The main theme is a leaf on the wind... but a falling leaf; extra accentuated, and given some properties of motion. I went with subtle, this time. :) I took the scene from the BDM, where Wash finds his untimely demise. But instead of using the shocking impale scene in full, I just, softly, show Washes face (also in red; makes for a nice association), to the right of the red leaf -- the cruelty of that scene, IMHO, warrants only the faintest image.

The Zoe look is from OoG, right after she first met Wash. Instead of showing her lovingly smile at Wash, or some such, I decided to take the scene where she's less than fond of him: "Just something about him bothers me." It underlines the great journey this crew has made, in terms of inter-personal relationships as well.

Undearneath, we see River. Initially I had the scene where River sets up the rocket; but I thought this was more subtle: she's walking away, AFTER the funeral, resigned to the unchangeable: a dear crew member died, and there ain't nothing she or anyone else can do 'bout that. Hence the title.

Beautiful and painful, Asarian. Like your River/Mal piece it evokes a lot of emotion.

Such sadness... and such loss to us all.
*sigh*

I miss Wash.....

I particularly liked the part where you had River walking away... such finality and a set to her shoulders of "nothing can be done". Very effective.

Ooooooh, beautifully done, asarian! *tear*

BTW, I sent you an e-mail awhile back, wasn't sure if you got it? Lemme know :)

There is to be no crying on this website... Okay, maybe a little. Lovely imagery, Asarian.

"Here's something you can't do..."

Rob O.

I really like this piece. I give it a 10/10 because is shows emotion yet is very subtle.

I thought your choice for Zoe's picture was an interesting choice. Most people, including myself, would have put them together, her smiling, or some happy time. But instead you chose the Out of Gas flashback sequence. I was thinking that was the Zoe before Wash -- and now it's the Zoe after him, too.

I didn't notice my Washie-poo up in the upper right hand corner at first, just that there was a red blotch. But then I read your comment, and I was all - "Oh, I didn't see it, and I don't think I want to" as an avid Wash geek (my friend calls me Wash Ho) I skip the scene when I watch the movie. I don't know why. Because the part that really gets to me is "He ain't comin'" and "She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true". Back on topic, I had to look anyway, because I love reviewing photomanipulation. (Worked at a studio for a year). It is very subtle. Faint image. It makes me think of blood on the trees. Blood on the leaves.

I like the touch of River -- I had always wondered how Zoe would behave towards River post-BDM as she led up to this tragedy. I like the simple notion of River walking away -- no power in the 'verse can stop her, but once that power has done its work, there is nothing she can do.

I like the sepia tones you used. It demonstrates a certain bleakness yet not the total black-and-white greyscale most people do.

The left side of the picture I found very symbolic -- represtenting something that was torn away. Something torn away from Zoe, torn away from the crew, torn away from me, Kelai. And you. And the rest of the Browncoats. The tear in the "page" made me think of a certain song -- "Held" -- which might fit the crew after the tragedies.

"This is what it means
To be held
How it feels when the sacred
Is torn from your life
And you survive"

One thing I suggest you improve on is to play with River's brightness/contrast settings to make her blend in better. Other than that, its shiny!

Kelai
(And remember, though a leaf may crash to the ground, it can always be blown back up in the air again)

Oh my...just gorgeous. As always you've managed to make something lovely and emotional. It makes me all teary eyed.

your stuff always has so many layers to it..and I dig your thought process explanations...cool work

very nice!

Hi Kelai,

Thanks for your nice and colorful comments. :)

I'm glad you hardly noticed the Wash face: it was supposed to be subtle, in deference to people like yourself, to whom, I realized, that image would be difficult to take.

I briefly toyed with the "She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true." scene; and actually had it in for a few; but ultimately, this is not a portrait of Zoe (my next one will be, though), but about Wash.

I took your suggestion and brightened up River a bit. Being able to watch her mourn is, after all, an integral part of the scene. I also fiddled some more with the blending, especially around her hair. I took care of a few transparency errors, too. And I made the motion trail on the falling leaf more directional (so as to make it more clear it's really falling down).

The BSR don't allow you to re-upload a edited image; so, I will try and link the restaured one directly to my little albatross site:

Darn; link didn't hold, or some such. :) Oh well.

beautiful and provocative as ever, asarian. i always look forward to your work.

Take two:

<img src="; border="0" alt="">

Supremely beautiful work here, asarian! I really think that post-BDM, one of the big interpersonal relationships that deserve exploration is Zoe/River. Cuz how River and Zoe interact after the movie, with River taking over for Wash? A subject that gets looked at more infrequently that it deserves IMO:(

BEB