Just a few miles north of Flagg Canyon we saw this! See my previous post for the contrast. Spring, popping through but not yet completely overtaking the snow. Just inside the Yellowstone south entrance, much snow still remained in early June after a 700+ inch winter of snowfall!
Hope Springs Eternal – YNP Near South Entrance
North of Grand Teton National Park, just shy of the Yellowstone National Park south entrance, is Flagg Canyon Trail. It’s a beautiful trail that runs north to YNP along a fabulous river canyon overlook. Last year this area was part of thousands of acres that fell victim to a forest fire. One year later, the contrast of a badly charred forest slowly being renewed with a plush green “floor” was gorgeous in it’s own right. The National Park Service often let’s nature take its course, allowing such fires to burn and die a natural death rather than extinguish them. This allows God and Nature to administer recovery all on their own, on top of clearing out years of dead underbrush. There are documented cases where certain seedlings only initiate growth from extremely high temperatures of forest fires like this. The fires are an inconvenience to us park visitors, but they are an essential part of the circle of forest life. And as seen here, they bring their own unique brand of beauty.
Overcoming such adversity reminds me of Ephesians 3:20: God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Fire Scorched Remnants – Flagg Canyon Trail
This old friend continues to stand through thick and thin, brutal winters and of course a lightening strike or two. Old Patriarch is well deserving of the half mile walk through brushy terrain before sunrise.
Old Patriarch Tree – GTNP
The famed Moulton Barn on Mormon Row in the Tetons never grows old (figuratively speaking). It is classical and magical, regardless of season!
Moulton Barn – Mormon Row, GTNP
One of my local favorite small town vignettes is Historic Downtown Norcross. It is a very small train depot town from years past, replete with a handful of nice shops and eateries. It has continued to improve with age over the past 20 years, thoughtfully blending nearby historic residential neighborhoods with new homes. Many of the neighborhoods are a short walk from downtown and a nearby park, all reminiscent of the 40’s. Lots of folks stroll the sidewalks with their family or significant other, and the town hosts annual events like an antique British car show to arts festivals. You get the picture … warm, friendly, inviting, and easily accessible.
Over the years I’ve done several outdoor portrait sessions along the storefronts, railroad tracks, and neighborhood sidewalks. Also, a favorite photo spot has been the alley behind the main set of shops.
This weekend I was on a casual motorcycle ride and decided to swing through town, not having been there in months. I hoped there might be a Memorial Day parade or event in the works, but this was not the case. Things were “dead” on my early morning pass through. So plan B – zip through the alley and see if there’s anything new and interesting to photograph. Much to my surprise, the old sleepy back alley had seen a facelift! The color and artistic flare have made it come alive.
The Doors
The Blues
Foxy
Local Republic
Couture
Station #10
Hard to Contain
Dirt Tracks
Georgia Clay
Clay Stained
Dual
Courthouse Tree
Happy Easter!
Gotta Run
Scottish Treasures
Fashion Forward
Passing Through Winter
Winter, often gray if not blue figuratively, is in it’s prime. While taking a walk through the park just after the new year, I saw this tree. It has undoubtedly withstood many winters; some mild, some threatening. Rarely do we have a sustainably threatening winter here in the deep south. That said, we have our fair share of ice storms and winter-bookended tornados that threaten even the most deeply-rooted hardwoods.
Seeing and thinking about this tree triggered a couple of reminders: 1) Winter can be cold, gloomy, and “heavy-hearted”, but like every season or phase of life it is only temporary; and, 2) this winter has been mostly mild, with spring already in the foreseeable future. For these reasons, I chose to interpret this scene with a warm texture and tone. Trees are mostly winter-barren now. Leaves are gone with the exception of evergreens and the occasional dead leaf refusing to give in to dropping. But, the imminence of spring and a hopeful new year bears feelings of warmth and optimism.
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” ~ Hal Borland
“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” ~Pietro Aretino
“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley
Pioneer
Door Play
Aging Beauty
Benched
Stacked
A few more …
Grand Central Station
Oculus Transportation Hub @ World Trade Center
Reserved Parking
The diversity of trains, train stations, and the labyrinth of their networks could be a body of work unto itself!
Grand Central Station – Alive
Train Yard
Passing Trains – Williamsburg Bridge
Passing Time – NYC Subway
Above Ground – NYC Subway Station
Fulton St. Station – Rush to the Train
Ceiling 1 – Fulton St. Station
Chilling – Fulton St. Station
Ceiling 3 – Fulton St. Station
Ceiling 4 – Fulton St. Station
Cyclist – Williamsburg Bridge
Cloaked – Williamsburg Bridge
Delivery En Route – Williamsburg Bridge
Morning Run – Williamsburg Bridge