My outward attention this last week has been absorbed by nature. I wonder, have you been affected directly by nature this last week? What emotions have you felt or actions have you taken as a direct result of the forces of nature? Not just the weather, mind, though of course I cannot help but think of Sandy and all of those affected.
Not all of nature is natural
Last weekend, my beloved and I went for a long walk on the countryside roads that surround our wee village. It was dry and some hazy sunshine was about to make way for a weather front bringing rain. Autumn was showing up in a million indescribable shades of gold, bronze, yellow and green.
I felt an enormous sense of being connected with the scheme of things as we walked along the single track lanes. The fact is that the land upon which we were traversing was full of nature, but it wasn’t all natural – the roads we walked connected the farms and the fields we were gazing upon – all of which bore the mark of man.
Science, faith and truth
We found ourselves discussing farming and the soil, the bees and their plight and more. Precariously linking subject matter, we were soon to be musing upon the notion of science, faith and truth. About how differently scientists view their truth as opposed to people of faith.
You’ll be relieved to find out that I’m not going to share that discussion here, but I was so spiritually full up to have been in amongst the countryside and having deep discussions about it with my beloved, that when I got back home I broke my ‘offline at the weekend’ rule to share some photos I’d taken on Instagram (sharing them also on Facebook and Twitter).
This photo of one of my favourite local trees caused quite a stir. It received more ‘likes’ than any others I’ve posted online in quite a while. All of it extremely favourable, except for this one comment via Twitter,
That came out really well. Did you have to muck around with it?
I imagine (I haven’t asked) that the commenter felt cheated out of the truth, somehow. That by applying the filter (using Instagram) I had altered the photo beyond its natural state, and possibly to its detriment.
But how I see it is that I used science (technology) to create a version of this picture that represented my truth of the afternoon. After all, I’m an artist not a photographer!
Faith in nature
You see, we all believe in different things, don’t we? My experience of truth is not necessarily the same as yours – in fact, it probably most definitely isn’t. My experience of science, faith and nature is likely to be unique to me and my experience.
Here are some journal prompts for you this week, if you feel so inclined;
- What do you believe about science?
- What does faith mean to you?
- How does nature fit into your belief system?
- What constitutes your truth in the present moment?
I think about nature and landscape all the time. But I think you know this 😉
I wonder if the person might have meant – did you have to do something complicated and difficult to get the picture to turn out so well, or is it something that ordinary mortals like me might also be able to do? (The limiatations of 140, it is hard to know)
You know I have been playing around more and more with my images – the camera phone takes me there – it’s easy, the photos aren’t always good enough on their own, so why not do what you can to enhance – I think it is maybe not so much art as narrative, as telling a story.
Technology allows us to tell a compelling story, that both changes us, and those who see and read what we make.
I am pretty sure that is what photographers do actually… but that’s a whole other debate.
PS I am so glad you had that feeling of being connected to the great scheme of things. It is the most beautiful feeling I know, and I would wish it for all those I love xxx
And your thinking about it and sharing it is one of your greatest gifts, dear Joanna! xo
Hi Julie – like you I have been feeling connected and watching the trees and skies change when I go for my walk every day. I think the trees show themselves as particularly beautiful at this time of year as they shed their leaves – not quite bare, some leaves still attached. I have been taking photos of them too. They are helping me stay grounded in this time of change. It’s absolutely necessary for me to get outside as part of my self care routine.
Joanna is right; ‘real’ photographers do ‘muck about’ with their shots, especially in this age of computer enhancements and all the apps/technology available. What happens for me is that the picture I see through my eyes is not what happens in the photo so I play around with the IG filters until the pic looks more like what I see. Like you, I am trying to represent my truth so that I can show others what that is. If they don’t ‘get it’ then so be it.
Great post as always, love hearing your view on life!!
Rachel xox
The trees definitely have something to tell us, if only we stop to pause long enough! So glad you are practicing this pause, Rachel! xo
Oh yes, the roads, they caught my imagination and attention the other day as I realised what an intricate system we have created of connection to others. I’m wondering now, were roads the beginning of comparison?
It’s a beautiful thing to share your connection to the thoughts expressed here, Jackie – I am always amazed at where you travel on your roads! xo