Sunday, May 18, 2014

Moment of Forever


Sometimes when I explore nature, I get sidetracked and lose myself in a moment.  A butterfly lands on top of a leaf or a bird flies from a perch.


I reflect on that moment and try to interpret that image artistically. Within that moment, there is an entire universe waiting to be unraveled. 



An emerald carpet of grass, dotted by tiny wildflowers, surrounds the charred remains of gnarled trees. I imagine a young boy saying good-bye to his dying grandfather.  One passing on; the other only beginning his journey.



I look from an airplane window and see the endless flat stretches of land marked by human settlements. And sometimes it looks quite barren. As my plane touches down, I begin to see roads with cars, homes with people, and birds in flight over treetops. I see the details.  Sometimes nature can look barren. With closer inspection, I discover quite the opposite. They are the little worlds that exist within this larger natural universe. Hummingbirds rule their territories over wildflower patches. A camouflaged snake rests on a rock while bees selectively bounce from flower to flower. Each world home to something special and unique. 



A building, from a bird's point of view, is an agave stalk or a hole inside a tree. 



Sometimes when I bird, I forget to bird. 



It's enjoying a moment with a friend, exploring new habitat, finding new birds along with the old ones, and discovering new truths about the world around us. Each part linked to the other like a 10,000 piece puzzle.  I've only begun working on the corners:)



From within a perfect moment, I could spend a lifetime.

Gray Vireo
Check out more birds at Bird D'Pot and Wild Bird Wednesday.  It's all about birds:)

24 comments:

  1. I love this Chris, it touches a chord within me that resonates.

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  2. I enjoyed it too, and also the images. I think any of have moments like this, and they enrich our lives.

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  3. A beautiful post Chris, photos and narrative!

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  4. A lovely post Chris with such artistic photos :) Your words really struck a chord with me :)

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  5. Great description and great pictures. :)

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  6. Your narration along with the photos is marvelous. Prose!!

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  7. really nice textures, chris. love the opening shot and the trees!

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  8. Lovely shots. The editing is beautiful.

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  9. Beautiful flowers and a very thought provoking post. Thank you!

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  10. Nice post - if you don't spend at least some of a day in imagination, you may as well not have woken up.

    cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  11. yes,I agree with Mike. thought provoking post with beautifully edited shots.

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  12. A very lovely and thoughtful post Chris.

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  13. Hello Chris!:) Just passing by to thank you for your lovely caring comment on my last post. Still recouperating from an operation but I should be back blogging in June.

    Some beautiful artistic work here Chris. I especially like the 6th image, and the words beneath the the 8th struck a cord. Keep well, and take care.

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  14. Such a wonderful post, Chris...filled with reflection. And I love the grey vireo! Thank you SOOO much for settling the identity of that nuthatch for me! My husband's instincts were right. And after you posted your comment I also realized the back of the bird behind the rocks wasn't the wren at all, but indeed a female goldfinch which we also saw many of! But somehow I managed not to get but two photos of the goldfinches. Not sure how that happened. :-)

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  15. Nice post and story, and beautifully crafted images.
    Greetings Irma

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  16. Fabulous post! There is so much beauty all around us.

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  17. So lovely to get lost, and found, in nature.

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  18. Hey Chris, nice to see you! Love what you've done with these images, tres artistic! I feel though that no matter how side tracked you get by nature, there's no way that the birder within is far from the surface oui!
    p.s you really would love some of our birds here in Oz!

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  19. An absolutely beautiful meditative post... feels like something I'd like to listen to as I end my yoga in deep relaxation. Just lovely. (I will think of your words and pictures.)

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  20. Chris, what a lovely description of your day! The images are beautiful. I am just catching up after being away. Thank you for sharing your post with Saturday's Critters.. Have a happy day!

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  21. Lost and found.
    Each picture is a world by itself especially in your today's post.
    "Sometimes when I bird, I forget to bird" You found such a truth here.

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  22. Beautiful meditative post Chris. It's a keeper. Thank you. (And beautifully illustrated too).

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Thanks for stopping by!