Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

I didn't expect to find an image made by someone else, other than a photo of myself, that I'd want to use as a LJ user icon. While I enjoy some of the cartoons and other images I see other people use (when they illustrate something about the user in a way that makes immediate sense to me -- identifies them -- rather than making their "face" an anonymous cookie-cutter symbol -- or somebody else's face entirely (and I'm sure I've just annoyed several of my friends with that comment ... hey, I don't intend to impose my tastes on you or tell you your way is 'wrong'; I'm just commenting on what I like and don't like, ok?)), I've got funny, territorial ideas about my own journal and my web site. But it's happened -- I've stumbled across an image I'm tempted to use as one of my alternate icons.

The local PBS station has been showing these filler animations by Animusic, featuring robotic instruments playing themselves. And while failing-to-sleep tonight, I saw this guitar in one of the animations: (larger versions, images of other instruments, and video clips available on the Animusic web site) and thought, "Hey, that'd be a cool image to use when I'm writing about music! I wonder if it'll still be discernable at 100x100 pixels..." Since I was watching television on the Macintosh, I snagged a few frames showing the guitar (and the drum set). While I was at it, I grabbed the credits as well, otherwise I probably would've forgotten by now that they'd put a URL on the screen. (Which could've saved me the trouble of grabbing the frames...)

As to whether any of the images work at 100x100 pixels, it's a little small for the important details, but I think it mostly works. I probably still won't use this as a user icon anyhow though: while including a screen-capture in a post about the animations (if I hadn't found a copy on their web site to link to) would be "fair use", I don't think using a cropped and scaled version as a user-icon passes that test. (Yes, it's a wee tiny snippet, but I think the context matters as well ... time for me to go re-read the rules.) Uh, and my having said that here kind of prevents me from using the "it was an innocent mistake" defense if I get caught.

Still, it's a cool axe. And the image speaks to me. I wonder how badly I'll still want the image in the morning. Maybe I can photograph a few of my guitars and try to Photoshop them together into a new work inspired by this one ... But I do like this image.