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Let it Be


Let it Be
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-01
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-01 10:11
Viewed: 537
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The title of my post today reflects what I see outside the windows of my house, where there is no mound of snow to hide the view ;-)

Last night there has been some ice rain as the weather is now warming up a little bit and we wake up with fog, rain and some frost on the branches of the trees. Spring is finally announced in St.Alphonse!

I took this picture from my balcony, it's the big pine where we hang the feeders of niger for the Common Redpolls and the American Goldfinches. This is a huge tree that I love very dearly.

I also have been thinking a lot about my post of yesterday telling you about my "Ma Dalton" friend killing squirrels. I think the "image" of this story is quite funny and cartoon-like even though I am the last person to promote killing squirrels or any animal for that matter. I don't even kill flies or spiders in the house, I let them live. I even slept one night with a mouse underneath my pillow so the cats wouldn't catch it!

My thoughts lead me to when I started coming here in St.Alphonse 6 years ago. I was enjoying the calm and peace of this small village and I enjoyed so much going to the lake. But I was SHOCKED to hear the noise, all made by motors and fuel: sea-doos, chainsaws, VTTs, weed eaters, and the list could go on. I realized then how much our western culture is based upon OIL and its consumption.

My intolerance level was rising every week-end. Love who is a Gandhi fan, was talking to me about TOLERANCE. We had long discussions regarding tolerance. I fought with him telling him that I wasn't intolerant, that THOSE people were ruining the earth, bothering others, blablabla, out of ignorance and unconsciousness.

Very slowly, through the years, I came to realize that most of "those" people were born here, living the life they lead the way they know to do it. My neighbours were born here. One day, we were talking with them and Claude started saying that each spring, he was spraying the small stream flowing in front of our houses - going directly into the lake - with poison for the mosquitoes and black flies (swarms of black flies live here in summer). His wife was knocking his elbow telling him not to talk about that. They KNOW about ecology, the damages caused by insecticides and everything. But they keep on doing it because they want to live their life, and they are the most lovable people you can meet. I once read that wisdom was being able to do what one knows. That's the second step to take after getting knowledge... it's the hardest to me.

I won't change my dear neighbour who, at 75 years old, between two hikes of hunting in the forest, walks around his yard with insecticide in a bottle, spraying everything that is crawling as soon as he sees it. On our yard, we "raise" bugs to make better compost and the four of us laugh about our differences. They are known, that's the most important thing.

There is a wonderful Buddhist saying: Ignorance is the root of all evils (was it from a Buddhist saying???). And to finish, the hardest, the toughest saying to live I have ever read: "Aimez-vous les uns les autres" (Love one another). That's THE real challenge!

Have a super day!

Francine
ISO 400
Shot in raw, converted in jpeg in Lighroom
Levels adjusted
Gert-Paassen, nglen, joey, goldyrs, CeltickRanger, eqshannon, Adanac, Heaven has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Heaven: Walking barefootNinaM 2 04-02 12:21
To joey: Sleeping with a mouseNinaM 2 04-02 10:27
To eqshannon: LearningNinaM 1 04-02 08:45
To Adanac: Oil IndustryNinaM 1 04-02 08:36
To goldyrs: GandhiNinaM 1 04-02 08:29
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Nina,

You are a good writer!
picture good of sharpness with beautiful natural colors.
Exelent BG.

Regards Gert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5959] (22526)
  • [2008-04-01 11:38]

Hi Francine. I glad you think its spring it just looks cold and wet . but all the same you have taken a good close up of the tree covered in frozen rain. this has good detail and colour. good use of the little light you must have had, well done tFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 245 N: 6158] (21922)
  • [2008-04-01 13:30]
  • [+]

Very good note to accomany this image Francine!
I would never kill an animal though I'm not sure I'd sleep with a mouse under my pillow! :-)
Excellent clarity in the droplets and superb sharpness.
Nice composition and a great DOF.
Superb abstract image!

Cheers,
Joe

bonjour Francine

d'abord je dois dire que tu ecris d'excellentes Photographer's Note,
belle idée de photographier avec un excellent DOF,
excellente netteté et détails, TFS

Asbed

I know this one well...as I have not only "studied" it but have come to enlightenment on it...the Tao gives birth to one....one gives birth to two...two gives birth to three, and the three gives birth to the the "Ten Thousand Things".. My bet is that you have already heard or knew of that a long time ago and if not then wold understand it as you see it...

I see your image as two things...to be precise if need be...it is simple in its patterns of energy in nature which is called Wu-Li in Chinese or "patterns or organic energy"... and it is also ten thousand things...a metaphor for each to see and interpret as they know it. My way of seeing the image reminds me of "chop wood, carry water" and your lesson is complete. We have both learned today!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15128)
  • [2008-04-01 20:19]
  • [+]

Hello Francine,
Beautiful image of this very artful scene. Your words only empathize my belief that you have an incredible spirit. My belief is that one who has love and compassion for the tiny creatures will recieve the same from their maker. I was concern I would be in your bad books for working in the oil and gas industry in Alberta.
Rick

Hi Francine!

Such a pleasure to read your notes... I like the story with the mouse under your pillow very much! I also like the association between your picture and your notes: this wonderful tree frees your mind and thoughts. Isn't this marvellous? We should all have "our" tree or our stone. I made the same experience as you with stones: I like touching them, walking barefoot in a stony river bed and sit down for a while...

By the way: your picture is marvellous!

Kind regards

Markus

Francine,
The frost seems to have given you a beautiful shot!
Yes, tolerence and peace are an important aspect of life.If you've heard the saying about being able to lead the horse to the water, but not being able to make it drink the water...well, one needs to at least try and lead them there.
By the way, speaking of Gandhi, do you know his favourite hymn was 'Abide with me'?
A few of his thoughts ...
"I need no inspiration other than Nature's. She has never failed me yet. She mystifies me, bewilders me, sends me into ecstasies. Besides God's handiwork, does not man fade into insignificance?

When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator."

You're a very effective writer,Francine.You have the ability to give life to stones through your writings and shots!
Keep up the good work!
CHeers!
Goldy

Hi Francine,

This is a beautiful shot, technically and artistically very competent, and also symbolic of the coming (at last) of spring - more than welcome it is too! Lovely work, thanks for sharing.

ps you have a wonderful perspective on life and nature...

Doug

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-03 7:18]

Hello Francine

I think we are sharing a similar Winter experience.
This is lovely,the POV and DOF is excellent.
You have filled the frame well with the bough.
Very good focus and sharpness,the icy droplets are beautiful and the lighting is very effective.
A lovely artistic shot well combined poetic words.
TFS

Rob

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