For Easter Sunday, let’s use modern tech to compare and contrast. Today is supposed to be the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and the hope human beings can receive spiritual salvation. Physical redemption is the responsibility of the Second Coming.
Easter also celebrates the bunny—a rapidly breeding animal that aligns more with ancient, pagan fertility rights. Candy and sweets are all about enjoyment of the flesh, as is the worship of fertility practices of the gods of Spring. Christian teaching emphasizes the spirit and dominion over the flesh. Materialistic cultures and religions promote physical joy, from simple pleasures to hedonism.
As such, Easter is a quirky contradiction. The day is supposed to celebrate Christ’s resurrection victory and yet it is as much, or more, about Easter eggs, rabbits, and toys. That brings me to the Featured Image and companion—one a fantasy and the other an authentic symbol of the holiday.
I shot the original portrait of our cat Neko using Galaxy S24 Ultra on April 27, 2024. Vitals: f/1.7, ISO 12, 1/315 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 3:36 p.m. PDT. On S26 Ultra, today, I used Galaxy AI to recreate the photo, first asking the AI to add rabbit ears to the cat and then to surround him with Easter eggs. The process was shockingly fast and easy. But the scene is totally fake, like bunnies, candies, or the like are as appropriate symbols of Christ’s resurrection.
The second image is a simple, but authentic representation of the day that I shared with you last Easter. I close-cropped for its re-presentation. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 110, 1/500 sec, 200mm; 12:26 p.m. EDT, April 3, 2025; Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens. I would prefer a crown to the cross, but let’s not nitpick. Happy Easter!