Random Photo Notes, Vol. 14
Tea Ceremony, 12/8/24
However many times I visit this pond, it never fails to overwhelm me with surprises. As the changing seasons transform its appearance throughout the year, I have yet to reach the black water’s creative depths - my primitive eye can only skim the surface.
In this image of fallen pin oak leaves and underlying grass, I envisioned a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, brimming with hallowed nuance and gentle procedure, passed down for generations.
Totality, 10/27/24
For years, the eastern side of my favorite mountain remained a mystery, leading me to avoid it due to perceived fewer roads and trails. I focused on the lush central forests and imposing western cliffs, but I could not shake an intuition about the eastern brow’s potential for breathtaking sunrises and enveloping morning fog.
A recent visit revealed the beauty of that landscape. The exhilaration of stepping into the eastern realm felt surreal, as if I had discovered a secret world. The crisp autumn air and warm glow of dawn illuminated striking rock formations and a large creek, which featured a small tiered waterfall, all surrounded by vibrant fall colors.
Each element called me to explore more, igniting a desire to uncover the stories hidden in this enchanting area. I felt a renewed purpose in spending more time in this newly discovered woodland.
Original Instructions, 11/17/24
Floating near the edge of a mountain creek, fallen rusty-orange pine needles create textures and patterns that remind me of DNA, or perhaps a special type of ancient prescription lost to industrialized culture. Never passed down through words or text, it is a moral code, an ethical blueprint, by which to develop and thrive alongside other beings who share our home. However cryptic, we are lost without it.
Promenade, 9/29/24
The transition to Fall brings excitement as temperatures drop and directional light reveals textures that hid behind Summer’s brightness. These weeks slowly introduce the color yellow, and I find the subtle contrast visually irresistible.
This morning found me on a slow, aimless hike off trail on top of my favorite nearby mountain. I remembered an interesting “paved” feature in the ground that resembled a walkway.
“Promenade” instantly came to mind as a descriptive and metaphorical title. I very often consider the beginning of Fall as a fresh way forward into experiences of higher quality on the heels of Summer’s maddening heat and humidity. Feelings of relief, gratitude, balance, and calm find their way into my work naturally in Autumn.
