Tag: Lloyds Lens Photography

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Thoughts and Musing

The mountains of Appalachia provide a lot surprises.  Common sense told me that there are tunnels here and there but I had never spotted one until the day I took this picture.   As I look at the image the obvious thought is about the light at the end of the tunnel.   It’s a phrase that we use when encouraging a friend who’s having a tough time.  But,  we never really think about what the tunnel represents.  The tunnel at Kimberly West Virginia was put in this spot to ease the efforts of traveling through the steep landscape.  The  tunnel made the path straight and eliminated a grueling climb.   

The times in life when it seems like we’re in the proverbial tunnel just trying to make it to the light at the end it helps to remember that it’s a shortcut.   Just stay on the tracks and keep moving forward. 

A Path To Wander 

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing, travel

Our paths are not always easy in life. Some roads are paved others are rocky and then there are the ones that are forbidden.  If you’re a curious person like me then you know how hard it is to leave a mystery behind.  There’s a locked gate in front of this road.  I  know from soil survey maps that it’s a strip mine.  One of many in my area.  And there’s actually a guard just out of sight here.  The guard tolerates my stopping at the gate and snapping a few pictures every so often.  Sometimes he wants to see how the image turns out. But I’m not allowed to see what is on the other side of the hill.  The urge to see what is out there is a basic human drive.  We’re all explorers at heart. We need to find out where the road goes and what is out there.  It’s not always a physical road like this one.  Sometimes it’s an idea or a question that provides the puzzle.  Exploring is more than just seeing.  It’s experiencing the goal. The sound of the birds in a hidden meadow.  It’s the bite of the winter wind and the glimmer of ice while the land sleeps.  It’s life in motion.  It’s the difference between living and existing. 

The Seeker 

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

I stood in a spot between the land and the sea.  

I stood there between youth and maturity. 

Alone in the crowd.  

I called out and the waves answered; answered with your name.

I spent an eternity in a single moment.  

I feared. 

I despaired.

I reached out with my hands and caught only the wind. 

Between the dark and the dawn I stood there.  

I waited.  

I hoped. 

 I reached out with my heart found that you were already here. 

Waiting to be found once again. 

Cathedral Falls,  A Natural Sanctuary

Color Photography, travel

About one mile East of Gauley Bridge West Virginia is Cathedral Falls.  The cascade of water is about 60 feet high and the stream that feeds the falls is call Cane Branch.  The little roadside park is easy to access so I stop by often.  The path to the base of the falls is left in what is best described as a natural state. If you are sure-footed it’s no big deal.  I water is only ankle deep in most places and if you can avoid slippery rocks you can walk right up the stream.  If you can be there in the right light it’s one of our best photo ops.  The image here was taken in the Spring.  The air at Cathedral Falls is highly oxygenated due to the cascade.  It’s a good place to go and just quietly exist as part of God’s creation.  The cascading water seems to carry away the stress and anxiety that clings to the soul after a day of making modern life work.  Green ferns and moss grows everywhere in the canyon.  Birds and butterflies are often present.  The birds sing their songs and butterflies seem to dance to the tune.  

Cathedral Falls is one of God’s special spots.  I’m happy to share it with you but you should see it for yourself.  

Into the dawn 

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

Every day is a new beginning.  Every moment is the opportunity to build the future.  Every child of 80s knows in his or her heart that the future is so bright that we gotta wear shades.  😎 I could focus on not knowing where the road goes but I choose to focus instead on the bright day lying just beyond the fog. I’m looking for big things to happen in 2018.  I hope they happen for you too.