Do you sometimes envy water? I do.
Artist Nature has no equal, and each season carries its own reminders of that fact. While water is essential year-round, its ability to change shape seems never more obvious than during winter, when it transforms from liquid into vapor, frost, graupel, sleet, snow, or ice. And maybe water’s changeability made apparent is the reason why I pay more attention to its various manifestations at this time of year than at any other.
Not only does the very character of water change in response to changes in temperature or pressure, so does its configuration. The various structures it can assume are remarkably attractive—just think of the hexagons of ice crystals, no two alike—and are expressions of Nature’s beautiful patterns.
Even though we humans are part of nature, the patterns we have woven across time and space are, more often than not, anything but beautiful. Like so many of you, I’m incredulous and aghast at this latest iteration of human-caused disorder and evil. I’m profoundly sad yet at the same time furious. But more than anything I feel completely powerless. This is one of the instances when, like water, I wish I could change my substance and evaporate into the ether. Evaporate, and in so doing, lift this pall of our collective sadness, the sinister specter of war and devastation, and more importantly, its causes.
But wishful thinking has never helped anybody and it won’t help in this case. What will?
To enlarge a photo, click on it. To read its caption, hover the cursor over it.
So well conveyed in this post! I’m right with you, Tanja❤️
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Thank you, Dwight. I know that many, many people share our feelings right now.
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Your photos above are so interesting Tanja! Only about an hour ago I re-shared a quote that had appeared in my facebook feed and I really like it: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” –attributed to Jimi Hendrix
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Thank you for sharing the quote, Liz. We have been waiting for a long time for this to come true and, unfortunately, we aren’t there (yet?).
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Another feeling to add, afraid. The rhetoric from the moscow madman is deeply troubling.
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Yes, Brian, I agree. 😢
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Thank you for this lovely post. Such awful times wrapped in such natural beauty.
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Thank you, Cathy. I keep thinking about a question/statement by one of my history high school teachers: Have you ever wondered what life would be like/would have been like if all of us got along?
And in the same vein, I remember a “hippie” saying that will never lose relevance: Imagine there is a war and nobody goes there/attends.
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Herrlich, auf solche wunderschönen Motive muss ich hier wegen des Klimawandels verzichten.
So schön, Tanja
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Ich danke Dir, liebe Brigitte. Auch hier werden unsere Winter kürzer und wärmer, so daß ich immer dankbar bin, wenn ich winterliche Momente und Motive finden kann.
Alles Gute,
Tanja
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Beautiful images, Tanja.
That madman wreaking havoc across the Ukraine must be stopped and Ms Liz’s quote from Jimi Hendrix says it all.
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Thank you, Vicki, I agree.
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That’s a good assortment showing water’s ways. The lower portion of your top picture looks like an interference pattern.
Like you, I don’t know what we should do about the new war.
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Thank you, Steve. That pattern definitely stopped me in my tracks (or, more concretely, in my car, as I had to pull over when I drove past that lake to take a photo). It’s a beautiful kind of interference, unlike the one that has the entire world upset right now.
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I, too, am heartbroken over the death and destruction in Ukraine. But your beautiful pictures remind us of the consolation and wonder of nature. Many thanks for this post.
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Thank you, Laurie. I don’t know what I would do without that consolation.
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Same!
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These are great! Such artistry.
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Thank you, V.J.
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So many of us are feeling powerless!
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I know, Christa. And so many of us are sad and crying. 😢
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Beautifully written.
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Thank you, Diana.
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While reading your photo essay, the serenity prayer popped up in my mind: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
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I love that prayer, Peter. But I must admit that I find it hard to accept that one person (backed by one system), can terrorize the entire world. Serenity seems out of reach for me right now.
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I agree with you. It appears to me that Putin likes to bring back the Soviet Union to its former shameful glory.
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Diese Eiskristalle auf der Seeoberfläche erscheinen mir wie dreidimensionale, geometrische Eisblumen.
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Das ist eine wunderbare Beschreibung, liebe Ulrike. Danke dafür. ❄
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Howdy. I might have asked this before in re water: Have you read The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson? It’s a fabulous book.
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Thanks for the suggestion, Neil. The book is actually on one of our book shelves, but I haven’t yet read it. That’s the problem–too many great books, too little time. I will add it to my reading list. 😊📚
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I love each and every one of these photos, Tanja. The variety of water you captured is unbelievable! I agree that wishful thinking doesn’t help our world. I’m hoping that each time we notice and revel in nature, we at least realize we must not give up, and hopefully we convince others when we share our thoughts.
Best,
Julie
P.S. The goose highway is just ab fab! Put a smile on my face instantly!
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Thank you, Julie. Nature gives me so much to smile about and be grateful for, but I’m really struggling with human nature. 😢
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Water, the lifeblood of this planet, is something to be treasured. Beautiful photos, Tanja!
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Thank you, Eliza. As we all know, without water, no life. It’s very precious.
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Exquisite photos! Very sad and scary time right now. I am very worried. 🙏
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Thank you, Donna. I have the feeling that all people with any sense are completely stunned and scared by what is going on.
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Yes, these are sad, dark days. Your photos remind us that Nature remains wonderful, and beautiful, despite the best efforts of our own species to desecrate it. And the image of the geese footprints is perhaps a metaphor for the directionless chaos that the Ukraine tragedy has engendered amongst concerned onlookers who want to help but, as you say, feel powerless to act.
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“Directionless chaos” might be humanity’s epitaph. But I still hope we can create another ending.
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Well said! Better than I could have, so I can simply say that I wholeheartedly agree.
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We have somehow to uncouple the mind from the idea of winning and belittling in the powerful that lead ultimately to the horror of such war.
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I agree with you, Cathy.
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Solche Muster finde ich jedesmal faszinierend. Viel zu selten hier in Norddeutschland zu sehen.
Hoffen wir für die Zukunft das Beste. Ich denke immer an das Zitat von Einstein: “Die Welt wird nicht bedroht von den Menschen, die böse sind, sondern von denen, die das Böse zulassen.”
Für mich als unverbesserliche Optimistin sind diese Worte fast ein Mantra zu handeln und niemals den Kopf im Sand stecken zu lassen.
Die Stellungnahme der Weltengemeinschaft gibt Hoffnung!
LG Simone
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Herzlichen Dank für den Kommentar, liebe Simone.
Ich bin jedes Jahr von Neuem erstaunt, welche wunderbaren Kreationen der Winter doch schaffen kann.
Und ich wünsche Dir und uns allen, daß sich Dein Optimismus bewahrheitet.
Alles Gute,
Tanja
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Beautiful reflection Tanja, great picturesXXX
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Thank you very much, dear Isabelle. ❤
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You’ve expressed it so beautifully, Tanja! Yes, we are Mother Nature’s children too; but maybe we severed off the umbilical cord too soon…
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Thank you for sharing that insight, Narendra. I’m afraid you might be right. And like so many truculent children, we can’t admit to our mistake.
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Wonderful images of the beauty of water’s forms – nature is absolutely amazing. I wish that we could live in harmony with it and in harmony with each other.
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Thank you, Ann. Your wish is my wish also. 🙏
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It is easy to develop a habit of “one-dimensional” thinking. Water. We see it every day and think we know what it looks like. Then, along comes an artist who shows us how to think outside the box of our preconceived ideas.
Thank you so much for sharing your excellent photographs which display patterns of what we thought was a familiar object!
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That’s so true. We have a tendency to develop tunnel vision and benefit from reminders that there are many more dimensions than we can even think of. Water reminds us of that constantly.
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The goose highway put a smile on my face! 🙂
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I’m glad Nirmala. Seeing a gaggle of geese (or their tracks) does that for me, too.
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What’s also distressing is that one Russian [choose your term] is capable of wreaking havoc not only on humans but also on the natural world. On the other hand, with his chosen targets involving areas rich in wheat and sunflower as well as gas and oil, he may end up uniting the entire world against him: or at least a goodly portion of it. Stories are beginning to emerge about dissatisfaction with his chosen course across Africa, for example. My hope is that his actions breed limiting consequences before truly terrible events take place.
Your photos are delightful. The properties of water, and its ability to take so many forms, always has fascinated me. We don’t get to see all its forms here on a regular basis, so a post like yours is especially enjoyable.
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Thank you, Linda. Each winter I think I’m sharing similar photos, but I never grow bored with watching water transform itself and am glad to know others aren’t tired of seeing the results of those transformations either.
I also share in your hope that even more horrible events can be prevented.
Wishing for peace,
Tanja
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Amazing photos! As I grew up in warmer places, I’ve never seen frozen lake but now I know it’s so beautiful showing how mother nature can create such a terrific view to us. Thank you for sharing❄️🧊💕
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Thank you, Tanooki. Winter always surprises me with its wonderful creations.
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Beautiful images, Tanja, and such a wistful metaphor.
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Thank you, Mitch. I think wistful reflects the state of the world. It definitely reflects my state of mind.
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Liebe Tanja, ich bin sehr begeistert von deiner Zusammenstellung ungewöhnlicher Winterfotos.
Sie sind voller Stimmung, Faszination und magischem Zauber.
Wunderbar!
Liebe Grüße aus dem frühlingshaften Bergischen Land….von Rosie 😊🌈💕
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Es freut mich sehr, daß Dir die Bilder gefallen haben, liebe Rosie. Herzlichen Dank für den Kommentar.
Auch Dir liebe Grüße zum Wochenende–und zum Frühlingsanfang! 🌷
Herzlichst,
Tanja
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Sadly, only time will solve (hopefully) the evil that is wreaking death and destruction in Ukraine right now. One hears stories of Russians railing against the war but as was evidenced by Putin’s rally the other day, he has plenty of support. Of course, the story most Russians are getting from the controlled press there is quite different from reality. One hopes the, given time and exposure, more will revolt against him and it seems that is happening as he attacks those whom he calls “traitors”.
I am not sure I envy water but, as you know, I certainly do enjoy and respect the element. You’ve captured some wonderful abstracts of it.
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Thank you for your comment, Steve. I can’t even bring myself to watch news right now, they only heighten my baseline anxiety. Somehow, naively, I thought we were done with wars and threats of nuclear assaults, but I was obviously wrong. 😢
Wishing and hoping for peace,
Tanja
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