Framing photos to lie or to tell the truth…
The foreground means nothing.
The foreground means everything.
Nothing and everything can’t be the same, can they?
There are grains everywhere; but which one holds the truth? I need a grain of truth.
Not so long ago, I participated in a survey by an American specialist in landscape visualization. The survey focussed on the inclusion of visual utility infrastructure as it is built through the landscape.
At the close of the survey a question was asked for each to identify the ideal image of landscape visualization. Well, it would have been easy to say–landscape without any infrastructure visual intrusion would have been my preference.
Could not do that. But I did add that since humans had been living with and using the landscape as long as written history, the ideal landscape image should include successful use, accomodation and management of the landscape.
Just recently, I found a photogenic example that expressed my ideal. The images follow below.
This foreground field, occurring at the confluence of three mountain valleys and two mountain lakes, was for decades a central air field for national self-defence. When that defence was transferred from props to jets, the airfield became community pasture and recreation for 25,000 local people. The red circle, enlarged in the image below, shows how well major electrical infrastructure has been brought through the adjacent forest.
This is an enlargement of the red circle shown in the above image. I should note that this landscape, incredibly photogenic, is regularly photographed by me in all seasons. And despite the well camouflaged electrical power line infrastructure, I always try to frame my photos without any visible infrastructure. We put up with that infrastructure to ameliorate climate, daylight and communications. That is our way of life.
Promises made?
What do these grains promise?
Showers–gentle showers.
And, they do bring…
May flowers
Outdoor invitations
Wonderful all sorts greens
Dynamic life infusing clouds
Non-stop action–patience pays back drama
And there is always a promise of joy.
It is all free.
Doesn’t cost anything–we just have to go outside to find it.
…when I’ve got this outside!
Spring sunshine!
Spring oxygen!
Spring growth!
Spring green!
Spring birdsong!
Spring fresh air!
Spring joy!
Spring flowers!
Can you find any of the above in the following images?
Or better yet…go out and find them yourself.
There is no Arabia Felix without the Rub al Khali.
Rub al Khali–the Empty Quarter…a massive natural and cultural enigma…
I can not escape its sand. I can not escape.
After the death of winter comes a rebirth of life, of beauty, of joy.
What is this? …overflowing with the bounty of beauty…
Stroked out. Just about three years ago that I was no better than a ‘side of beef’ on a gurney in the back of an ambulance. Four weeks later I was in a wheelchair on the way to a neuro-rehabilitation clinic in the Berner Oberland.
When I arrived, my wife wheeled me to the end of the hallway for a look out through the window. This is what I saw.
Magic in the landscape
What I thought? Only to be able to walk this path. Well it happened. First time sitting up. First time getting out of bed by myself. First time standing. First time with rollator. First time standing without rollator. First step on stairs. First time up one flight of stairs. First time down one flight of stairs. I don’t understand how. Great physiotherapists. Great ergotherapists. A miracle. Faith.
I walk every day now in the Berner Oberland–no rollator–no sticks. Unbelievable.
And that image, that path–magic in the landscape. Thankful.
Hope, I hoped I could take that walk. Hope can be grasped. Step by step. Every morning.
Slack jaw…? Silly statistics.
I’m an American.
In 1982, I acquired an International Drivers License as I prepared to go, via Europe, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the sequential license numbering, I was one of 511,000 International Drivers License holders.
In 2006, 24 years later, I acquired another International Drivers License, as I prepared to go, via Europe, to the United Arab Emirates. According to that same sequential license numbering, this time I was one of 71,000,000 International Drivers License holders.
My conclusion. Airline ticket prices have not grown as fast as inflation. You can ask yourself why. Myself, I had more fun with my primrose and crazy paving post.
Where to find it?
Today I was lucky.
I discovered hope in a simple home made courtyard.
When looking for hope…it can always be found…don’t give up…expand your search…change the scale of observation…works for me. Primula vulgaris and flagstone paving.
