Call and response
Posted: December 30, 2011 Filed under: 365 Yoga Challenge, Adventures in Life, Art, Earth, goals, health, home, nature, Photography, pond, Spirit, Walking, wandering, water, weather, winter, yoga | Tags: birds, nature, Outdoors, Photography, pond, postaday2011, reflections, trees, water, winter 41 Comments
I took a slow walk around the pond today. I heard a group of crows cawing in the trees while I was standing on the porch and decided to follow. Let’s call it #3 in the category of Things To Do While I’m Not Feeling Well. That seems like such a long title for a blog post so I went with something a little more succinct as well as appropriate.
Today's view of the pond
The light is odd today. Kind of sickly. It might be my own kind of sickly feeling influencing my interpretation of the light. I am sure it (the illness) had an impact on the photos I took as well as what I did with those photos in post-processing.
Clumps of Queen Anne's Lace by the pond. (Post-processed in Photoshop & Picnik.)
It’s a kind of call and response. My illness calling. My photography responding.
I took a lot of dark shots. The only photo that comes close to showing the day’s true colors is the “Today’s view of the pond” (and an upcoming “Reflections on thawing ice” photo). Everything else was either manipulated in camera by playing with the white balance and shutter speeds or in post-processing using Photoshop and/or Picnik.
A visual representation of the side-effects of the anti-viral medication. (Post-processed in Photoshop & Picnik.)
As usual, you can click on any of the photos to see the slightly larger version.
Oak marble galls. (Post-processed in Photoshop & Picnik.)
The weather continues to waffle between winter and late autumn. We had snow yesterday. Today it warmed up and it is raining. I have seen bright light behind the clouds at times, proof that the sun is still there.
Reflections on thawing ice.
The top of the pond started to freeze. Now it’s thawing again.
PostADay2011 is almost at an end. Hurray! Huzzah! And three more cheers of some kind!
I did sign up for a river of stones which begins on January 1. One of the gifts I received for Christmas was a new Moleskine that I think will be perfect for the project. I would like to do more writing practice over the next year and this will be a great way to get started with that goal. I don’t know if any of my small stones will show up here on the blog or not. I’m doing this for me, not for the blog, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Well, that’s it from the Bogs for today. Thank you for spending a little time with me as I recover. I enjoy your company, and I suspect good company helps with the healing process. 🙂
A spot of color
Life in the Bogs 
I think the light does look weird there today. At the same time, I love the photo of the tree reflected in the ice. Great shot!
Hope you’re feeling better soon. Happy New Year to you in the Bogs!
Kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy M. 🙂
I really like the first silhouette of the bird. I love the others too. Feel better. Happy New Year. You have accomplished so much in 2011, inspiring to me.
Thank you so much, Martina. 🙂
It’s gloomy and a bit dark here today too so I’m not so sure it’s just you. I also like the reflection of the trees on the thawing pond. And am continuing to wish for quick healing for you. *hugs*
Thank you, DragonFae. *Hugs* back at ya. 🙂
Funny – how we see the world is so often a reflection of how we feel. Hope you feel better..and wishing you a new year filled with creativity and light!
Thank you, Marcie. 🙂
I think that’s why I like photography (art) so much. It gives me a way of expressing things when I don’t always have the words for it.
Beautiful photos.
Thank you, Nigel. 🙂
Robin, this is a totally new direction in your art and it’s amazing. I read once that photographers capture their moods and personalities in their photos. Well, dear, you have captured viruses and their resulting havoc to your system spot on.
Hope you are feeling better soon. Sounds good that you were able to talk a leisurely walk around the pond. Getting out in the fresh air probably makes you feel a bit better. Good it’s not below zero with 3 feet of snow on the ground. 🙂
Thank you, Bo. It’s an interesting experience, in more ways than one.
And thank goodness those weather conditions are not in play yet! I’m not sure I’m up for a walk in the cold and snow.
walking gently along behind you as you find your way through this.
Thank you, Joss. I appreciate your company. 🙂
The river of stones project sounds interesting. I think I need a new commitment for next year. Love that burst of red color in the last photo. Be well!
Thank you, Teresita. 🙂
Meant to add that if all goes well during the month of January, I will probably continue on with the small stones project. It already feels like one of those things that will challenge me and help me grow in many ways.
There’s a beauty in these photos, Robin, even though you believe they reflect your illness. Perhaps they do. But they can’t be all bad. You have a beautiful soul, my friend, so no matter how ill you feel, there will always be beauty in you.
I do hope you are feeling well again soon. (Sending you a get-well hug across the world.)
((((( )))))
Thank you so much, Joanne. And hugs back. 🙂
Great photos, even though they match your mood. But that’s ok – just get feeling better.
Thank you, Frank. 🙂
The light – and the weather in general – has been strange for days up here…I *do* wish it would make up its mind. Last evening it felt like late March!
Happy New Year to you, Robin, and to all you hold dear… 🙂
Thank you, Marie. 🙂
I know what you mean. The season can’t seem to decide what it wants to be.
How extraordinary you are, Robin! The photos are lovely, at times transcendent, offered during a time in which you are battling a painful infliction. And, of course, call and response is at the root of many forms of music – blues, jazz, gospel, chant, and more – a universal form of communication. What a beautiful post, never underestimate the power of your vision. And a beautiful and happy new year to you and yours.
Thank you so much, Lynn. 🙂
Hi Robin…there’s a very different tone/mood to your photos, but I think they are exquisitely beautiful…. the light, line, color and mood are just exquisite…
And call and response….why that might be called “life” ???? ….I think maybe so….warm and healing wishes to you…. : )
Thank you, Kathy. 🙂
Glad to see that you’re getting out and about. Hang in there!! Hope 2012 is a great year for you!
Thanks, Derrick. Wishing the same for you. 🙂
Feel better soon.
Thank you, Christine. 🙂
I love the tree reflections on the thawing ice, has the pond ever frozen over enough for you to skate on it ?
Thanks, Hallysann. 🙂
Yes, it does freeze enough to skate on. Usually. This has been an unusually warm winter. We have to have at least a week or so of below freezing temperatures for the ice to thicken up enough to be walked or skated upon. That hasn’t happened yet this season.
When the light appears weird, perhaps it’s showing us things in a different light! (That’s my New Year’s story and I’m stickin’ to it!) Love you, Robin.
lol! It’s a good story and worth stickin’ to, Kathy. Love you too! 🙂
That first photo of the crow’s silhouette is simply gorgeous. I hope that 2012 brings you inspiration at your own pace– looking forward to reading another year of posts from you! 🙂
Thank you, Dana. 🙂
Beautiful pictures. I loved them all especially the last one- a spot of color 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Love the “spot of color” photo….already this winter the surprises of color is what inspires me! Good to have you come by….thanks!
Thank you, Joni. 🙂