"Blue Shark"

"Blue Shark"

2021

Blue Shark (Prionace glauca)

I'm really fond of these type of sharks. They have a perpetually surprised/scared kind of face that I think looks cute. 

"Grauer's Gorilla"

2021

Grauer's Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)

"The Mexican Nazgûl"

2021

Self-portrait as a Nazgûl.

This was surprisingly difficult to make. It was a struggle to draw the face haggard and wraith-like and still make it recognizable as me. I am very happy with the result though.

"The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"

2021

...suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Behold! Unarguably the most iconic scene in the whole of the Lord of the Rings: Gandalf the Grey's battle against the Balrog of Morgoth upon the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

This scene embodies everything that makes the fantasy genre great. It's a classic, mythical clash of good and evil, a confrontation between magical equals (more or less) of opposing sides. Yet Gandalf, alone on the bridge, appears to be small and weak against the monstrous power of the Balrog. At the same time it's this contrast that makes Gandalf's stand all the more courageous, and it's through his bravery that his inner power is revealed and matches that of his seemingly greater enemy.

Long before Game of Thrones this scene also provides with a devastating plot twist, when Gandalf, after having cast down the Balrog, gets dragged into the abyss with it. At the time I first watched it as a kid, I don't think I've ever felt as shocked by any film I had watched since. Already kind of bummed that my favorite villains (the Nazgûl) had been seemingly destroyed, I was completely out of words to watch my favorite hero perish too. I remember having doubts at this point on wether I liked a film that killed off all of my favorite people, but I was undeniably very involved in the story indeed.

It's easy to overlook the significance of Gandalf's sacrifice because of his later return. But at this time he was not only laying down his life for the Company, he was also sacrificing any hope of personal success in his mission on Middle-earth. With his demise the Order of the Istari would have effectively failed. His last stand at the bridge was a very courageous act of self-sacrifice and of faith in his comrades to carry on the struggle after his passing... and given his divine nature and his commitment to the cause entrusted to him, that sacrifice and that faith would be rewarded.

"Gandalf's Wisdom"

2021

"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Next in my countdown of Fellowship of the Ring favorite scenes is perhaps one of the most iconic, important dialogues of the series. And though the "all we have to decide..." line is very poignant and has been shared and reshared countless times, I actually think Gandalf's comments on pity, mercy, and fate, though perhaps not as widely shared, carry more weight as to what pertains to some of LotR's core themes and values.

It's a scene that establishes kindness and empathy as powerful forces in their own right, and mercy as a life affirming action able to turn tides and rule the fate of the world. Bilbo, and later Frodo, took pity on Gollum, and by granting him life instead of death they allowed his role in the grander story to play out. Mercy, in its connection to life, offers pathways, choices, possibilities. Apathy, cruelty and death offer none.

I think it's also sweet how Gandalf, after Frodo laments the Ring coming to him, reminds him how of all people, the One Ring found its way to him. If fate would have it that the most powerful and treasured weapon of the Dark Lord fell into the keeping of a pure-hearted, brave little hobbit, then they should feel encouraged that something good might come out of this Quest after all.

One of the (many) strokes of genius in these films that were an improvement on the source material was to have this dialogue moved to the Mines of Moria. It makes more sense for Frodo to lament his situation at this stage, after already having gone through a lot, than at the very beginning of his journey. And its a nicer, more impactful setting for Gandalf to offer words of wisdom, encouragement and hope in a quiet moment amidst one of the darkest and scariest places in Middle-earth, shortly before the grief and devastation of the Fellowship losing him.

"Conchero"

2021

Concheros are Mexican traditional dancers with heavy Mesoamerican influence. They are sometimes refered to "Aztec dancers", though the dance is not strictly speaking Aztec or indigenous. It's not uncommon to find them in public squares and parks anywhere in Mexico.