Secret Place

Artist: Deborah Parkin
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Secret Place

This is a collaboration between myself and Flyboy for WitheringMoon’s competition on Secret Places

I just wanted say thank you to FlyBoy for such inspirational piece of writing – he really has got into the mind of a child and added a whole new dimension to this image.

Secret Place

My head was a castle
with more than a thousand rooms.
One for cat,
one for goldfish
one for teddy bear.
I dreamt of wings and talked with fairies,
and filled my chambers with the incense
of defenceless innocence.
But, like vipers,
hiding in a fresh green field,
there were the others too.
Frosted shadows,
growling, grinning,
firing burning arrows of contempt,
for which no bear could be my shield.
When I got hurt
I went downstairs,
where, in the cellar,
light was never seen.
There, in a dungeon,
was my secret place, where
I locked away the weight of a burden
my little feet just could not bear.
Since then I saw the sun rise
fourteen thousand times, or more.
I bought new lamps,
I found new friends,
and, in the evening,
lit a fire.
But, when the wind starts howling,
and the moon projects a shadow play
of fingers piercing through the wall,
I notice something deep beneath.
Like stumbling feet,
a desperate voice
crying loud to be released?
My hands are tied,
I must endure.
Oh, long ago,
on a dark day,
when things got worse than ever,
I stashed my burden,
locked the door,
and, driven by my burning fear,
I threw away the key,
forever.

Mike Emmett, 11 months ago

Woah! What a great image! It works with or without the writing, and together they tell a great story!!!
gordontant, 11 months ago

Very Erie looking Deb, I like it a lot
Naomi Frost, 11 months ago

WOW ....Absolutely stunning Deborah. I said all of that out loud to my computer too.
Wonderful story aswell Flyboy.
Fantastic work you guys – you’ll be hard to beat.
Trish Cooper, 11 months ago

Deb: what an amazing image…so haunting…it just draws you in…i love it in black and white!!!
what a collaboration… the picture and words go hand in hand…..I simply love it. Trish
Douzy, 11 months ago

Great job Deborah, one of my favourite of yours so far. This one should win!!
Karen Cougan, 11 months ago

ooo what a little trip he is on….......wonderful Deb
xkc
SpaceCadet34, 11 months ago

Excellent…image and words!!
Angela Stewart, 11 months ago

Wow, congrats to both of you on this sensational work!!!
Deri Dority, 11 months ago

Awesome image!!!!!
Antanas, 11 months ago

Great work again…
cdwork, 11 months ago

Impressive work all round
Simon Gladwin, 11 months ago

Lovely shot again Deb. You always seem to get a great nitty gritty image. I always love the treatment you give your pics. You will have to give me a lesson!
DawsonImages, 11 months ago

moody and ominous, a nice Halloween card image
Martin Mullen, 11 months ago

Great image Deborah.
Conveys the theme and feeling so well
Halcyon007, 11 months ago

Congrats to you both, both a haunting image and excellent words.

Good luck in the comp
Andrew Bosman, 11 months ago

Exceptional work you two!
poppykitten, 11 months ago

An excellent piece of work between you and Flyboy. Great contrast and texture.
lightsmith, 11 months ago

tremendous use of stark bw. Creates such an eeirie feel too. The words are terrific too – flyboy. A great and successful collaberation.
shanghaiwu, 11 months ago

this is a brilliant team effort
shawhouse, 11 months ago

I love it! wonderful treatment. the doors _feel_rough-hewn and heavy. great angle – emphasizes the massive entrance. very dramatic and spooky image. fine collaboration.
Martin Derksema, 11 months ago

Your picture is so good, Deborah. I was playing with the theme in my head and then you send this and – bang! – magic started. I think shawhouse made a great and to-the-point analisys of your image, which I totally agree with. Abe looks so vulnarable but also like a hero doing what he has to do, facing this darkness in front of him. The door is massive and the angle is perfect. The black and white magic makes the picture to an exciting mind trip. Thanks for the joy of doing this together.
Brian Beckett, 11 months ago

The steps leading up into the darkness, the big heavy wooden door left ajar with its stone pillars either side all looks a little foreboding as the subject walks gingerly up to the steps. A very emotive image Deborah, beautifully worked. Well done
Catalin Soare, 11 months ago

Exquisite!
Deborah Parkin, 11 months ago

thank you all for such wonderful comments – really appreciate them all:)
velveteagle, 11 months ago

This works very well Deborah…
Deborah Bowness, 11 months ago

Wow, this will behard to beat for sure!! The image conveys the message on it’s own, but when teamed with the writing, it really is something special, well done Deborah and Flyboy!
Rhana Griffin, 11 months ago

Smashing work! This is so good, I think I may even cry a little.
Mugsy, 11 months ago

Nice one Deb!
Paul Tupman, 11 months ago

Wow! What a collaboration! Both pieces are stand alone on their own merits, but go together so well.. the image portraying the defencless innocence of the child and secret place within the dungeon perfectly. Both darkness of the image and burdens in the writing go hand in hand seamlessly.. well done both!
Mel Brackstone, 11 months ago

What a fabulous image, Deborah!! Good luck with the comp!
Helene Kippert, 11 months ago

Awesome shot Deb and Martin’s writing complements it perfectly!
StacyLee, 11 months ago

Beautiful work Deb! This is great!! Love the lighting :)
Arthur Chambers, 11 months ago

This really set’s the seen for a secret place-well done.
Graham Dean, 11 months ago

Another great picture Deb, the glare is as eerie as the dark. The perspective is fantastic.
Bruce Halliburton, 11 months ago

Well done, Deb and Flyboy – Superb!
dairygirl, 11 months ago

this is superb, love it
Lisadee, 11 months ago

Scary image Deb and the writing too, loved the last two lines.
Sean Farragher, 11 months ago

awesome work both of you
micmac, 11 months ago

Cool .deep atmosphere..love it.
SylviaHardy, 11 months ago

Brilliant image Deborah and exellent work. Congratulations too! You’ve made the home page, well done to both you and flyboy!
Dan Cahill, 11 months ago

Wonderful work Deborah and Flyboy. Love the light. Congrats on it being featured on the front page.
Basia McAuley, 11 months ago

Love the comp, treatment & how awesome and ageless the door is compared to the boys youth. Brilliant.
Julie Langford, 11 months ago

Lovely shot Daborah – great mono work as usual, and such a mystical atmosphere to this. Lovely words to go with it too. a real gem.
mawaho, 11 months ago

Lots of emotion here. A wonderful picture accompanied by stirring words. Well done to you both!
sword, 11 months ago

You take some wonderful shots,this is another one that i like very much
Kevin Kroeker, 11 months ago

WOW!!! This is extraordinary!! You have really envoked the imagination with this one!!! Beautiful capture…. I am speechless!!!!
Jing3011, 11 months ago

Love the picture and the writing. What a wonderful combo!
marieancolie, 11 months ago

One of your very very best. And what a collaboration ! A winner for sure.
My best compliments
Kimberly Adams, 11 months ago

Very nice Deborah.
lanalang, 11 months ago

Beautiful capture and b/w!
Antoine Dagobert, 11 months ago

wow looks like i missed the fireworks on this!ABSOLUTELY TOP OF THE LINE Collaboration work!
Congrats to both of you!
Jef Harris, 11 months ago

This is just wonderful. And the feeling of storytelling is so powerful.
Manda02, 11 months ago

awesome, makes me want to enter the darkness to see whats in there. The written piece . once started just had to keep going
Jeff Burns, 11 months ago

incredible work from you two. Awesome job!
Deborah Parkin, 11 months ago

thanks everyone for your lovely comments – you are great source of encouragement :)
Torfinn Johann..., 11 months ago

Wonderful as usual Deb. Your b/w are fantastic.
Nicholas Averre, 11 months ago

Wow.. this is really amazing work from the pair of you. I’m rather speachless!! perfect collaboration.
studiofascino, 11 months ago

nice composition, well done again!
ferndesign, 11 months ago

ooo this is awesome i love it
Michael Oubridge, 11 months ago

Beautiful Debs, :)
Emma Anderson, 11 months ago

Brilliant work both!
Wanda Edwards, 11 months ago

WOW! This really draws the viewer in! I love it!
MaryO, 11 months ago

A perfect match in image and words.
Congrats for decorating the homepage, a well deserved place.
missalyshachri..., 11 months ago

incredible:)
its fantastic!
Salvatore Testa, 11 months ago

Excellent image!

I hate to say I haven’t read the story yet. I prefer to make up my own idea of what is going on in the picture for now. I love it though, an old door, a few stairs… the curiosity of a young mind. I’ve bookmarked this, so I’ll be sure to come back and read your story soon.
memory, 11 months ago

Fascinating image, intriguing writing.
Claire McAdams, 11 months ago

Awesome black and white, this has a lot of wow factor due to how high key it is. GREAT textures too
wellman, 11 months ago

love the high contrast chromed effect – magnificent stuff
Kitsmumma, 11 months ago

Abe looks like he’s been there before, marching in so confidently. This is a wonderful shot Deb, could look at it for ages.
Louise Cooke, 11 months ago

Awesome Deb and Flyboy…love the combination of words and image…could see you two doing a book together. Your perspective of this is perfect..it enhances the enormity of the doorway and the feeling of mystery – beautiful!
rock, 11 months ago

An outstanding meticulous shot. 10/10 to you and flyboy
cheers
R
Eyal Nahmias, 11 months ago

I think you executed it brilliantlyy. The text and image are perfect together. Just the image itself makes people connect with their own experiences.
Martie Venter, 11 months ago

Wow – this is so rich in symbolism and significance, such a hauntingly beautiful image – amazing writing, too!
WitheringMoon, 11 months ago

Incredible Deb!
Lucindawind, 11 months ago

excellent !
Tony Moore, 11 months ago

I’ve been busy lately and missed this, similar concept to one of your earlier shots, but certainly worth revisiting, it’s worked a treat, love the tones and the sense of adventure.
FAVED
Christophe Testi, 11 months ago

WOW! Stunning B&W shot
andrewmay, 11 months ago

lovely starkest in this 1
RichardV, 11 months ago

This image makes me want to be a kid again. The old wooden door, the stone steps, and the dark hallway. What an adventure to be had. My imagination is running riot. Great shot.
Matt Hurrell, 10 months ago

I love the style of your images Deborah and in particular this one. It has that sense of expectation that you have as a child, where Lions, Witches and Wardrobes still might exist! Great work!
Birgitta, 10 months ago

Oh wow.
You really know how to suck the viewer right in with your tones, Deb!!
The darkness looming ahead is the main focal point. That, and the top
of the archway. I want to say: “No! Don’t go in there!” heh..
Your work is moving & strong..and always thought provoking!
I really like it. (big fan!)
Michael Lane, 10 months ago

Amazing texture and contrast
Nicolas Hall, 6 months ago

Beautiful capture of the wonder and innocence of the child and the place we are all reaching back for in our lives. . .never lost. . . just put to sleep for awhile sometimes. Your work brings that alive again. . . lovely shot.