Some old buildings in rural areas have a rustic charm. Such is the case with this old farm house in Hawthorne, Florida. The front porch and railing recalls days long past. The aged wood has weathered blazing sun and pelting rain.
I first noticed this building about 15 years ago and wanted to shoot it but traffic nor time would permit. In April I saw the field of yellow and knew this was the time. I drove my truck up on the curb, stopped, rolled the rear passenger window down, leaned my seat back, and shot it through the window.
Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited. One of the things that struck me is how farmers raise crops and cattle on steep mountainsides by making terraces. The Swiss geography is filled with contrasts that add to its beauty. This image was shot through the front windshield somewhere between Geneva and Zermatt.
Much of my travel photography was shot through the passenger window or windshield of cars. Sometimes I had a few moments to step out of the car to make my picture.
I would love to always shoot in the golden and blue hours of day, but most often I have had to shoot when the schedule allows. I would have preferred to find a unique angle, set up a tripod and make the perfect picture, but often I shot through the window as the driver wisked me to the next assignment. Some of my next posts will feature pictures that I made between 2007 and 2019 as I whizzed through cities in numerous countries. Follow me and see what I saw.
London, England: Big Ben
We landed in London at the Heathrow Airport around 12:30 p.m. got to our downtown hotel at 2:10 and were told that we had 20 minutes to check-in, refresh, and get back down to the lobby so we could leave by 2:30 for a quick tour of London. We would have just a few hours to see London before going to shoot the event I was there to cover. Our driver rushed us from site to site so I could do what I have learned to do – make the best of the opportunities I have to photograph.
The photo above is of Big Ben. Big Ben is the commonly known name of the Great Bell, the largest of five bells housed in the Clock Tower, recently renamed Elizabeth Tower. The Tower is on the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Designed by Augustus Pugin and completed in 1859, the Tower is more than 160 years old.
Bowing trees at Martha Washington Park in Seattle, Washington.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:6–7 (ESV)
This shadow cross is a closeup of the cross on the wall in my cross and shadow image posted on May 14, 2022.
It is interesting how close the cross is to the palm tree. Wasn’t the crucifixion of Christ close on the heels of the day crowds waved palm branches and shouted hosanna? Life has highs and lows. There are days of celebration and days of rejection. Days of praise and days of pain.
Jesus successfully moved through praise and pain because his eyes and heart were fixed on His Father’s purpose. Because he knew and surrendered to God’s purpose he transformed a negative experience into a positive victory. A steady focus on God’s purpose for us can keep us balanced in times of praise and resolute in pain.
The story of Joseph illustrates how seeing God’s purpose helped him forgive, comfort, and love his brothers who sold him into slavery. When Jospeh saw his brothers standing before him in fear, “Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Gen. 50:19-21. ESV)
Have you experienced praise and pain from the same people? How would focusing and surrendering to God’s purpose help you turn the negative experience into a positive?
Romans 8:28 (ESV): And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God turns acres of flowers into a divine work of art at Gibbs Garden.
We can design a garden area, and plant seeds in the ground, but then away from human sight; God allows the seed to live again and burst out of the ground to bring forth beautiful flowers in a dizzying array of colors.
We can plant seeds of love, wisdom, and truth, in the minds of students, children, friends and even enemies. But it takes God to make the deposits we sow into their lives, grow and make the world beautiful with love, wisdom, grace, and truth. If you see a person devoid of love, drop seeds of courtesy, kindness, and love into their life. Then pray for them. In time love may grow in once barren fields.
One person like one duck can make far reaching ripples. In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, “If you don’t like the world the way it is, YOU change it. YOU have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time!” Make some ripples.
Steven's Travels and Thoughts 