I’d like to say that I was thrilled to be able to travel to New York, charter a boat ride and capture this awesome scene. However, that wasn’t the case—not even close. In fact, I was on the complete opposite end of the country when I photographed the original expression. This expression is of the replica of the Statue of Liberty located at the New York, New York Casino in Las Vegas. Now I did travel to Las Vegas and I did capture this scene! I then took it through my artistic process to arrive at the finished work. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to see the real one in person someday. What I really like is the contrasting clouds that were overhead. I think they add a nice touch to the scene.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. It was erected in 1886 in the bay of New York. Its full name is Liberty Enlightening the World. In French, that’s La Liberté éclairant le monde. From the ground level to the torch is a hair over 305 feet. The outer part of the statue is made of copper. When it was first unveiled, it was brown in color. However, over the years, oxidation has caused the copper to turn green. The seven spikes on the crown are illustrative of the seven continents, namely, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. In addition, they represent the seven seas—North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Arctic, Indian and Southern (Antarctic) oceans. Both of these are meant to convey the spreading of liberty worldwide. The book in her hand has an etching of the date that the Declaration of Independence was signed (July 4, 1776). Lady Liberty served as a lighthouse for 16 years, beginning in November of 1886. Oftentimes, she has lightning coursing through her veins. It is estimated that the statue is struck by lightning about 600 times annually. Thankfully it is grounded to help protect it from any major damage due to lightning storms. In addition to the replica shown above, France has a number of them along with hundreds more around the world.
The Statue of Liberty has been featured in a number of movies. Some notable ones include: “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “Escape from New York” (1981), “Superman IV” (1987), “Independence Day” (1996), “Batman Forever” (2004), and “Cloverfield” (2008). That baby monster did a real number on the statue in that movie. In “Ghostbusters 2” (1995), the statue actually comes alive and walks through the streets of New York. So it seems that Lady Liberty has quite a number of films to her credit.
Well, I could go on, but it’s time to take a pause and enjoy this day to the fullest. As you look to celebrate with your family and friends, please stay safe!
"A work of art should not be hidden from view. Rather it should be showcased so that it may be a catalyst that brings about positive emotion, a feeling of relaxation or simply a feeling of enjoyment!" —Kenneth L. Montgomery
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