Halloween Pictures Here

Halloween Pictures Here

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Published on October 28th, 2009, 6:45 am
Rift: Arts

I really like Halloween. It's my favorite holiday, therefore I try to live as if every day were Halloween. Some of you may be having a difficult time getting into the spirit of the season. If that's the case, I have something for you. I've recently been going through my old photos and have set aside some that I feel are somewhat related to this dark time of year. Now these by far aren't my best photos, just ones relevant to the holiday. So, don't judge me buddy. Links to what I hope to be better photos are at the bottom of the page.

There will be photos of horror, dead animals, live spiders, skulls (mostly cat), bugs and one murder. Some are tame and cute and others may be gross. Feel free to add your own. I'll be posting a few more between now and All Hallows Eve.

Anyway, off we go.

We'll begin with a classic. Frankenstein's monster.

Next is a before and after picture from nature. Pictured in the first photo is a Tobacco Horn Worm. The little white things on her body are cocoons. Earlier in the season a parasitic wasp laid her eggs in the worm. Since then the eggs have hatched, the little ones have cocooned themselves and are eating the worm. Alive. Nature is the true author of horror.

The second photo shows the end result of the snacking wasp larvae.

BEFORE

AFTER

Next up is the murder I mentioned earlier. OK, it's a photo depicting the murder of a doll. It's titled "Cabbage Patch Murder".
I had just broken a bottle of Texas Pete hot sauce and being there was a blood-like substance on the floor I didn't want to waste an opportunity.
And I know the floor needs mopping. Didn't I tell you not to judge me?

OK, this next thing, I have no idea what it is. Most probably it's the spawn of aliens. Maybe it's baby "The Blobs". Or maybe just slime mold. If you know the identity of these monsters I'd appreciate you informing me what they are and if should I fear them.

I named this creature Nosfe-rat-tu. To fans of old horror movies the reason should be obvious. I think for a time he was my avatar here.

We'll have just one more photo for now. I'll be posting several others between now and Halloween so keep an eye peeled.
The last photo is of my son's closet. What can I say? The boy is strange.
I promise more skulls are on the way.

I think you have a variety of stalked puffball, like Geastrum fornicatum

They come in a variety of shapes and change dramatically depending on their stage.

Today's trivia: Fornicatum refers to the arched form. The connection with sex apparently comes from whores plying their trade in under the arched vaults below Roman buildings. Fornix = arch

A Person wrote:I think you have a variety of stalked puffball, like Geastrum fornicatum

That may be it. I didn't notice any arches though. Maybe I can catch it next summer during an earlier phase of growth.
The bit about arches and fornicating is interesting. Wasn't there a BBC series dealing, in an interesting fashion, with etymology? It was like a language version of Connections, IIRC.

OK, in my continuing effort thrust the spirits of Halloween into you, here are some more pictures from the bottom of my hard drive. I mean no one has complained so far. Let's see if I can remedy that.

Our first feature tonight will be maybe a more traditional Halloween subject. I'm talking about cats. And skulls. And mummies. Oh my. A mummified cat skull. I can't remember where I found this or if it was in fact a gift. People give me the nicest things.

Up next is a mood piece taken at an old cemetery. This is where my paternal grandfathers and great grandmother stay, along with my really great, great aunt Myrtle. At least I hope they stay there.

Let's do the mad scientist laboratory thing next. How many things in the picture can you identify? How are they not related to scientists, mad or otherwise?

The next one is an abstract titled "Dark Orifice Faces the Shadow on the Frontier". It's included just because it's weird and it's the season for that.

: Dark Orifice Faces The Shadow On the Frontier.jpg (44.64 KiB) Viewed 1068 times

Something else that is weird is apple-cedar rust. As a kid when I climbed trees I would avoid the cedars because of these things. They looked like a tentacled, pulpy monster I'd seen on the Outer Limits or some other show I'd watch from behind a chair.

Speaking of trees, this is a faded magnolia blossom.

We'll end this one with a scene of despair.
I do hope I've touched you in some deep dark dirty way.
Good night.

Love the pictures...

Nfidel wrote:Let's do the mad scientist laboratory thing next. How many things in the picture can you identify? How are they not related to scientists, mad or otherwise?

I can't identify the block to the left, there just isn't enough to go on.

Everything can be related to scientists. They like to drink, listen to music and watch movies. Decorative glass beads can be used as paperweights and notebooks are de-rigueur. Concrete blocks are always useful too.

The block you can't identify reminds me of punch press dies I saw in use at a machine shop I worked at once. The knob sticking out of the surface, I have no idea.

I think you could be right - it looks as if it might be an anvil for a flaring die and the thing sticking out a sort section that has been flared.

Liv wrote:Love the pictures...

Thanks. I like yours too. I especially enjoy it when you document a road trip, like the one to the Devil's Tramping Ground.

A Person wrote:
Nfidel wrote:Let's do the mad scientist laboratory thing next. How many things in the picture can you identify? How are they not related to scientists, mad or otherwise?

Answers.jpg

I can't identify the block to the left, there just isn't enough to go on.

Everything can be related to scientists. They like to drink, listen to music and watch movies. Decorative glass beads can be used as paperweights and notebooks are de-rigueur. Concrete blocks are always useful too.

You were mostly correct. What you thought were, I suppose, stacks of CDs and/or DVDs is actually a base for one of those cheap glass sculptures with a laser cut design in the interior. The base lights up the sculpture. The metal block on the left is, the best I can tell, part of a hydraulic control system. I found it while digging footings and IIRC, I found a name on it. I Googled the name and came up with a company's online catalog. The closest visual match to this thing was from a hydraulic control system. What part it plays is a mystery to me. I'm almost ashamed of the amateurish attempt at a mad scientists work bench, but then I remember there's a long history of such. I'm thinking of Ed Wood and of Daleks.

Hey kids, were coming down to the wire. Just one more day till the special day. Including this posting, we have two, maybe three more groups of pictures to get us in the mood. I hope you're not fed up yet. And feel free to share yours too.

First let me post some links that are Halloween friendly. And remember, these folks, like me, celebrate the holidays year round.
All of these links are to podcasts somehow relating to horror. They are all free to download. (A podcast, just in case you don't know, is like a radio program but "broadcast" over the internet. In other words, it's free audio.)
First up is Pseudopod.
Pseudopod is THE ultimate modern horror podcast. It is a weekly podcast and for adults. Definitely R rated.

Sister to Pseudopod and a bit older is EscapePod. EscapePod was the first regular podcast to be offered by Escape Artists, the entity that creates the first three podcasts I'm listing. EscapePod is more about SciFi, but as we all know there is a bit of overlap in the genres. This week's EscapePod is about vampires. How's that for horror.

Yet another sister podcast is Podcastle.
Podcastle deals more in the fantasy realm. I really thought I wouldn't like it. Probably would be stories about dragons, unicorns and fairies. Well, sometimes it is, and sometimes the creatures more malevolent than one would imagine. Excellent stories on a weekly basis.

Here are two more links. The DrabbleCast.
Usually horror stories and hosted by Norm Sherman, one of the more interesting personalities on the web.

Finally is The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. A couple of interesting fellows host this. Give a listen. Don't ask me about the name, though.

On to the pictures.
Let's do some bugs today.
First a nice lady spider.

Next is a mantis, although I don't think praying is what she has in mind. I thought it looked spooky.

And here's another one. I seem to be running with the ladies today.

Let's switch gears now. Let's get back to some bones. I think this was once a dog, and he doesn't seem to be very happy, what with me zooming in one his ribs and all.

This next one I cobbled together from bits found around the house.

Finally today, nothing too graphic. Just another mood piece that to me has a haunted feel. More coming soon.

Way cool! Thanks for posting. I didn't realize I wasn't in the 'weeny spirit, but I guess I wasn't because now I'm feelin' the "yay for Halloween!"

Nfidel wrote: The metal block on the left is, the best I can tell, part of a hydraulic control system.

Ah yes, it certainly could be a hydraulic manifold

Serendipitous wrote:Way cool! Thanks for posting. I didn't realize I wasn't in the 'weeny spirit, but I guess I wasn't because now I'm feelin' the "yay for Halloween!"

I'm glad you're having fun now.

Hello kids. Today's the day. I hope you've all got the spirit by now. If not I've some more pictures to help get you in the mood. Today's photos may be a little weird and some may seem off topic but there's a bit of horror in all of them.

How about some ominousness? Yeah, I checked. Dictionary.com says it's a real word. This photo wasn't taken in the dark season, but I think it still fits in here with the others.

Next is a kind of mascot of the house. He's been around several years now. I'd almost forgotten him.

The next guy is even older. But the paint job is relatively new.

Here's some more Cabbage Patch mayhem. This is what happens to dolls who won't quit mocking you.

Here's a monster face I found.

Witches are a big part of Halloween and sadly I don't have photos of any. Here though are some roots used in magic potions.

Did you know the Devil was a Ford man? And you didn't think he'd make an appearance. You should know me better than that.

We've just a few more to get through. First is a very appropriate painting for this time of year. I saw it in a gallery in Winston Salem. The lady does some really interesting work. In fact, around this time last year, some Greensboring friends and I talked with the artist in her underground studio. Good times.

This next one I'm not sure about. It's either a ghost or an alien on the side of a boxcar. I'll let you decide.

Two more to go. First is a watcher in the woods and finally, the woods.
This may be the last post for this Halloween and if so, I wish for you all to have a wonderfully scary time.

.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Damn. Those cabbage patch dolls made me think of Blair Witch... kids' handprints and whatnot.