Home from a visit to my dad (and do to a glass-making workshop), I’m working through my photos. I shot these images while walking by Lake Taupo at Tokaanu. The weather was overcast; the threat of rain always present.
But what I remember best is not the lowering clouds, but the sense of absolute stillness. With no-one else around, the only sounds I heard were bird-calls and the lap of water.
It’s rare that I find myself in a place of such quiet and calm, and I’ve edited the shots to help me remember and hold on to the feeling of absolute belonging in that space and time.
The title of this post comes from the wonderful Eva Prowse song ‘Lie in the Land’. On the road I listened again and again to a recording of her performing this with the band Fly My Pretties.
Written for Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge, at Lens and Pens by Sally.
Beautiful shots, Su, that convey exactly what you described.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Janet.
LikeLike
Marvelous set and that last one is stunningly seductive. The entire post was a pleasure to read and view. Happy Photo Challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sally. Wishing you a great weekend.
LikeLike
Pingback: Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Black and White (Photomontage) | Lens and Pens by Sally
I love your description, Su -” the sense of absolute stillness. With no-one else around, the only sounds I heard were bird-calls and the lap of water.” So fitting with the photos.
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Your photos have an ethereal, dream-like feel to them. The stillness and quiet translates through.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Joanne 😃
LikeLike
What wonderful photos. They emanate peace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Suzanne 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are lovely. A perfect escape from listening to the debates.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I just can’t bring myself to listen to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful and serene..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you; I feel these days that as soon as I’m out of Auckland, the countryside embraces me and I feel better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How long does it actually take you to get out of Auckland?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Depends on time of day — and direction. I live in Greenhithe so north ok during the week. Weekends a bit of a nightmare. It can easily take about an hour and a half to get as far as Takanini on weekday mornings. Last time I was coming back from a trip down south it took me two hours to get from Karaka turnoff to my place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes; much patience required. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good music to listen to! I have a new “driving in Auckland” playlist that only has soothing music. It’s amazing how much Ryiuchi Sakamoto’s “1996” album can help me tolerate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can understand that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely dreamy photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can really feel the quiet and stillness. Beautiful shots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Amy 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your edits express what you are saying perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful pictures. They would be a meditation in themselves if hung on a wall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Cathy. You’ve got me thinking now that they would look quite good hung in our spare bedroom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed they would …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly amazing shots, Su! They represent your feelings perfectly! Especially the first one reminds me very much of early french photography from around 1860-1880 😉 Wish you a wonderful weekend and can´t wait to hear about your glasswork shop results! xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sarah. I don’t often edit shots to bleach them out like that, and I was really pleased with the results. I’m hoping my glass pieces are on their way to Auckland now and that I can collect them this weekend. Happy weekend to you xxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It´s amazing what editing can do sometimes! I think I´ll have to get me an editing software too! Which one do you use? Snapseed?
Woo-Hoo! That will be exciting when you can take your glass pieces with you! Still longing to see them!! Have a magnificent weekend, dear Su! xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have PhotoShop and Lightroom on my computer, but haven’t really taken the time to learn them properly. I mainly use Snapseed on my iPad, and Stackables a bit too for really heavily edited shots. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Su! I think it´s time to get better aquainted with photo editing, as this hobby of mine seems to consume more time and energy than I ever thought possible 🙂 It seems you can get addicted to taking photographs! I seldom leave the house with out my camera now! But who am I telling that? 😉 Have a great day! xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too Sarah. Hope your eye is healing well. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Su! Sorry for not getting back earlier! Sadly my eye is not really healing well, the wound broke open twice this week again and I´m feeling a bit blue… not being able to read my friends´blogs doesn´t help also 😉 Miss you! Have a great weekend! xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sarah. I’m so sad to read that your eye isn’t healing well. Sending lots of healing thoughts and hugs (and a little bit of music that might cheer you up). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zked0pU_Bg This is my current favourite band. Hope you like it. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your lovely words, dear Su! 🙂
Just listening to the song – and it´s just sooooooooooo aaaaaawesome!!! THank you so much for poviding me yet again with wonderful music – you´re the best! 🙂 The song just makes goosebumps spread all over my arms, it´s so wonderful! I´m going to listen to more of this fantastic group! 😀 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like it Sarah. I know what you mean about goosebumps! I love that everyone in Fly My Pretties has a solo career, and they bring all these different elements and talents to the band. Hope you had a good weekend my dear friend. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh forgot to say. Just talked to glass tutor and I’ll be collecting my work later today. Ridiculously excited!!!! Hope you are having a great weekend and that your eye is he!ing well. Hugs xxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Feeling ridicuslously excited is one of the best things about art-making, isn´t it? 😉 xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely! 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
Beautiful photographs… 🙂
I guess we belong to the place where we feel at ease and peace. It is not an unchangeable place, as I see it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are right; belonging is a constellation of feelings that change and shift over time. For me, being near water is a constant in my sense of feeling at ease in a place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great question. I still haven’t found it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Handy hint from the vantage point of age … It’s a moveable feast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reflections set a balance in the photographs. Balance and harmony – it is where we belong.
LikeLike
I used snapseed after seeing your photos. The app is awesome!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you’ve found it; it is great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: 2016: a personal retrospective | Zimmerbitch