Snow this morning! Lovely. Unfortunately I’m not able to get out in it and play—I’m “T.A.B.” (temporarily able-bodied) with my foot in an air-cast trying to heal a torn tendon. But, for a while at least, it is a good time to work on photographs that might otherwise wait for “someday!”
And I have a large bouquet of Forsythia on the table, picked ten days ago and enjoyed at every stage of its forced flowering.
I’ve continued to enjoy working with some of the photographs I made near Iqaluit, Nunavut, in the Fall of 2004. The colors are beyond believing—whether the unreal oranges or the “plain” grays and greens—and are themselves found in endless combinations. Add to that the equally endless variation in patterns and textures, a remarkable world in which I delighted in seeing small pieces in abstract.
The tundra is deceptive in its appearance; my normal perception of distance was not useful given my lack of being able to see the many features that actually existed.
That these little gems are simply parts of an immense tundra—a land that to my uneducated eye seemed endless and yet also nearly featureless—I found astonishing. And on any one rock I could have spent hours (or days!) with a macro-lens seeing even “deeper” into the complex ecosystems and the geological worlds that supported them.
The “First People,” as they are often known, do, in fact, see many, many features on the tundra and create way-markers like this inuksut.
That said, I’m not sure how many would agree with me who’d not been there in the blowing snow, listening to Ravens talking overhead, lost in the lack of any recognizable perspective! All that may be part of the magic and my love for these images.
I printed out over four dozen different rock images and find they may be a bit overwhelming, even for my eye. A bit like feasting on rich food or getting lost on the tundra.
Here, however, are a few more to “nibble” on, perhaps just one at a time! Click on these images and they will become larger and open in a separate page through which you can easily scroll.
Still Learning To See 
I haven’t been there, but I still agree. There’s so much that we miss seeing – everywhere, not just the tundra – either because we’re unfamiliar and don’t notice things, or are too familiar – and don’t notice things. Beautiful textures and colors in this group. Can’t believe you have forsythia already – even forcing it. We do for a couple of feet of snow today. There are the times I wish I still lived in Syracuse where they are used to handling this type of storm. At least I don’t have to go out today. A good day to make soup, work on flickr, read and watch a movie. Hope your foot heals quickly. ♡
Thanks, Deb. I’m doing fine. I really appreciate your comments about noticing things. Wish I could send you down some forsythia—if you have any, this is a great time—psychologically and botanically—to cut a few branches and bring them inside! Hugs, John
These pictures are so beautiful. Thanks for posting this.
You are welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed them. Stay tuned for more!
You may be interested in this: http://asifoscope.org/2013/02/08/1791/ The ideas about Aesthetics I have put there apply as well to the structures you are photographic there.
The tundra seems to be a very interesting landscape. It looks barren on the large scale but there is a lot of interesting micro-structure.