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.
After the death of winter comes a rebirth of life, of beauty, of joy.
What is this? …overflowing with the bounty of beauty…
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.
All of us are experiencing quarantine in one form or another.
But the edge of town? What is that? Traditionally the edge of town was the place where fertile flat lands were cultivated for agriculture that was more valuable than town housing. And necessary.
So, yesterday I took a walk–quarantine all around. Walked by myself. As I walked across town, I saw an open bakery, an open grocery store and an open drug store. Everything else was closed.
The town had plenty signs of spring–the forsythias always shout with joy.
At the edge of town, I saw the agricultural landscape, the spring green of willow trees and the hopeful construction of a tree house.
Then I saw the farmhouse–so many activities related to food. Farms are amazing producers and guardians.
At one entry to the farmhouse, I was reminded of the simplest of their products–available almost any day of the year. Direct from the farm: eggs, jams, Alp cheese, goat cheese.
Quarantined? Take a walk. Check out the edge of town.
Yeah, I know it’s dangerous to call ‘Spring’ in mid-March, in the Northern Hemisphere in the mountains.
But these harbingers were shouting at me.
The problem is…I have misplaced Winter.
