Photography

(Symbol in the trees.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.

~ Edward Weston

Dead Giants

(Moon and elm.  All photos © 2009 by Robin)

Two large elm trees on our property will be coming down as soon as the weather is warm enough and dry enough.  They have succumbed to Dutch elm disease.  There is no saving the trees as they are quite dead.

(Sun and elm.)

While out on my walk yesterday I took (too) many photographs of them as it seemed to me that these beautiful giants deserve some sort of recognition.  They provided shade for us during the hot summer months and a frame for many a gorgeous sunset.  Walking near them on a windy day is now a dangerous proposition as branches and large chunks of bark come flying off at amazing speeds.

We would normally leave the trees to die and come down on their own, providing a home for some of the wildlife.  However, they’re located near my vegetable garden and I’ve already been hit by small pieces of bark while out there looking around.  I’d hate to have half the tree come crashing down on me while I was weeding.

What did the tree learn from the earth to be able to talk with the sky?

~ Pablo Neruda

Paying attention

(Feeling small.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

Sometimes during the day, I consciously focus on some ordinary object and allow myself a momentary “paying-attention.”  This paying-attention gives meaning to my life.  I don’t know who it was, but someone said that careful attention paid to anything is a window into the universe.  Pausing to think this way, even for a brief moment, is very important.  It gives quality to my day.

~ Robert Fulghum

More photos and a bit about this morning’s hike at Life in the Bogs.