My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
““The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
Albert Einstein
Made a short walk at Riverbend Ponds just to find some images to bring home. These ponds are a popular place for fishing, primarily for bass. Needless to say not many anglers out there today.
“The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people. But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to know the invisible companionship of God. Such a one is alone with God in all places, and he alone truly enjoys the companionship of other men, because he loves them in God in Whom their presence is not tiresome, and because of Whom his own love for them can never know satiety.”
We had a dusting of snow yesterday evening and temperature is at 17 degrees this morning. Good morning for coffee. They had freshly made chocolate eclairs in the display but I kept my wallet in my pocket and calories off my waist. I’m calling that progress.
“One way God connects us to nature is through giving us the capacity to appreciate and be fascinated by its beauty. We find nature marked by such patterns as simplicity, harmony, balance, and a mysterious quality of vibrancy.” Tilden Edwards
I stopped in awe and took in the wonder of this tranquil scene yesterday morning after Friday’s snowfall. It was the shadows and the undisturbed snow that called to me. I like to think of it as an inaudible voice heard deep within me. I was a bit surprised to find this large of an area of undisturbed snow with no tracks and painted with soft long early morning shadows. As you may well know I am drawn to these scenes. I find a beauty and serenity that touches somewhere within me, especially when I find it in a busy city, or in this case a college campus. I’m not sure I set out searching for them as much as it seems they are presented, or gifted to me. However, I must be aware of the world around me, listening to the voice within and have my camera with me.
“Don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.”
Rumi
Maybe 2 inches of snow fell yesterday. I made a drive north of town on Larimer County Road 19 and stopped at the North Shields Natural Ponds where I took this image of the Poudre River. I continued north and one more of the trees. It is snowing in the mountains and the reason you cannot see them in either image. It was clear blue skies a couple miles north of this image. As I returned to town so did the cloudy skies and snow. One reason I headed north was to find the quiet. And I did.
… but the good news is we’re suppose to reach a high of 23 degrees to day. After seeing this on my phone app, I bundled up and headed for the bus. There was no desire to scrape ice and snow off the windshield of my car and deal with traffic or parking. This storm brought us 4 inches of snow, making everything have that beautiful winter scene. But, dang the cold! Anyway….
Fellow photographer, Mark Graf, posted a very interesting and well written post that has been preoccupying my mind lately. He addresses the effects humans are making on nature and in my opinion does a great job. He has definitely done his homework. I suggest you check it out and even reread it. After all he has spent some time writing it, and re-writing it.
As for myself and as a photographer, I have posted images where I needed to drive out of town with intentions of getting my head straightened out, distance myself from the noise of the city in order to listen to the wind and meadowlarks song. In doing this I burn fossil fuel and make my own impact on the environment. When I get home and snack on a few cashews, one of my weaknesses, I am also making an impact on the environment. When I sit in a favorite coffee shop drinking my mocha latte, I am also making an impact. Mark says it well in his final paragraph, stating “We are going to leave footprints no matter what we do.”
I have personally been altering my lifestyle and its impact to the environment for several years. I also know that some of our society is making changes to decrease our impact. But, the real question is what impact do I make and how do I change that? Maybe it’s about writing my own ethics statement as a photographer and a resident on this plant.
I am fully aware I do not get out for many nature and landscape images as I have in years past. Maybe, just a season in my life? I can’t point to one specific reason but here are few excuses I’ve used; sloth, age, lack of desire, need a better camera or lens, I’m not good enough, too far to drive or a few other excuses I can conjure up in my mind. Now that I’ve written that it’s obvious I need to have a talk with myself because none of those excuses are true. Gratefully, I’m not beating on myself about this and still taking images focused more on street and documentary.