illusions within the Joshua Tree CD booklet

forever curious ([email protected])
Fri, 23 Oct 1998 14:21:43 PDT

Don't even ask why it hit me to look through the Joshua Tree CD booklet
now. But I did. And this has probably been brought up here on Wire
before...but seeing that the tree is apparently still standing these
days...

At least this can occupy one's time when seeeriously bored, I suppose.

My eyes play tricks on me. Or do they? Compare the picture of the tree
found on page 1, above the tracklisting, with the tree found in the
center spread on pages 5 and 6. Convenient comparison, as the size of
the tree is quite similar in the layout. Better yet, it doesn't take a
mathematician to see that the angle of the tree is nearly identical on
the two pages. I deduce, then, that because of these 2 similarities,
that the distance from where the photographer Mr. Corbijn shot these
frames was approximately the same.

My problem: I wasn't aware that there was such a camera which could keep
the tree in the foreground somewhat similar in size and angle, while
making the mountains in the background not match accordingly.
As I am not completely stupid, I am taking into consideration a) that
the shot on Pg 1 was taken at a slightly lower angle; and b) allow for
the mtn range in the background to stretch off of Pg 1 and get closer
(and thus bigger). To accomodate for the mtn background, the _angle_ of
the tree would have to be noticeably off by about 40 degrees, but that's
not the case, unless Anton politely asked the tree to twist its trunk
and branches slightly for the shot.

Any chance that the tree on Pg 1 was perhaps airbrushed in as a copy of
the more realistic image on the center-spread?

My parting offer for those who will now spend hours upon hours
pointlessly looking at their booklets: check out the shadows cast in the
photo on Pg 1. Adam shares the same 8 o'clock shadow as the shrubs.
The mysterious Larry casts no shadow - perhaps he just told the sun to
F.O.A.D.. And ofcourse, The Joshua Tree itself casts a shadow as if the
sun was almost directly above it - a fact which is astronomically
impossible.

Just having fun, folks. Now back to the Sweetest Thing 98 commentary
and Modsavage's never-ending freebie contests....

Forever bored

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