Quite a few people tell me that when I take such pictures it is too lonely for them too look at because there are no people in them, but for me it never feels empty. There is a different, larger kind of life and presence going on here that explains why people in the past believed in gods and deities. The reaching of the heavens for the earth, and of the earth for the seas may move more slowly than we do, but they reach out nonetheless, and there is a mystery of intent in that.
Miguel, I find it difficult to feel the kind of aversion to people-less landscapes that some of your viewers apparently experience. I love the company of friends, but solitude's a joy too, particularly in places like this. I think perhaps the aversion might arise from a focus that looks too much inwards, that focuses on one's self; these places are best appreciated when self-awareness vanishes.
Pete, you've put into words what I've been trying to vocalize for years. I always talk of it in terms of loving how small I feel, but your evaluation of others perhaps focusing too much on themselves never occurred to me, and now that you've said it, it makes so much sense. Yes, yes, "best appreciated when self-awareness vanishes". That is always how I feel in such places. And the beauty of solitude. That is perhaps why I rarely get lonely in such places... because I no longer matter. I wonder how people long, long ago must have felt about themselves living in vast landscapes, with the full force of nature all around them everyday? Did most people live in this state of self-forgetfulness? ANd is that actually the natural state for humans to live in most of the time? What a different world view they must have had.
Beautiful. Dangerous and stunning. I saw similar skies on my way to Antarctica.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dramatic scene - very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child — Antarctica! I'm envious...
ReplyDeleteRR — the first day or two through the fjords was a time I'll always remember. I wanted to get off the ship and go exploring.
Quite a few people tell me that when I take such pictures it is too lonely for them too look at because there are no people in them, but for me it never feels empty. There is a different, larger kind of life and presence going on here that explains why people in the past believed in gods and deities. The reaching of the heavens for the earth, and of the earth for the seas may move more slowly than we do, but they reach out nonetheless, and there is a mystery of intent in that.
ReplyDeleteooooo...
ReplyDeleteMiguel, I find it difficult to feel the kind of aversion to people-less landscapes that some of your viewers apparently experience. I love the company of friends, but solitude's a joy too, particularly in places like this. I think perhaps the aversion might arise from a focus that looks too much inwards, that focuses on one's self; these places are best appreciated when self-awareness vanishes.
ReplyDeleteZhoen, that was my response too.
Pete, you've put into words what I've been trying to vocalize for years. I always talk of it in terms of loving how small I feel, but your evaluation of others perhaps focusing too much on themselves never occurred to me, and now that you've said it, it makes so much sense. Yes, yes, "best appreciated when self-awareness vanishes". That is always how I feel in such places. And the beauty of solitude. That is perhaps why I rarely get lonely in such places... because I no longer matter. I wonder how people long, long ago must have felt about themselves living in vast landscapes, with the full force of nature all around them everyday? Did most people live in this state of self-forgetfulness? ANd is that actually the natural state for humans to live in most of the time? What a different world view they must have had.
ReplyDeleteSuperb shot Pete.
ReplyDeleteCheers Jono :^)
ReplyDelete