August 14, 2017 • 29

WPC: It’s Elemental, Dear Watson

“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar,” every “supreme leader,” every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.~ Carl Sagan

For this week’s “elemental” challenge, I am revisiting places that feature the grandeur and majesty of our planet, fashioned out of the primary elements–earth, air, wind, fire and water.

Niagara Falls

It was a frigid day in November when we visited the falls.   I had just finished a 6-week course of medical treatment in Boston and we were heading home.  I was at the threshold–looking ahead at the future, free of illness.  At this moment, the power and majesty of nature was uplifting, inspiring, humbling.

This first shot is ironically the last shot I took of the falls.  After an hour of trying to capture the scope of the thundering, rushing water, I grabbed my cell phone and took this final shot.

Facing America at Niagara Falls. Shot with an iPhone.

Here’s a close-up of the same scene–shot with my Canon 70D. I’ve applied the Topaz “oil painting” filter, which gives the water the effect I was looking for.  Which one do you like better?

Facing America. Close Up. Shot with a Canon 40D.

 
Sedona, Arizona
The fiery red canyons in this part of the world are stunning. This shot was taken moments after a rare rainstorm in the desert, the light poking through the retreating clouds.

Stormy Sunset, Sedona, Arizona. Shot with a Canon 40D.

Hollywood, Florida
Even as Hurricane Joaquin was retreating from the Florida coast, bathers were returning to the beach.  In the sky, you can still see the power of this elemental force of wind and rain.

After Hurricane Joaquin. Hollywood, Florida. Shot with a Canon 40D.

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Lest we forget….the simple majesty of our earth can be overlooked or taken for granted.  Minutes away from our home in Grand Rapids, we found this lovely trail.  I captured my husband hiking through a copse of trees, the shafts of sunlight creating a lovely pattern on the trees and on the ground.  This shot also appears in Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness.

A Walk Through the Woods. Shot with a Fuji X-T2.

Although I am a “city girl,” I am no doubt connected to this earth and draw inspiration and strength from it.   My wish for you is that you have time this week to return to a favorite spot that renews and refreshes your spirit!

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Categories: Photography

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29 replies »

    • Thanks so much, Sally. I think you and I both enjoy and need these uplifting moments! You can see in the comment below by Ricki (aka my husband), he enjoyed the shot of himself in the woods too. 🙂

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  8. I love the majesty of Sedona’s red rocks. You did a lovely job of capturing the magic and mystery.

    I try to connect with nature whenever possible. It can be difficult in the city — you really have to seek it out. Even a small park has pockets of calm.

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    • Thanks, Jackie! Definitely. I love Central Park for that reason, as well as Vondelpark (Amsterdam), Boston Commons, Forsyth Park (Savannah)….and the list goes on!

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  9. I love this post. What a calming sense of perspective the quote gives. And your photos are amazing, not only technically, but the light and atmosphere really captured my imagination. Also lovely to read your descriptions.

    I have two favorite places in the world, both of them parks in the middle of cities, oases. One of them I live near now and am really hoping I can stay close to it when I move again!

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    • Thanks so much, Bron! Your comment gave me great pleasure. 🙂 Like you, I have found wonderful parks in the middle of cities–Central Park (NYC), Vondelpark (Amsterdam, Boston Commons…they are literally a breath of fresh air in crowded urban environments. The contrast of “rural” and “urban” is so calming and inspiring.

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  10. Great photos – especially love the beach photo it captures the elements perfectly. I like the iPhone photo of Niagra Falls – you can see more of the falls and the spray is subtler. Have a great week and enjoy the trail.

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