LAPC #234 – Messages

This week, Donna (Wind Kisses) hosts her first official LAPC theme: Messages. Dona encourages us to “search for messages in photography.”

This old tree has a story to tell. Having struggled for ages, it continues to grow gracefully and stand tall in front of the giant rock mountain. It speaks to me and the messages are there.

As I was photographing this old tree at the Rushmore, somehow I thought about Joseph J. Ellis’s words when he explains the iconic paint of Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware “… pictures don’t speak words they generate thoughts and feeling, some of which defy logic or reason and then viewers give words to these thoughts and feeling an icoic or classic portrait or picture …” His words/message explain why some of the photos stay with us forever long.

Nature constantly sends out clear messages of climate change. Here you can see the water marks on the rocks showing the low water level in Lake Powell.

When Thomas Moran first gazed upon the canyon known now as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, he remarked that its beautiful colors “were beyond the reach of human art.” The watercolors, illustrations, and photographs depicting Yellowstone’s scale and grandeur did more than written or oral descriptions to persuade Congress to preserve the area. On March 1, 1872, Grant signed the bill to make Yellowstone the first national park. More here. Moran’s painting sent important messages his viewers.

The photos of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone  was taken with my iPhone:

Stay safe when you travel:

A beautiful message from nature, a sign of spring:

Messages from people.

We see beautiful lanterns with messages hanging on top the gate, as we walk toward the temple in Kyoto.

Small wooden plaques like these are common in Japanese Shrines. People write their prayers or wishes on a small wooden plaque wishing their loved ones happiness and health.

I agree with Donna, the options for this theme are endless. We hope you’ll join us. Please link your post to Donna’s site and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you. View her beautiful words and photos and sharing your discoveries.

Many thanks to Anne’s One Lens Walk last week, it was an inspiring theme. I had a chance to learn of how to use lens to take better photos from Anne and all of you.

Next week, Patti will lead with Shadows & Reflections in Monochrome. Be sure to visit her site at Pilotfish.

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53 thoughts on “LAPC #234 – Messages”

  1. Beautiful post, Amy. I love that image of the lone tree and the messages in the temple in Kyoto. It’s true that nature is always sending us messages. Hopefully we’ll listen to them! Take care and have a great weekend.

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  6. Your choice of images really hit the mark, Amy. I love that shot of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It’s another proof that cell phones can replace a lot of fancy camera gear for the amateur and professional alike.

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  9. Terrific choices this week Amy – of course as a nature-lover I especially liked this images. The little tree in your opening image is marvelous against the fog-shrouded rocks. Also loved your grand canyon image – amazing that it was an iPhone shot!!! Wonderful messages for us!

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    • Thank you, Tina! It was a foggy morning and stayed like that for probably three hours. We thought we wouldn’t be able to see the monument at all. I carried my Lumix touring YS, but used my iPhone most of the time. Happy to learn about the impact of Moran’s painting. 🙂

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  12. You’ve collated an impressive and very moving display of photos and messages, well quoted, Amy. Some of these amazing locations are almost beyond words, truly! The message comes through in emotional response!

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    • Hi Debra, Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed this post. There are quiet messages around us. Luckily, we get to travel again, YS is magical and the Rushmore monument is amazing.

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  13. I want to think this was written FOR me. Not just the challenge. Thank you for that and I hope others feel the same as they walk away from this. As you know I lived in Yellowstone and in response to Brian…we told the same story. And people actually believe it. lol I loved the mural and I loved sharing our love of the outdoors with visitors. I think I shared with someone else, that it is Yellowstone that taught me to look for, and appreciate the messages in nature.

    Your first photo of the tree does that. Just think…if trees could talk.

    There is so much truth to your photo of Powell River. We live that “line” every day. I live close to Lake Pleasant and we often talk of where we can actually get to the water. It is sad, and we remain diligent in our efforts to conserve. You must have been on a boat. Not a lot of people get to experience that, especially nowadays. Very nice.

    And your sign of spring photo reminds me of a little fairy hula dancer. Thank you so much for our encouragement, Amy.

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    • Hi Donna, I recall you said you lived in Yellowstone for a year. How wonderful to wake up in the morning everyday to the grand views of YS. I envy you!
      Thank you for liking my approach to your theme. Endless opportunities, indeed. The water marks of Powell River were difficult to watch as we cruised through on a small boat, which was several years ago. Yes, we live that “line” every day. Worrisome, say the least…
      It has been a very cold week in Texas. When I saw the spring photo above in my photo file, it made me smile. 🙂
      Thank you again for your thoughtful, creative, and inspiring theme and your beautiful post. And, thank you for joining in our LAPC team! Looking forward to traveling with you. 🙂

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      • Thank you Amy. The funny part about waking up in YS was when you open the front door, it is necessary to look both ways in the event a bison is just outside. a little intimidating, but great fun. It was always about being in the know. Thank you again

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  16. The Ranger in the park that had Grizzlies said that everyone should carry pepper spray and have little bells that tinkle as you walk so to warn bears of your presence and not surprise them as that’s when they may attack. Also, he said to watch out for scats or bear poo to know if Grizzlies have been around.
    He was asked how do you know if they are Grizzly Bear poos.
    He said that they smelt like pepper and had tiny bells in them 😂

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