Nature iPhoneography

01 April 2013

Lens:

1. Reflections in Pond, iPhone 4s, March 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013

2. Afternoon at White Clay Creek, iPhone 4s, March 2013; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2013

Let me know which you prefer and why.

Pens:

Last month Gracie (http://graciebinoya.com), Polly (http://watchingthephotoreels.com) and I began an iPhoneography Monday Challenge. If you’d like to join the fun, please click here for details. This week’s theme is nature, which is essential to my photographic oeuvre.

Since much of my philosophy centers on the intersection of nature and human nature, I was deep in thought yesterday as I “ran” to one of my newest places to meditate with camera in hand. This destination gives me an expansive view of the sky. I can almost see the horizon, and then I’m lifted into the stratosphere. To follow the treetops upward is breathtakingly exhilarating. I needed that pump of adrenaline.

Nature is not only a muse for my photographic eye, but she gives me a jolt of what is real (I relish the illusion.) and true. As a quiet environmentalist, I document her beauty and raw imperfections that nurtures my spirit. I ponder her simplicity and complexity and profusion.

My need to grasp her presence is a normal part of my day, but on Saturday it was more pronounced. I had just read a New York Times’ article that sheared my spirit. It’s a stellar  and succinct summary of vital issues facing earth’s inhabitants.

The article, which is titled “Pity Earth’s Creatures,” was written by Edward Hoagland who is a nature and travel writer. He tells with clarity and insight the state of our quest to control and reign over (not with) nature on her journey–a journey that has profoundly affected our own.

Here is a pithy quote: “Nature is undefended by the powers that be, having no vote…,” excerpted from “Pity Earth’s Creatures,” March 24 2013.

To read Hoagland’s entire opinion piece, click here. Be warned, you’ll need to relieve the sad feelings that you’ll experience. You’ll want to seek nature’s wonders and be soothed.

That’s, of course what I did; sprint to the place where I could sense her vast majesty. But I could easily have been reassured as I filled my bird feeders, watching chickadees, nuthatches, Carolina wrens, doves, bluebirds, goldfinches, juncos, woodpeckers and others in queue.

For me, nature is the quintessential master of the universe. There really is no difference between her and us. It’s not that game at all, because we are bound collectively.

In the Lens section are my entries for today’s challenge. They are not images from  Saturday’s skyward escape. In future posts you’ll see those photographs, which show my latest obsession with cloudscapes.

Maybe it’s the way that cloud formations and skyward hues speak for all of us. Maybe it’s simply their outright raw visual originality, owing their entirety to the present.

Tip of the Week: If you’re out on a nature walk, you might want to get these free apps. They can answer those questions that suddenly appear. Try:

TreeBook at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/treebook/id340811192?mt=8/

iNaturalist at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inaturalist/id421397028?mt=8/

WildObs Observer at https://itunes.apple.com/hk/app/wildobs-observer/id309451803?mt=8/

NatureFind at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/naturefind/id335373871?mt=8/

SkyView at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skyview-free-explore-universe/id413936865?mt=8/

Click on these links to view other entries:

http://ayearinmyshoes.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/iphonography-monday-nature-2/

http://watchingthephotoreels.com/2013/04/01/nature-iphonography-time/

http://carolloethen.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/look-what-i-found-on-the-beach-today/

http://angelinem.wordpress.com

http://graciebinoya.com

http://acrossthebored.com/2013/04/03/iphoneography-monday-nature-2

Note: As always I welcome comments about this post or any part of my blog. The following is a reminder of the weekly schedule and themes for upcoming challenges. 

1st Monday: Nature

2nd Monday: Macro

3rd Monday: Black-and-White

4th and 5th Mondays: Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel).