Week Twenty-Nine
Image Title: Royal Crown
Image Location: Residenz, Munich, Germany
Shutter Speed: 1/60
F-Stop: 3.2
Focal Length: 24mm
Lens: 24mm
I think that there are a lot of things about me that make me nerdy in the traditional sense—I read the Wall Street Journal—the actual newspaper form because there’s just something about it I like better . . . I do the crosswords, I pay attention to the stock market, I get excited about classes like “Auditing”, and part of me has always wanted to be an archeologist. There’s something so fascinating to me about adventuring and digging up ancient artifacts, pieces of lost worlds and bits of ancient life. And I think that’s part of what fascinated me so much about visiting the royal treasuries in Europe. Not that they were once lost, but that they are the types of things I imagine lost worlds containing. This crown is in the Residenz in Munich; the palace in the city. The palace itself is enormous; largely destroyed during WWII, but since rebuilt, it’s the definition of extravagance in all of its forms. The best part though, in my opinion, is the collection of royal jewels. There is stuff in there from the 14th century and older, from all over the world. Delicately carved ivory and decorative swords, crucifix’s and trinkets, most of which are encrusted in diamonds and pearls and rubies and anything else sparkly and beautiful.
I don’t remember which queen or princess this particular crown (and the matching set of jewelry) belonged to, but if I could have one piece from there it would have been this one. Rubies are my birthstone, and I love the delicacy of the leaves and diamonds. It drew me in from across the room and for me I couldn’t tear myself away from it. Even the photo keeps drawing me back.
Anyway, I hope you guys keep finding the things that captivate you in life, and that you keep following them.
Happy Tuesday.
Aperture & Eloquence 