This whole theme works because of the one cute fact that Zoe means "Life" in Greek. Eleven inherent metaphoric
parallels already there. :)

Inner frame first.

There's the lovers' scene; but a discrete one: captured at the precise moment their noses are touching. And set in a nice, warm, firefly glow.

Then there's River (would there ever not be, in a picture of mine?), looking in at our couple, as it were. I didn't want to use the almost obligatory images usually chosen (OiS): like River holding her arm, or the scene where she gets fuzzy, camera-wise, and "feels along" with Zoe and Wash in the cockpit. In fact, I like the trend I set in on my last Wash piece; namely, to use images, if possible, that are slightly out of phase, as it were, with the shot you'd expect. The River is, of course, from OiS, but taken as she walks away down the hall. Needless to say, it fits here, and only takes up minimal space.

The back of Zoe's head (from the lovers' scene) is also set against a nebula, like the outer border. But, if you look closely, you'll see that the left side of the nebula (our left) is actually a human fetus; and you can make out its right eye and little arm. All subtle, of course; not creepifiying or morbid. :) At first glance, it could easily be seen as part of the nebula (which is, naturally the idea).

To the left of the nebula/fetus, we see the scene from HoG, where Zoe turns around and walks away, just after having told Wash she's not so afraid of losing something that she won't try having it. And to the left of that again, Zoe's face when she actually tells him this. Here, too, I had a choice to make. There's a few stills, around that frame, where Zoe carries the most adoring smile of a woman in love. I was tempted to use it. But I figured her face aughta express the seriousness of her speech (plus, I didn't want the "smile" and the lovers' scene competing with each other): because the lover's scene is, of course, where it all happens (or is supposed to happen) and babies are made.

Here's where River's quote comes in. She never actually said that in the series, of course, but she might as well have. :) N.B. The background image for the inner frame is actually called the "Keyhole Nebula". How fitting, with River (psychicly) looking in on them! :)

As for the outer border (at 1280x1024), don't expect miracles. :) But since I still wanted to use images that have at least some bearing on the theme, I took two images that are "contrapunt" to the theme of Life: moments where Zoe almost died. The upper right image is also slightly out of phase with the 'regular' scene, a few seconds later, where she's lifting the gun to shoot.

As a final point of interest, I greatly colorized the lower "band" of the nebula, to make it more stark red on black (the nebula's original color is soft sepia). This way, the lower left red balances the "weight", diagonally, of the strong red in Zoe's shirt, in the upper right corner.

MMmmm nice to catch this--I just read Gina and Laurence are having a baby-due this summer

Love it. Huge Zoe fan, very shiny.

Absolutely amazing. Man I love Wash and Zoe. I wish there was more. More of him being alive and more of them toghether...

Ahhh, Asarian.. this is one of your best pieces to date! Beautiful imagery and subtle use of an idea.. but so appropriate for Wash and Zoe.

Like everyone else I wish there was more of them... and we'd gotten to see this magical moment when they became parents too!

And how cool is it that you posted this on the day that Gina in real life gets to announce that she's going to be a momma. So shiny!

I never really wanted them to become parents in the show. I, like Wash, wasn't sure how well it would work. But looking at this and thinking about the children they'll never have and w'll never get to see... Makes me a little teary.

Oh, and your blending is improving by leaps and bounds! Most shiny!

Astounding work here, asarian! Definitely have no qualms with giving ya a 10:D

BEB