Evil Eye Tree

Artist: Anita Donohoe
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Card: US$3.42
Print: from US$17.10

Evil Eye Tree

In Cappadocia, a local vendor covered this old branch with evil eye beads. His shop sits on a hill above a village carved into the volcanic tuff of the region.

The evil eye beads I remember from my time in Turkey had yellow in them, unlike most of the ones we saw during our journey. They became talismans to conquer what ancient civilizations feared, such as nighttime dark, storms, earthquakes and eclipses.

The blue symbolizes the sky, the white is the aura of the moon, the yellow is the sun disc, and the black spot in the middle is that little bit of evil eating away at the sky or nibbling away at the sun.

In Turkey, the belief is that evil eye beads ward off the effects of the “evil eye” and bounce back any curses or ill will. You will see an evil eye bead pinned to the clothing of an infant, hanging from the rear view mirror of a vehicle, decorating the harness of a horse, painted on the back of a big truck/lorry, placed over a doorway…

Evil Eye Tree belongs to the following groups:

Art of the Middle East and Masterpiece: Photography

carpenter777, about 1 year ago

I love this shot. The color in the foreground is an awesome contrast to the background. This is a wonderful way to see this town
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you, carpenter777.
Turkey is full of visual treats and Cappadocia is fascinating.
funkyfacestudio, about 1 year ago

wow this is really interesting, the blue beads looked digitally added at first, i had to double click. fantastic!!!
Madison Ellis, about 1 year ago

HA…now that’s a cool tree!!! Nicely done!
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you, Madison and funkyface!
This is an unadulterated photo. The dwellings carved into the volcanic tuff are really there, and a vendor strung the branch with glass evil eye beads. I may use this as a Christmas card!
Anita
thelightseeker, about 1 year ago

What an extraordinary vision! It really deserved such a good shot :) Great subject and composition!
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you, lightseeker!
When you go to Turkey, make sure Cappadocia is on your list of places to visit. The region is a visual treat and the history is fascinating. You can visit ancient churches, mosques and villages carved into the volcanic tuff.
iammeasiam, about 1 year ago

Fantastic picture. Love to see this for myself one day And you make it sound so intresting aswel.
It’s great thank you.
Jelynn, about 1 year ago

lovely colours. great shot
Brett Foster, about 1 year ago

Great picture Anita, I love the contrast between the bright blue and the earthy dwellings, the way the dull blue in the background is emphasised in the foreground as brightness. Most of all I enjoy the story this tells. Good work!
TANYA WILLIAMS, about 1 year ago

THIS IS FANTASTIC! THANKS 4 UR DESCRIPTION ALSO! ITS GREAT! MY FRIEND BOUGHT ME 1 OF THESE N IT HANGS DOWNSTAIRS! I LOVE IT!
khosie, about 1 year ago

The blue contrast makes the photo lovely!
Joyce Dickens,..., about 1 year ago

I just love cobalt blue, so naturally I was drawn to this….....(for the umteenth time) so just have to say this is so striking – very different, unique, and I love the story behind it. Brava!
Deri Dority, about 1 year ago

Such an awesome shot. The blue contrast is perfect.
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you derid!
It is a magical spot in the center of Anatolia.
MtnMan, about 1 year ago

I would like one of those evil eye beads!
richiedean, about 1 year ago

Love the story Anita, and what an excellent shot, you have taken me there with your words and picture , thank you.
jingjing, about 1 year ago

This is amazing. I can hear the clink of the glass eyes on this tree. Makes me want to go hang stuff on my own trees!
lareejc, about 1 year ago

This is so beautiful! the whole picture is beautiful! I love the looks of the ‘evil eye’ss and I love how their homes look. they look carved out of the mountain too. I could look at this one for a very long time!
NervousNellie, about 1 year ago

This is an awesome picture, and I loved reading the description.
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you, lareejc and NervousNellie!
The homes are indeed carved into the mountain of volcanic ash!
Robert Boretti, about 1 year ago

WOW! This is a fantastic photo Anita. I love the contrast in color :-)
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Thank you, Boretti!

When I was standing on the hillside, I was studying the branch covered in evil eye beads, looking for one with yellow in it. Not finding any, I stepped back and loved the view of the village carved into the volcanic ash through the Evil Eye Tree.

It still amazes my eyes that I’m not looking at a painting but an untouched photograph.
Deon de Waal, about 1 year ago

WOW
What a fascinating shot and the description really fills out the detail.
Lovely shot
Mel Brackstone, about 1 year ago

Fabulous shot, Anita! Another place to add to my long list of places to see!
Trace Lowe, about 1 year ago

Nice shot. The color is great. Your detailed description is awesome.
Murray Newham, about 1 year ago

Wonderful shot. Like most people I picked up one or two of these icons while I was there. I’m not a superstitious person but whenever I happen to glance on it, it always makes me feel…well… nice…
coffeetea, about 1 year ago

this is quite interesting, Anita.
Helen Bascom, about 1 year ago

Cool photograph, Anita. Great description to go with it.
eponavisions, 12 months ago

wow what vision you have. this is a stunner and wonder. we do live close. have a feeling we could learn much of differnt and same. you are great never have i seen a works such as this. thanks again and stay in touch. come visit if ya can i have extra room for friends. you are one janet
pmistric, 12 months ago

Nice composition and thanks for the description.
Anita Donohoe, 12 months ago

Thank you, pmistric.
It is a fascinating area in Turkey, full of fairy chimneys and ancient churches carved into the volcanic ash.
Charlene Aycock, 12 months ago

COOL
Jeff Burns, 11 months ago

very cool shot. This is amazing
snurfdood, 11 months ago

the contrast of the blue symbols against the more muted buildings is stunning. Great shot :o)
kristian94, 11 months ago

love the blue here!
Holly Werner, 11 months ago

Wonderful shot. Love it.
Carlo Cesar Ro..., 11 months ago

Wonderful capture! Congrats and more power!
conilouz, 9 months ago

love this,, great shot
Linda Sannuti, 9 months ago

very interesting story and photo!
Antoine Dagobert, 9 months ago

Interesting and beautiful picture! wishing you all the best in 2008..God bless you!
ezebee, 9 months ago

great unique image
SnapHappy, 8 months ago

wow, how interesting is this!
Eyal Nahmias, 8 months ago

Good image and an excellent explanation regarding the evil eye belief and ways to ward it off.. A wonderful contrast between the blues of the objects and the somewhat muted houses in the background. Thanks for adding this artwork to the Art of the Middle East group.
Anita Donohoe in reply to Eyal Nahmias’s comment, 8 months ago

Thank you, Eyal.
I just discovered the Group today and am honored that the Evil Eye Tree was accepted!
Ilunia Felczer, 8 months ago

what an interesting place….excellent shot…..
dinghysailor1, 8 months ago

A memorable image with such a stunnign composition – wonderful work!!
franzi, 8 months ago

expressive capture! i love the intense colour of the eyes, can’t stop looking at them :)
berndt2, 7 months ago

Very cool shot – the ‘eyes’ really stand out well, yet the background is just as interesting and provides a neat “cultural backdrop”
Hakan KAYA, 7 months ago

Uçhisar castle.I lived six years there.Very beautifull.
Anita Donohoe in reply to Hakan KAYA’s comment, 7 months ago

Thank you for the name of the place.
It is an enchantingly beautiful area of Turkey, Hakan. I have been there twice now and look forward to going back again.
Jonicool, 7 months ago

Wonderful capture and description!
MtnMan, 5 months ago

I still have this card! Thanks so much…
Kenny Gulley Jr., 5 months ago

extremely interesting
Anita Donohoe in reply to Kenny Gulley Jr.’s comment, 5 months ago

Thank you, Kenny.

What about the image drew your interest?
The photo itself, or the description?
Marguerite Foxon, 4 months ago

I love this photo … Ive been in this very spot on several occasions and photographed it too. It brings back great memories.
MtnMan, 3 months ago

I’m working a blue tree of my own in my yard
Mui-Ling Teh, 3 months ago

Love how the tree and the village both consist of a collection of one element, though one is of vibrant flat circular objects, while the other in contrast is neutral rectagular volumes.
gryb, about 1 month ago

Great photo! I love Turkey too!
~Angel Warda~, about 1 month ago

Love this!!! I ahve some of these hanging in my home. Wonderful Shot!!!
Antanas, 24 days ago

Great capture