Willow and I went out early to catch the grouping of planets coming up in the east. We never saw Saturn, Mars or Venus. We were too early and cold. I pointed the camera down the lake southeast and took a few pictures. Willow sat beside the tripod. She whined a few times and I saw her shiver when I turned on my flashlight to check I was still focused on infinity.
A photograph is made of light. The camera records it without sentimentality or prejudice. The photographer adds that later, trying to show a story to the viewer. The viewer also adds their thoughts to the image. Sometimes the image touches and tells a different story to many different people. That’s called art. Sometimes a picture captures a time and place. That’s a document.
This photo is light only. The light of The Milky Way. The Dark Horse near the centre of the galaxy. The Scorpions Tail. The purple and green aurora signalling flares from the our sun. The lights of Windermere and Fairmont in the distance. The sun showing below the horizon, marking another day.
Some of the light has been here forever while other, even brighter light is recent.
The Northern Lights and stars reflect in the lake. Do the fish take direction from this light? Does it trigger when they spawn, when they go into the many creeks feeding the lake? There isn’t many native fish left in Lake Windermere.
By comparison humans have only had the ability to cast light, shading the skies, for a short time. To capture light even less.
I worry what happens to our souls when we can’t see Andromeda, Aurora and the The Milky Way. Like the fish we may forget our way.
Palliser Pass 
Carol A. Hand
Deep and beautiful reflections, dear friend. 💜
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underswansea
Thank you Carol! I hope you are doing well. Take care.
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larry
I hope Willow got a liver treat for putting up with the expedition in the cold dawn.
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underswansea
Willow did get a treat. We also went through Tim Hortons drive through during our return where she lets her presence be known, and for her trouble was offered a Tim Bit.
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Jim R
Thanks for those comments and thoughts. I agree with it all. I am glad we have light and we can see in so many ways.
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underswansea
I agree with you, it is amazing to evaluate the light, as you do in many of your posts. Wishing you and Melanie a great weekend.
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Jim R
Today we watched the White Pelicans on our local river that runs through town. I hope this link works. Let me know if it doesn’t. https://ourviewfromiowa.wordpress.com/?p=6902&preview=true
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underswansea
Hi Jim, the link didn’t work, but I did go to Our View From Iowa and really enjoyed reading through some of the posts.
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Jim R
Glad to hear that.
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