knowledge but one thing that stuck with me was that it takes a bit of patience to cut stone. It’s not the mighty blow of the hammer that’s needed but the consistent gentle tapping on the chisels. A powerful blow will definitely break the rocks but unless you’re making gravel the prize of that perfectly shaped block will be lost. It’s all about lifting the hammer and controlling the fall. Making sure that the chisels are directing the shock in the right ways and listening to stone. When the sound of the blow goes from a sharp “tink” to a dull thud the fracture is formed. If you remove the hammer and chisel you can often give a bump with the palm of your hand and separate the pieces.
We often use the term “heart of stone” when we describe someone who is hard to convince of any point. And I’m guilty of trying to use “a mighty blow of my hammer ” to try and change that heart. But that’s the wrong technique. We need to use the gentle taps and listen to that heart to tell us when it’s ready to cleave. And stop when it’s time to stop.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement:
I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.
I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
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