“Tell me why….”
The generic three words appear in countless songs. Today, I happen to hear them in a (no-longer) boy band’s lyric. Improbably, that particular earworm began burrowing before the turn of this Century.
The tone and cadence in asking for an explanation of “why,” as with most communication, is important. It can be calmly delivered, or beseeching–even a crie de couer.
It can be inquisitive, and take us back to the wonders of the world as they begin to catch our young children’s attention outside infancy’s cocoon.
“Why is the sky blue?“
“Why do manta rays leap above the ocean?”
It can express the joyful wonder and bottomless despair of other unanswerable questions and pleas for explanation.
“How could I have been so lucky to spend this life with you?”
“Why him?”
I’ve taken on the task of picking out a portfolio of ten photographs I most want to share, and the more formidable challenge of explaining my choices. I realized after selecting them that I took most of them while I was alone, at least among humans. The few exceptions were taken in countries and on continents far from my assorted homes.
Above, an Icelandic pony was perfectly framed among lenticular clouds as the sun started to drop in Aukerie. I treasure revisiting the peace and beauty and even the pure air of that day.
I was completely alone in Southwest Harbor for this astonishing sunset on Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park was a very special place for my late husband and for our children as they grew. It took quite awhile for me to be able to travel by myself and be able to recapture more joy than melancholy there. I felt my husband’s presence as I took this picture, as I do every time I look at it.
An extraordinary ordinary palm frond towered above me, and calls me back to a cool night with regal birds milling all around. In the unseen background, the High Atlas Mountains formed ribbons of snow atop vivid blue peaks.
Each sunrise moment is an ephemeral work of art, there for us to keep and share and revisit in a photograph.
A return to deep greens and blues. . . . In New England’s coldest days, I can still feel the warmth and wonder of walking along a field filled with peacocks in Rajasthan, India.
From the same spot in Newcastle, New Hampshire, one can see two lighthouses in two states, and endless permutations of light. This is one of my favorite glimpses of dawn.
A juvenile Kingfisher was my companion for sunset at the Artichoke Reservoir, a hidden jewel in Essex County, Massachusetts. The photo brings me peace; I remember how the sight helped me to breathe and settle my soul at a time of frantic medical issues in my family.
I’ve taken countless of Whaleback Lighthouse from two state’s shores. This one stands alone: without touching the picture’s natural color, it looks to me like a silkscreen print of sunrise.
A snapshot in a butterfly garden in Western Massachusetts preserved a butterfly taking flight, and the rich colors of a tropical forest in a distant part of the world.
A single water lily… on a glorious day spent on another continent with one of my daughters. The simple shot carries me back to her, and to the sun and golden birds outside an ancient fort and museum in Jodhpur, the Blue City.
And I am sneaking in one more photo, the last I was able to take of the beloved and protective faithful companion of a sterling neighbor who contributed so much to every part of the world he occupied, and will be profoundly missed after leaving all too inexplicably soon. His handsome dog passed only weeks later, to join him in another view of such earthly wonders.
Love in the Spaces 
Not quite sure how to begin to respond to your post Stephanie. As always your way with words is amazing but that said, this is an amazing collection of glorious images. It is clear you gave serious thought to each selection and together they present our world at its absolute best. I think the kingfisher image is my favorite but it’s a REALLY difficult choice. Somehow though I can feel the emotion of that one. All of your skies are incredible as well, and I’m forgiving you for adding the 11th because of course it had to be included to honor a fallen friend. Thanks so much for joining us with your beautiful post.
Thank you, Tina.
There was something so special about that quiet little fellow, who flew in over me and stayed on the branch above me until dark. A kindred spirit.
And thank you for letting me get away with the 11th: I last saw my friend and his dog and took that picture four days before he died, and I think the poor little fellow (who loved to run on the beach with canine friends) was lost without him. He joined him just as unexpectedly two weeks later.
BEAUTIFUL photos. LOVE those sunsets. 👏
Thank you, John!
Wonderful collection. And beautiful prose.
Your connection to each image is palpable.
Thank you so much. I’m so glad to be back on the blog and catching up on my fellow bloggers
A perfect “10” for each image and connection in this collection of top ten! (I know, but who’s counting?) Thanks for sharing. So difficult to choose a favorite, but that Southwest Harbor sunset is amazing!
If I had to pick, it would have to be that one. I can feel the air and hear the water. It was sublime.
The sky is so magical it’s otherworldly.
All gorgeous, but the pony and the lighthouse and the butterfly and the water lily– wow. Breathtaking! Thank you for sharing the beauty with us.
Thank you for visiting my visual world! I’m so lucky to have been in all of those places.
Beautiful photos Stephanie and especially the ones in Jaipur!
I forgot you would recognize those!
A lovely post: both the photos and your thoughts about them
Amazing photos, Steph!
Why, thank you! It’s getting a wee bit difficult to narrow them down. I need to do some Swedish death cleaning of my SD cards…..
Do you have all your photos stored in THE CLOUD somewhere?
I sure hope so….my technological ability is sub-par, but my children have done their best to make sure quite a lot of them are out there somewhere…..
P.S. You don’t mean…..that they aren’t really stored in clouds?
Stephanie, I had eleven as well. I just called my last one a bonus shot. 🙂 For me, the shell shot stands out above all the other beautiful ones. The colors, the depth, the seemingly infinitely lines, and then the shell to break those lines…all those combine to make a glorious photo.
janet
Thank you–I switched out a landscape sea shot at the last minute when the shell caught my eye, as it did that morning (I rarely hold the camera that way), and wasn’t entirely sure why, but love the way you describe it. And “bonus shot” is a much better way of putting it! (You aren’t by any chance a lawyer?)
Ha! Not even close. I’ve been a teacher in some capacity or another most of my life, although only four years in an actual school. But I love English, so that works. 🙂
Wonderful writing that blends sensually, beautifully with your photography, Stephanie. Each image breathtaking! The final bonus photo, wow!
Thank you! And the bonus photo reminds me of my top-of-the-mountain sunrise photo of your grand-dog….such a wonder of a coincidence when I wander out there into the world at odd hours.