Yesterday evening, I made this shot of a couple of rocks in front of the cottage. I thought they looked rather serene and a bit inscrutable sitting there in the shallows amidst the dimming twilight. I particularly liked the mix of colors on the water—the salmon-pink of the setting sun (the photo is taken looking straight west) and the turquoise of the fading sky overhead. The river's ripples mix the two colors wonderfully.
I think the image captures the moment's mood of tranquil mystery rather well.
The bottom photo, taken last week, is of one of the same rocks (the stone on the left in the image above, shot from a slightly different angle) in the strong overhead light of midday. Which was exactly what the basking turtles were after—though was way too harsh and terribly angled for making a good photo. Not that the turtles cared about their portraits; what they did care about was warming their cold reptilian blood. For the time is coming—and isn't all that far ahead—when they'll be digging themselves into the soft mud nearby to wait out another long Ohio winter.
So you see…whether as a focal element of beauty, or a merely utilitarian place of repose, even rocks have their roles.
14 comments:
These are wonderful photos, Grizz, especially the header photo. I love the way that the late evening light simplifies things and reduces everything to its essence. It always reminds me of what I need to be doing in my own life. On the other hand, the turtle in the footer photo also has a pretty good lesson for me: Just sit on something solid and bask in the light. Two photos, two inspirations. Thanks and have a lovely weekend.
George…
Sometimes I think all we ever need to know can be learned from nature. That's probably not quite true…but almost, and the lessons are enduring and necessary to what we, the human race, so sorely need.
I'm just about to head out for a bit of photography-interrupted-by-errands, which is often how I kill two birds with one stone.
You do the same re. the weekend.
Everything in nature has it role, its lesson and its beauty. How lucky are we to have dropped by for a lifetime?
Love coming here to see what your have captured with your camera, when I am stuck at my desk.
No wonder artists rave about the quality of the light Jim - you would not even think those two photos were taken in the same country let alone in the same stream. You lucky thing to have basking turtles on your doorstep. I do agree about the amazing colours in that first shot.
Grizz,
I drove by the Philadelphia Zoo this afternoon. The zoo is hemmed in on all sides by residential areas, bridges, and highways located in a gritty part of the city. To brighten things up, many of the bridge abutments and overpasses are adorned with murals featuring animals. On today's pass, because I was stuck in traffic, I had a chance to enjoy a mural that featured a hippo surfacing in a pool. Just its snout and the top of its head were showing (like two rocks in a creek), and the mural artist had added multicolored ripple rings around the surfacing hippo (like dusky light surrounding two rocks). Your beautiful image just brought the mural into sharp focus again for me.
Bonnie…
Why we then have a perfect symbiotic relationship…I love to escape from my desk and go see what I can capture with my camera.
Every day is a blessing. Life is a gift. And no matter our circumstances or location, beauty abounds a heart-glance away.
Weaver…
Photography is literally the capturing of light—and good light is magical. It the same thing for a painter—the direction, intensity, and quality of the light is so very important, and just finding it is enough to get the creative juices flowing. All good photographers and painters have been masters of light. Artistic talent and magnificent light combine to produce the stuff that hangs in museums and galleries.
Scott…
We're a full-service stop on the blog trail…offering opinions on dang near everything, humble if not helpful advice, and the occasional assist in conjuring up hippo visions via the clever juxtaposition of two bread-loaf sized river rocks and a bit of twilight.
Glad to be of assistance! (Of course you know…I'll never be able to look at my river stones again and not see a pair of surfacing hippos. Might as well go out and paste on a pair of little rounded ears.)
Hi Griz
Nature plays so wonderfully with light, especially at this time of year. I am no photographer so I feel so grateful that I can visit sites like yours and George's.
The discussions build wonderfully on the original posts to be so inspirational as I start to venture out again as the back improves.
I had the first cataract op on the left eye and the other is booked for two weeks time so one eye feels youthful and active while the other is slow, lazy and old.
Rocks, trees, hedge rows, rivers, meadows, beaches, mountains... Wherever we are, we are presented with such inspirational variations of light, shape and texture.
Have a great weekend.
...Tramp
Tramp…
I've been wondering about you…in fact to point that I started to write you a note on your blog yesterday and ask if every was okay. Then I thought about the back, and remembered you had cataract surgery planned, as well, and decided to wait.
I'm really glad to heard you're improving on both counts—and wish you all the best for your upcoming surgery. You'll be good as new in no time.
I had a bit of an injury a couple of weeks ago myself, and have been on antibiotics for the past 10 days to clear up the subsequent infection. I'm feeling better now. And the really good—great!—news is that I finally got the lens issues resolved, so for the first time since the end of May, I can see well.
I'm glad you're enjoying the posts and comments. Hope you like the slightly new look.
They are beautiful! My little tree frog, who lives in my mailbox, is a bit cold, too! Our low last night was a chilly one.
Jenn…
We haven't had any really chilly nights yet—none close to producing frost—but autumn is visibly taking hold. The time for your little tree frog and my toad and turtles is fast approaching its end for another season.
Awww--love the two turtles on the rock. Insrutable indeed.
Glad your lens issue is resolved. Nothing like clear vision to see straight!
;-)
KGMom…
You know, you're the first person who's mention TWO turtles on the rock. I wonder how many readers missed that fact and just saw the larger one. The little guy isn't all that apparent.
You have no idea how relieved and grateful I am to again be able to see clearly.
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