Landscapes – Weekly Photo Challenge

“A landscape image cuts across all political and national boundaries. It transcends the constraints of language and culture.”

Charlie Waite

BRIDGE TO BEAUTY, SOUTH AMERICA

I loved the opening quote by Charlie Waite. There is so much strife and discord in today’s world, yet there is never a quarrel with the beauty of the natural world we all share. How nice that Cheri’s challenge this week gives us the opportunity to share some of the beautiful landscapes we’ve seen around the world.

HISTORY ON A PRECIPICE, SCOTLAND

“It’s an immensely liberating feeling when you’re out in the landscape, concentrating on creating a photograph, and you’re absolutely flying.”

Charlie Waite

As I’ve often noted, I’ve been very fortunate to see some amazing places around the world. Again, I agree with Charlie that the exhilaration one feels when experiencing a special place, especially for the first time, is hard to match. I am particularly drawn to the magnificence of nature, but also appreciate some of the man-made beauty I’ve seen as well. Two wonderful example of man making the most of nature are China’s Great Wall and the wonderful temples of Angkor Wat, both shown below.

CHINA’S GREAT WALL

SUNRISE, ANGKOR WAT

“Photographs – especially those of people, of distant landscapes and faraway cities, of the vanished past – are incitements to reverie.”

Susan Sontag

Some of nature’s most wonderful landscapes are that much more appreciated because of the effort required to reach them. The beauty of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, and the majestic creatures of Botswana come to mind as having been arduous journeys that were very much worthy of effort.

SHIPS, HA LONG BAY

CLASSIC BOTSWANA LANDSCAPE

“A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape.”

Rebecca Solnit

While it is easy to appreciate the glories of exotic places, some of the most wonderful landscapes can also be found in our own backyards. The captures below were made in areas much more accessible to those of us in the US.

EVENING MOONLIGHT, CALIFORNIA

IN THE HEARTLAND, MICHIGAN

PALMETTO SILHOUETTE, KIAWAH ISLAND

“All landscapes ask the same question in the same whisper. ‘I am watching you — are you watching yourself in me?’ “

Lawrence Durrell

I find that not only exhilaration, but also a rather spiritual feeling of tranquility can be found when we stop to appreciate the beauty around us. While the photograph just above was made here on Kiawah, I’ve also experienced some wonderful moments of the peace that only nature can provide in more faraway landscapes such as those below.

WIDE OPEN SPACES, ALASKA

REFLECTIONS, SHANGRI LA, CHINA

“We travel to see beauty of souls in new landscapes.”

Lailah Gifty Akita

So many places, so little space 😄. Wishing you all the peace that nature can give.

To see the landscapes of some other bloggers, click here.

Tags: Landscapes, weekly photo challenge

• April 3, 2016
• Kiawah, Nature, Photography, Travel
• 107 Comments