This Place, This Moment

1.

*

2. Wave, kelp.

*

3. Windstorm.

**

Knowingly or not, we respond to place and moment. Our responses are particular

to a set of eyes, a body-breathing-in-skin,

a certain brain

with a singular set of experiences,

predilections, knowledge, needs,

desires. In my case, there is also a black box

with certain lenses,

a keyboard, software (clever software!), and

a beaming, bright screen.

This bundle of cells, functioning together

as they have for decades

(but differently in each moment) produces rows

of image files in concert with the black box and the software.

Is it magic?

Choices are made: less here, more there, lighter,

darker, softer, sharper, colored, or not.

And here is the fruit.

These responses to place and moment mean something to me,

something else to you. Flung across digital space

they resonate or they don’t. Either way is a response

and this vast, sparkling network of responses across

space and time encompasses

more than we can imagine.

That’s magic!

*

4. Reflection.

*

5. Reed, reflection.

*

6. Windstorm.

*

7. Windstorm, sunlight.

*

8. Scattering, disintegrating.

*

9. Windstorm waves.

*

10. Return to water.

*

11. Last light.

*

12. Rain.

***

This entry was posted in Nature Studies, Pacific Northwest, photography, writing and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

47 comments

  1. Magic!…I prefer Mystery. Either way it truly is remarkable, the journey, the process from each of these places you were in those moments to this moment of response and those of others here. Wonderful images, Lynn, especially #4 and #6 to my eye in this moment. I appreciate your thoughts and images…

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    • Mystery works for me, Mic. I hesitated a little about including the busy reflection – it’s so “jittery” but in a way, that’s what I like about it, too. And the blurred branches, I’m glad that one appeals to you! It was quite a day out there! Thank you kindly, Mic!

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    • I’m glad to hear it…I wanted to find a different way to talk about the process. The blowing branches and crashing waves were made on the same windy day – it was intense! We don’t get weather like that often. Thanks for commenting, Sarah.

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  8. Certainly an array that will trigger all sorts of reactions and responses, beginning with the radical shift from #1 or #2 – – that desiccated, stark, almost menacing tree limbs followed by the smooth arc of kelp and water, and then the lovely graceful arc in #5. I like the ferns showcased in the small glowing pool of light in #11 “Last Light,” and the beautiful light-filled tapestry in #4. And I like all the stuff going on in #8, a moment frozen in time but with things at different depths, different levels of light, different stages of disintegration, floating or submerged, green or bleached – – all sorts of different experiences “in a glass darkly,” as they say. And the wind pictures really convey that feeling beautifully. And finally, what a deft and charming essay to accompany these as they stimulate the “vast, sparkling network of responses,” the whole thing is very successful.

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    • An appreciative bow in your direction today, Robert. Your thoughts about #8…exactly…fir needles scattered on the water and the Skunk cabbage leaves slowly disintegrating, along with other bits on their journey through time and into place. The windy branch and grass photos were made with intentional camera movement. Everything was already blowing around like crazy so why not go with it? 😉 The light is much better for photography now but it doesn’t last very long, does it? And it’s cold out there! But we’ll keep at it, one way or another. Have a good week!

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  9. This post is, without a doubt, a peculiar way of talking about the “sensitivity” of the photographic process, from capturing to processing the image. And share, of course.
    And I asked myself:
    in the time when there was only analogue photography and there was no computer, how would the photographer feel about this whole process? In the same way?
    Beautiful photos!

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    • Sometimes I like to take a step back and describe the things that we take for granted, things that we don’t think about. Your question is a very good one. Digital life has changed everything. Very few people would have been able to share their work as widely as we can now. And one of the good things about this is friends like you. 🙂 Thanks!

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  11. “responses to place and moment mean something to me, something else to you. Flung across digital space they resonate or they don’t” – they do, I can tell you!
    Fantastic, this #4, impressionism says hello with Mr. Monet.  And where you leave the colors, the sun shines out of your black and white.
    We really can’t be thankful enough for all the little helpers in the form of hardware and software, not only for the picture design, but also and above all for the possibilities of exchanging ideas from one end of the world to the other and back, so that we can – despite the distance – can be close to each other, or at least feel so.

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    • The colors are so much prettier in this autumn light than they were during most of the summer, even if we don’t have all the reds and oranges that other places have. That was an amazing reflection but it’s a very busy photo. I’m glad you like the effect. Everything you say about the hardware and software resonates with me, Ule, and we’re the lucky ones because we were abe to spend time in person, too. 🙂

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  14. Your offerings always bring peace and joy…. even the busy #4 (my favorite). Reflections dancing in water are fascinating. I’m so very glad you included it. Seems that some of your other visitors agree.
    Such a beautiful and thought provoking post. It’s what you do!
    Now… off to see that video Graham included. I used to watch that show on PBS. (Love Brit humor, or is that humour?) 😉

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  20. Yes to magic, Lynn! Your opening poetry rings so true and it reminds me of the famous Ansel quote: “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” As I view your images, I must bring my own experiences and interpretation into the moment. I love your detail and composition in the first monochromes and your #4 reflection is artful magic. Windstorm Wave is an exciting capture and Returning to Water a beautiful meditation. Your post is a pleasure, as always! 🙂

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    • That’s a very appropriate quote – you could even modify it to say there is an infinite number of people in every picture – the photographer and all the people who will see it. I think #4 is very busy but somehow, it still works. I guess! And it’s good to hear that the decomposing leaves in that black and white didn’t depress you. Thanks so much for your thoughts, Jane.

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