First Hunt

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “First Snow 120120a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The canoe glides silently through the water as the youth watches for any sign of movement on the banks. The weight of his responsibility is balanced only by his people’s faith in his skills. His movement is slow and determined so as not to disturb the noisy blue jays that live in the trees. He’s been hunting this area for a few months now and he knows not only the landscape but also the lives of the animals that call this place home. He knows that the falls are close by the subtle changes in the current and a simple change in the angle of his paddle brings him to shore. He hunkered down behind a stand of seedling hemlock and waited. He prayed for favor as his sharp eyes kept a vigil on low gaps of the meadow before him. It wasn’t long before the buck made his appearance. He moved along the tree line staying close to cover of the thick brambles. The young man notched an arrow in his bow and waited. As the buck drew closer the young man could see it’s breath in the cold air. For a split second they locked eyes as the arrow slipped from the bow. A single moment stretched into an eternity as the arrow struck its mark. The young man began to sing his song of thanks to his creator as he ceremoniously began to dress the animal for transport back to his village. Once more his canoe glides across the water and comes to a stop where his family greets him with joy and excitement for his success. This was his first solo hunt and he had proven himself to be worthy of their faith.

I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of fiction. Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

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I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!

The Park Sleeps And Waits

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Stone Stairway 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The wind carries a deep chill as it sweeps across the Kanawha River. The only occupants of the park are the small animals that scurrying through empty pathways. Those who played games in park during the days of the sun have left behind only the faded footprints and echoes of laughter. The stonework holds memories of the lovers holding hands as they decend from the parking lot to enjoy each other’s company beneath the oaks. It was a blue sky day when the light fell gently through the leaves. The bird’s held back songs for only a moment as a ring was presented in nervous anticipation. The sparkle of the small gemstone was dimmed only by the twinkle of eyes in joyful acceptance. The embrace that followed halted the flow of time for moment of eternity. The scene was witnessed by passing strangers who had also come to this place to begin their never ending embrace all those decades ago. The older gentleman smiles warmly as he looks on and his bride accepts the clasp of his hand. They move on quietly so as not to disturb the young couple. The stone stairway listens to the young couple’s plans as they lay out precisely how they will be decorated for the ceremony in Spring when the sparrows return and new life is exploding everywhere. There will ribbons and archways and many loved ones positioned in the soft new grass. There will be potted violets and pansies to form the aisle and it will be a thing to remember on that day when all things are new again. But for now the shadows grow and the time of rest is at hand. The oaks sleep and the stones wait in anticipation and excitement of their own as they look forward to the sun’s return and the new memories to be made.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!

The Days Of Transition And Looking Forward To The New Light

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Trestle Bridge 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The late Fall sun hangs low in the sky and hovers just above the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. I find myself returning from a day of running errands and on the way home I’m drawn to the wonderful old railway bridge at Gauley Bridge. The small town bosts a population of around 600 people now that the mines are shut down and all the tourists are gone. With the exception of the occasional passersby like myself the streets are quite and it would be easy to think of yourself as having the world all to yourself. At the base of the bridge the illusion of solitude is enhanced by the vegetation that hides the homes which are nestled comfortably at the base of the mountain on the far side of river. Occasionally I can hear music or smell the smoke from a well tended hearth. But, for the most part the world consists only of the bridge and the quiet river. The small birds fluster about in the bushes collecting the bits and pieces that will thicken their nest against the oncoming winter. Bridges symbolize transition and we stand on the edge of of the change in seasons. In just 21 days Fall will end and winter will begin. The shadows start to grow short again and old Sol will slowly climb to his rightful place in the sky. In 21 days the new light will come. This is the transition that I look forward to as I stand beneath the bridge.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!

The Lesson Of The Willow

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Rebirth 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.


Men came. They came with axes and saws and chains and they began to bite and gnaw at my base until they pulled me down. They dismembered me and hauled me away in pieces. But I was not defeated. Beneath the cold ground my roots found the strength to live. I will never yield. I will never give up.  I will live.

On the banks of the Kanawha River at the little Kanawha Falls park is another of my favorite trees. The sandbar willows are vigorous. The roots are strong and grow deep enough to anchor  them against flooding. Willows are also the source of growth and rooting hormones found in the gardening supplies. Which is why this particular willow has a second lease on life  A closer view of the willow prop roots.


This willow was cut down a few years ago and when I first noticed the trees growing up from the stump I thought that they were separate trees and that the stump was just caught up by the new growth.  But on closer inspection I found that this is all the same tree. The tree was just that determined to live. 

Forests are good analogs for society. In the Bible when Jesus heals the blind man it takes two attempts. Jesus spits on the ground and makes clay which is put on the man’s eyes and when Jesus asks what he sees the man replied that he saw men as trees that walk.  I believe that it wasn’t a failure of Jesus and that he had to try again.  Instead, I believe that Jesus first opened the blind man’s spiritual vision before opening his natural vision.  In short,  I believe that Jesus was showing the blind man something special.  There are other places in the Bible where mankind is likened to trees. Actually, there’s a lot of  places in the Bible that trees symbolize mankind, tribes or kings. 

There is always going to be times of great loss. Times when it looks like we’ve lost all of our growth.  The “powers that be” are always eager to pull us down and part out our gains. But if our roots are strong and we are determined we can come back stronger than ever. 

Another tree secret is that trees are a community. Science has proven that they even talk to each other through a fungal network that even helps them exchange sugars. The forest will even keep very old stumps alive and try to help them regrow. It’s possible that some old stumps even serve as a databank for the surrounding forest just as mankind needs those from previous generations to lead and guide us.

When the leaves are on we can see that the old willow stump is definitely still alive.

My final thought for tonight is to never give up and never accept the face value of any situation as the final outcome. Each and every one of us is stronger than we think and we all have the opportunity to rise again and start over.Image Titled “Rebirth 112420b”.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2020

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Kanawha Falls 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The failing afternoon light quietly slips away on the banks of the big river. As the sun ebbs away from the sky I find myself staring out across the river at falls searching for inspiration. This is Thanksgiving week and in the early days of American history the celebration was for more than one day. I’m told that in those days there was little difference between friends and family. The bonds were deep and lifelong. Today we often ask each other “What are you thankful for?” Most people will single out a favored possession or relationship. A few people will cite a spiritual blessing as the thing that their most thankful for. And all these things are good and they all have a massive amount of value. But, I think that our ancestors were thankful not just for these things but also for freedom they had to enjoy their blessings. Yes it’s true that it would be a long time before the Declaration Of Independence and the birth of a new nation but compared to the life they had in Europe life in the New World was second only to Heaven itself.

My final thought for tonight is that I’m thankful for life itself and thankful for the liberty to enjoy it.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!