The swastika (from Sanskrit svástika) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing (卐) form or its mirrored left-facing (卍) form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent. It occurs today in the modern day culture of India, sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol; it remains widely used in Eastern and Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Despite this usage, the symbol has become stigmatized and to some extent taboo in the Western world because of its iconic usage by Nazi Germany, and it has notably been outlawed in Germany if used as a symbol of Nazism (usage of the sign by religious groups is tolerated). Many modern political extremists and neo-nazi groups such as Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and Russian National Unity use stylised swastikas or similar symbols ......
Thank you so very much Nick . I was trying to test a macro lens (EF 100 mm 2.8 IS Canon) with my Canon 40D camera in my office. Found a sunlight on the swastiga logo on the cup of hot coffee . I then imagined the Holocaust ! Took this shot , uploaded it in another site and named it HoloCoffee ! . It is rejected by manager of that site !! ... About "meander", I've no specific idea. Just watched persian art in mosques and palaces ! ... All the best Aziz
Well, Aziz, not its long history has been stigmatized but what Nazi Germany used it for, and the latter could only be stigmatized. We should really be always careful to separate the symbols from the purposes that they were used for. Even the cross (an even older symbol) has been used for... burning witches too. It may be unbelievable but humans are always willing to misuse any ancient tradition in the blindness of the own "rightness" and "belief", but that's a long story. But generally, if the symbol is used for good things then let it be treated as good. If it is used for such crimes, like you referred to, then stigmatize it. It is the content that it represents, not the symbol itself.
The image itself does have some advantages like for example the suggestion of the shape of the object that you photographed and also the enhancement of a part of the symbol, where it shows strong reflective power. But the disadvantages are too much. Most of it is quite "diffuse" and such things like the dark thingie at the right should be left off image.
BTw, what kind of lens did you use? The idea was surely good but it is quite a pity that either your equipment or your settings were not completely appropriate for such an image.
Cheers!
Nick
P.S.: Did you happen to read anything about a "meander" too? ;-)