The temperatures were a bit lower yesterday and the air quality was better, so I finally ventured out with my camera. I managed to capture a number of fun images of things that caught my eye as I was walking along a hike-bike trail at Huntley Meadows Park, a local, county-run wetland park that I used to visit frequently until it became too popular and overcrowded.
This was my first photo expedition in the wild in more than a month and a half. I was busy with Pride things during parts of June, so I spent time in urban environments, enjoying the events, capturing only a few snapshots with my iPhone. Various combinations of high temperatures, thunderstorms, and unhealthy air quality have kept me indoors this month. To be perfectly honest, I have felt a bit sluggish and lazy, which is a bit unusual for me.
Yesterday I feel like I reconnected with my “mojo,” fully immersing myself in the environment with all of my senses engaged. I couldn’t help but notice, however, how many people that passed me had their eyes focused on their cell phones and were virtually oblivious to the beauties of nature that surrounded them.
What about you? Would you have noticed the tiny flowering plant growing inches off of the ground? (Please let me know if you can identify it—I came up empty-handed after a cursory internet search.”) Would you have stared down at the murky waters of the pond long enough to spot the snapping turtle that had poked its eyes above the surface and seemed to be watching me? Would you have reacted quickly enough to capture a shot of the bright blue tail of the five-lined skink that momentarily flashed into view as I was walking back to the parking lot?
If you have walked along with me yesterday, different subjects might have caught your attention and you undoubtedly would have captured different images. This little set of photos gives you a general idea of how I view the natural world. What catches your eye?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 