noticed: reflections

June 10, 2011

Reflections of Hops Museum Visitors in diagram of Hops field.

Reflections in a mirror, reflections in a pond, reflections in a journal. Ever since you were little, you're taught the multiple meanings of reflections - even if its a reprimand and request to sit there and reflect on all the bad things you've just done. I've always thought reflections, in the mirror-images sense of the word, were a neat concept, and since I've always been a fan of optical illusions, this fit right in. 

Since we've started this photo class and are trying to "pee on our own tree" I've found that reflections are a simple and interesting way to accomplish this. Though relatively overdone in the standard photo I rearview mirror self portrait, occasionally there can be something slightly more interesting about a reflection of some hops-planting tools, than the hops-planting tools themselves - though, I'll admit, not much. The Zatec Hop Museum in Zatec, Czech Republic, while having potential, was probably as interesting as spoon is sharp. They really put forth 110% to up the interest of something that's actually quite cool, but personifying a hop bud as a childish cartoon character just didn't cut it for the 18 - 25 year old market. 

Beer being such an integral part of Czech culture and economy, it's bizarre to me that this museum wasn't more intriguing. It did have some cool hands-on activities that gave it some umph. I felt bad for the little town of Zatec who's entire livelihood depends on the hops, lucky for them the Pilsner Urquell brewery strictly uses their hops -- even though our brewery tour guide claimed Germany's hops were better. Regardless, a majority of Czech beer -- and other beer for that matter -- starts with Czech hops from Zatec. That's saying quite a lot for a little microscopic dot on the map with a relatively childish and pointless museum explaining it's main economic foundation. 

Anyways, back to the reflections, I took this picture because it was more interesting to photograph than anything else in the museum. I also liked that it kind of gave a sense of place, without actually giving a sense of place. And well, since we're always taking pictures -- it seemed appropriate.