When I am out in the wild with my camera, I am usually looking for creatures to photograph. There are moments, however, when the beauty of the surroundings simply draws me in and for a while I can block out the stresses of the world. At this time, when our “normal” world seems to be crumbling before our eyes, I think we all need to find ways to step away from media reporting, take a deep breath, and find fresh perspectives—this is how I do it.
Here are a few photos that I took on Tuesday at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge. In the first image, I was struck by the successive layers of vegetation, some dried, some evergreen, and some showing reddish traces of new growth. The texture of the cattail captured my attention in the second image—as it moved in the gentle breeze, the it cattail would release a few fluffy seed heads that floated through the air. The final photo shows a small observation platform at the end of a trail. I was struck by the amount of vegetation that has grown up and almost engulfed the small structure and blocked the view to the water.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice photos. It is always a good thing to pause to remember and give thanks to the One who created this world and all that is in it. “But now ask the beasts and let them teach you, And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this…”
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Very Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
There’s so much to capture in nature; we only have to look for it.
Nature beckons; one is best advised to follow.
I agree. I love the slogan that I saw recently–Not All Who Wander Are Lost. Wandering is my prime mode of exploration with my camera and I often call myself an opportunistic shooter. 🙂
Beautiful shots, Mike. I love the layers of color we see this time of year as the sap starts to rise. Photography turns our focus outward, outside of ourselves and our day-to-day world. Such relief and bliss is found in nature!
It’s so good to have easy access to such an area that’s so conducive to much-needed meditation and reflection. Love the palette of different textures in your first shot.
Looks like a wonderful spot to lose yourself in nature for a while. I try to let that happen as often as possible.
Ah, to slow down, change the focus. So hard to do in this pandemic. Thank you for helping us do that!