I really enjoyed your wild flower photos from last week Erik, the flowers with the mountains behind created some really beautiful images. However I also like the mist and moodiness in these images. They have a much quieter feel and the subtle colours are very calming.
I love flower landscapes - they are one of my favourite things to photograph and I learn so much from being out amongst them.
I suppose I prefer views of the mountains a bit, especially after hiking all that way. The orange and red of the azaleas was very striking in the fog, though! Both conditions taught me a lot. Thanks so much Gill!
There are good things about each, right? I generally like the moody/foggy shots, but man the mountain views are great and I hate missing them when I've come all this way.
I definitely like both, but I especially enjoy how you frame your moody, foggy shots. My faves are #5 and 12. Thanks for capturing these and sharing them with us!
Luminous thoughts and images captured under conditions of hardship. So well done, Erik! 👏
I especially appreciate your line
"Therefore, I must try for No-Mind, to make appropriate choices and actions when called for while still maintaining a broad awareness."
I recall one of my best therapy supervisors advising me to "maintain an evenly hovering attention" so as to hear both the clients' words and their deeper and wider implications. I had no idea what she meant at the time, but I recalled her words as I started to develop that capacity.
Ooo! Now that ‘evenly hovering attention’ is a very interesting way to phrase the concept. I think a lot of this speaks to the same phenomenon of mind, just phrased and approached slightly differently. The more perspectives I learn, the more I *think* I understand, but it’s a shifting spectrum and I may never fully get there.
Fabulous story of your wildflower hunt. The nighttime rain didn’t appeal at all, and I felt the aches as you woke ready for your coffee. Your descriptions are so rich and bring the trip alive beautifully. What a joy to see those azaleas in their natural environment, flame reds and oranges against the misty backdrop. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
The azalea do pop so vividly when they are contrasted with all of that mist. It makes bearing the rain worth it! Thank you for reading and for your comments!
Great story Erik, and a really outstanding collection of images. I love that misty trail through the forest in particular (and it's an interesting edit - very flat with distinct green toning to the highlights, such as they are, where I would normally use yellow or blue).
Thanks! You're right, that misty trail photo was interesting to edit. I actually added an S curve to increase the contrast. For the color, I only made slight adjustments. I bumped up the blue calibration slider slightly, slightly decreased the saturation and increased the vibrance, and then bumped up the luminance of the green a little to make it stand out. I didn't use any color grading or hue adjustment, it was just weird murky light!
The contrast of the brilliant reds against the dense fog is so pretty. I still don't know how you're not scared camping in the dark lol. I watch way too many scary shows to ever try.
It is a freaky feeling going to sleep when you know there could be things creeping around in the night. But I’ve never had any problems at night other than weather. I think animals mostly know to leave humans alone.
Beautiful descriptions of the storm, water in the tent, the dense misty fog in the morning that dampens yet somehow excellerates the green vibrancy. Living in the Great Smokeys, I felt like I was right where you were since the musty rich humus trail is a recent memory. Beautiful photos, great writing. Thanks for the guided trail experience.
My substack niche is not photography, but this place is so much apart of me that I incorporate it into my writing.
However, my niche has much to teach everyone either female or those who know females in their lives. Here is a link in case you are interested in the splash of Blue Ridge while learning about the nervous system.
I really enjoyed your wild flower photos from last week Erik, the flowers with the mountains behind created some really beautiful images. However I also like the mist and moodiness in these images. They have a much quieter feel and the subtle colours are very calming.
I love flower landscapes - they are one of my favourite things to photograph and I learn so much from being out amongst them.
I suppose I prefer views of the mountains a bit, especially after hiking all that way. The orange and red of the azaleas was very striking in the fog, though! Both conditions taught me a lot. Thanks so much Gill!
Beautiful, Erik. Last couple paragraphs evoke for me Leopold’s “Conservation Esthetic” in the best way possible.
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/archives-aldo-leopolds-conservation-esthetic
Holy smokes Lou! I'm not sure I deserve to be mentioned alongside Leopold, but thank you! And thanks for sharing the article!
I’m a fan of the fog. Both are interesting.
There are good things about each, right? I generally like the moody/foggy shots, but man the mountain views are great and I hate missing them when I've come all this way.
I definitely like both, but I especially enjoy how you frame your moody, foggy shots. My faves are #5 and 12. Thanks for capturing these and sharing them with us!
That means a lot Rachel! The conditions were pretty tricky and I’m glad to see that they worked out. Thanks!
Beautiful photos Erik and great descriptions. I enjoy all your photos, sunny and moody.
Awesome! Thank you so much Laura!
Luminous thoughts and images captured under conditions of hardship. So well done, Erik! 👏
I especially appreciate your line
"Therefore, I must try for No-Mind, to make appropriate choices and actions when called for while still maintaining a broad awareness."
I recall one of my best therapy supervisors advising me to "maintain an evenly hovering attention" so as to hear both the clients' words and their deeper and wider implications. I had no idea what she meant at the time, but I recalled her words as I started to develop that capacity.
Ooo! Now that ‘evenly hovering attention’ is a very interesting way to phrase the concept. I think a lot of this speaks to the same phenomenon of mind, just phrased and approached slightly differently. The more perspectives I learn, the more I *think* I understand, but it’s a shifting spectrum and I may never fully get there.
Fabulous story of your wildflower hunt. The nighttime rain didn’t appeal at all, and I felt the aches as you woke ready for your coffee. Your descriptions are so rich and bring the trip alive beautifully. What a joy to see those azaleas in their natural environment, flame reds and oranges against the misty backdrop. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
The azalea do pop so vividly when they are contrasted with all of that mist. It makes bearing the rain worth it! Thank you for reading and for your comments!
“While taking a buck or photographing an azalea may be the culmination of the hunt, the endeavor involves so much more”
So well articulated, Erik.
Your perspective as a hunter (of game) is invaluable. Thanks Jesse!
So in love with the fog. Well done.
It’s magical, isn’t it? Thanks Holly!
Great story Erik, and a really outstanding collection of images. I love that misty trail through the forest in particular (and it's an interesting edit - very flat with distinct green toning to the highlights, such as they are, where I would normally use yellow or blue).
Thanks! You're right, that misty trail photo was interesting to edit. I actually added an S curve to increase the contrast. For the color, I only made slight adjustments. I bumped up the blue calibration slider slightly, slightly decreased the saturation and increased the vibrance, and then bumped up the luminance of the green a little to make it stand out. I didn't use any color grading or hue adjustment, it was just weird murky light!
The contrast of the brilliant reds against the dense fog is so pretty. I still don't know how you're not scared camping in the dark lol. I watch way too many scary shows to ever try.
It is a freaky feeling going to sleep when you know there could be things creeping around in the night. But I’ve never had any problems at night other than weather. I think animals mostly know to leave humans alone.
Beautiful descriptions of the storm, water in the tent, the dense misty fog in the morning that dampens yet somehow excellerates the green vibrancy. Living in the Great Smokeys, I felt like I was right where you were since the musty rich humus trail is a recent memory. Beautiful photos, great writing. Thanks for the guided trail experience.
You really understand the feeling of this land! That's wonderful, Jess, thank you so much!
I am well rooted here.
My substack niche is not photography, but this place is so much apart of me that I incorporate it into my writing.
However, my niche has much to teach everyone either female or those who know females in their lives. Here is a link in case you are interested in the splash of Blue Ridge while learning about the nervous system.
https://open.substack.com/pub/womenscycleawareness/p/walks-to-remember-in-pictures?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=18pm6g
Nice, I’ll check it out!