Clouds are a timeless muse, offering a canvas of ever-changing patterns and colors to capture. Whether they serve as a stunning backdrop to a landscape or take center stage as the main subject, clouds bring a sense of dynamism and depth. There’s something truly captivating about the interplay of light and shadow within the billowing forms of clouds, particularly when the gentle rays of sunlight peek through, creating a mesmerizing contrast of brightness and darkness.
Dark clouds over the bay
“Clouds in the sky very much resembles the thoughts in our minds! Both changes perpetually from one second to another!”
Last week was truly an enjoyable experience as I delved into the world of dramatic photography for Patti. Selecting the most fitting images for the challenge presented quite a delightful yet daunting task.
And as I reflect on it, this week does not appear to be any easier, given that Ann-Christine has tasked us with illustrating a favorite quote or poem. The abundance of choices certainly makes this a captivating yet challenging endeavor. This week’s challenge offers an opportunity to delve into the profound world of words and capture their essence through artistry.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow / Ultima Thule: The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls
The tide rises, the tide falls, The twilight darkens, the curlew calls; Along the sea-sands damp and brown The traveller hastens toward the town, And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Darkness settles on roofs and walls, But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls; The little waves, with their soft, white hands, Efface the footprints in the sands, And the tide rises, the tide falls.
The little waves, with their soft, white hands, Efface the footprints in the sands,
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls; The day returns, but nevermore Returns the traveller to the shore, And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Returns the traveller to the shore
To participate in this challenge, you should link to or leave a comment on the week’s host’s original challenge post and please use the #Lens-Artists tag in your own post, so the post is easily found in the Reader.
Flowing and foaming, the river runs wild, Bringing me joy, making me feel With not a worry or care in sight, It spins me around, filling me with delight. Flowing and foaming, the river runs free, A place of solace, where I can be me. You are my escape, my source of glee, In your embrace, I feel completely free.
November in Finland, a world of gray, Where autumn whispers its final farewell, Leaves relinquish their vibrant display, And nature succumbs to the winter’s spell.
fallen leaves
The air is crisp, with a biting chill, As frosty breath dances upon the breeze, The sun, a timid presence on the hill, Casting feeble rays through the barren trees.
The days grow shorter, the nights grow long, As darkness blankets the land in its embrace, A melancholic hymn in nature’s song.
Yet amidst the gloom, a flicker of light, As candles glow in windowsills, Warmth and coziness fill the bitter night, A sanctuary from the winds that blow.
November in Finland, a somber sight, A season of reflection, a time for respite, Where nature’s cycle finds solace in solitude.
Gray days of November, oh so dreary, Dampened spirits, and a heart full of drear. The skies are gray, the winds they do howl, As if the world itself were lost in a droll.
The trees stand bare, their leaves long gone, Their branches skeletal, a somber song. The grass is parched, the flowers all gone, A desolate landscape, a winter’s dawn.
The days are short, the nights are long, A time of rest, but little song. The world is quiet, still and cold, As if the season’s chill had grown old.
But even in the gray, there’s beauty found, A time for reflection, a time profound. The world may be dull, but not the heart, For in the gray days of November, we find our part.
So let us embrace the gray, and all its might, For in the darkness, there is still a light. A light that shines within our souls, A beacon of hope, in the gray days of November’s role.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 