Editor's Reasons for EOTE August 2011

Why I selected the items appearing in EOTE August 2011

I wanted to create a colourful and energising issue to counteract the dismal Summer we've had here in England and to lift people's spirits in these financially austere times. 

The Colours of the Rainbow by Claudia Messelodi
This sequence of haiku fitted the bill perfectly; each colour is linked to a positive emotion, taking the reader through the spectrum of the rainbow. I like the way Claudia brings a spiritual element to a natural phenomenon and portrays an unusual view of God. 

Excerpt from The Butterfly Tree by Freya Pickard
Another "must-have" to breathe life and colour into our dismal world. I liked the crowded colours and scents and the beautiful descriptions of what the butterflies were doing; an oasis of vibrancy. 

Photograph by Mick Turner
An absolutely perfect companion to Freya's excerpt. The colourful butterfly on the bright mauve spray of buddleia takes one straight into the story. 

Photograph by Anne Baksteen
Again a "must-have" companion to The Butterfly Tree. The pink rose is so rich and dense with colour that I could almost smell it...

Featuring Jonathon B. Hoyt Creative Photographer
I looked through a lot of Jon's photographs and it was really difficult to choose which ones to feature in this issue. His pictures are works of art and each has merit of its own. In the end I went with the photographs that leapt out at me, clamouring with colour and energy. 
1. The open sky of this beach scene grabbed my attention immediately. The openess and warmth of the view took my breath away. 
2. The stained glass window is striking in its simplicity and works well with Claudia's poem on page 1. 
3. The dragonfly made me think of jewels lit by sunlight. The blues and yellow-greens work really well together, making another stained window effect. 
4. I liked the soft beauty of the clematis and the depth of field gives the picture a 3-D quality. 
5. I thought this photo was a studio shot - rose illuminated against a black background. But apparently this picture was taken outside in a garden. Again there is a 3-D quality about it where the rose seems to be coming out of the picture towards the viewer. 
6. The exotic butterfly is hypnotic and I couldn't stop looking at it. I think it might be a kind of peacock butterfly as it has "eyes" in its wings. The depth of field is perfect, providing a mottled background that compliments the insect's colouring. 

The Dandelion by Heather Connelly
I liked dandelions and I like dandelions growing in my lawn. I think they are happy flowers and bring a bit of sunshine down here on earth. That is the main reason why I included this poem! Of course it also compliments the feature on Heather on page 5. I liked the tone of the poem, slightly tongue in cheek but also plaintive. Like the author, I cannot understand why dandelions are so persecuted... But dandelion tea is good to drink!