Untitled (photograph of Gittings photo: "Atalanta Reflects") c. 1970

Paul Gittings created this photograph of the Gittings photo "Atalanta Reflects." Here, we see the classical myth of Atalanta captured through the lens of modern photography. Note the apple, a symbol laden with significance. In the ancient tale, Atalanta, a swift-footed huntress, is distracted by golden apples during a race, causing her to lose. The apple, as a recurring motif, carries echoes from the Garden of Eden to the Judgment of Paris, each time symbolizing temptation, choice, and consequence. This image conjures the complex interplay between desire, destiny, and human will. In the Renaissance, Botticelli would use similar motifs to create a sense of movement and dynamism. The subconscious undercurrents—the allure of distraction versus the pursuit of goals—engage us on a visceral level. Consider how the apple evolves, a symbol not merely of downfall but of potential and the complexities of human nature. The symbol's cyclical progression reminds us that the past continually reshapes our present understanding.