Mischievous

Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Location: A Garden

As I am sure you will notice, if you browse through my "Odds 'N Ends" Portfolio, that there are several images of gargoyles. I have specifically made photos of gargoyles that seem to convey certain emotions and have used that emotion as the title of each picture. The photographs were taken in color, converted to black and white, and have then had a heavy sepia tone applied, as I feel that this type of toning really brings out the emotion in the photographs. I am hoping to find enough of these expressive gargoyles to one day make them into their own project portfolio.

Perhaps a very brief background of what a gargoyle is would be in order, for what we frquently call 'gargoyles' really are not. Architectually, a true gargoyle must function as a waterspout to allow rainwater to flow off the roof of a building without running down the outer wall. The use of such a waterspout was of importance, because if rainwater were to run down the sides of a masonry building it would slowly erode away the mortar between the bricks. 'Gargoyles', like the ones in this portfolio, that do not serve as rainspouts and function only as decorative statues are more properly called 'grotesques'.

The term 'gargoyle' originated from the French word 'gargouille', which means throat, and is related to the fact that the gargoyle was to swallow rainwater. A French legend which began in the year 631 promoted the idea that gargoyles can scare off and protect one's home from evil spirits.