a close up of a piece of food on a white surface

This shingle was left on a sidewalk by my house. I was intrigued by its texture and its subtly shifting tones. It struck me, quite unexpectedly, as an extraordinarily complex object, as a self-contained world with its own unique set of responses to heat and light. It seemed almost jewel-like, but, of course, it was designed for immensely practical purposes. I photographed it against a white background and decided to crop it in a way that might inspire imagination and curiosity.