Peaceful places – Page 31 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

The Stillness

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Grapevine In Winter 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The silent forest lays covered in ice. It’s so quiet that I can hear the individual snowflakes impact on dry leaves. No wind blows. No bird chirps. Just the steadily falling snow. Hanging before my eyes is a single dry leaf of a skeeping wild grapevine. They say that the deepest sleep is just before morning. I look around at the quiet woods and realize that I’m the only one who stirrs on the mountain. The deer would be bedded down in an evergreen thicket. The birds are all in their various nests. Beneath the hollow of a fallen tree a mother bear snuggles close to a cub. All of nature rebuilds its energy waiting for the change in the wavelength of the sunlight to signal the emergence. All things will be new again in just a few short weeks. For now, rest up and dream of the new days ahead.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

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’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/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://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! Simply use 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!❤

Sunshine In My Pocket

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Pearl Crescent Butterfly 92520b” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The winter wind howls mournfully outside of my house that’s nestled safely into the hillside of my Appalachian Mountains. I expect that this will be the last of the January snow. Typically the next significant snowfall will be around valentine’s day and then the deep cold just before the buds began to swell. As I’ve said before, I watch the very small changes which are insignificant to most people. But what to do in the meantime? Thankfully, I’ve still got some sunshine in my pocket that I’ve been holding back for just such an occasion. I pull up the image of the small Pearl Crescent Butterfly and look into it deeply. Now there’s a difference between looking at a photo and looking into it. Looking at a photo is like looking at a map. We get familiar with lines and colors and get a general overview of the scene. But looking into photo is to be transported to another world. I can feel the warmth of the sun filtering down through the deep green canopy of leaves. I smell the loamy humus soil and feel the breeze. Around me the mottled light seems to dance as the trees sway softly in the late summer climate. A small set of wings flash in the path and gently land on the daisy-like flowers. It’s a Pearl Crescent Butterfly and it’s barely an inch from wingtip to wingtip. It’s a great idea to never neglect the small blessings of life. They add up like nickels and dimes. In spite of it’s diminutive size the tiny butterfly is unafraid when I approach. It holds its wings flat as if to say “Look how beautiful I am today.” I knew at that moment it was a gift from God, a tiny drop of sunshine that I could tuck away to warm my soul on a cold winter night.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

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’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?

On Peace, Fear And Faith

Color Photography, encouragement, Thoughts and Musing

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “The Fruits Of Winter 11221” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The January sun is bright but cold above the little mountain delta on Muddlety Creek. It’s on days like this that I enjoy the heater in my big blue truck and aim my lens through an open window. As I drift over the narrow single lane my mind mulls over the question “What is peace?” At the moment I feel peaceful with a podcast playing in the background as I take in the tranquility of still waters and gently swaying reeds. But is this peace or simply “peaceful” as in like peace.

I don’t claim to have any profound knowledge or divine insight as to the nature of peace. Only a few things that I believe are true as I search for answers.

Peace is not the absence of violence. It is the absence of fear.

I’ve had too many people who have been thrust into violent situations that say they felt stress and were aware of the gravity of the situation but that also felt that wave of peace come over them and they knew that everything would be okay in the end. Some would say that they were brave and that’s true to a point but..

Bravery is not the absence of fear. It is absence of inaction. If we review the stories of people in dangerous situations we find that they were frightened beyond description and yet calmly handed the actions they needed to take. On a side note, most of these people were not completely confident that they were making the right choices. They just did what they thought would help. Was it their peace that gave them the opportunity to act and hope for the best? I’m sure it played a role but fear was also present.

So perhaps things like peace and fear are not a dichotomy. Like light and darkness we are given a measure of each and it only matters where we focus as to what we experience. Which leads to thought that if fear grows as often described can peace also grow within the spirit of a person? I’ve been told that whatever you feed grows. If we focus on fear then it becomes stronger and eventually transforms into panic. And if panic is the ultimate fear and bravery is action in the presence of fear then it’s likely that action will be in error. However, if we focus on our peace and feed that instead we get clarity of thought and logic. Our actions will then be those that most likely will improve the outcome.

I believe that ultimately our peace comes from the Prince of Peace himself. Namely, The Lord Jesus Christ. It would be easy to point out the uncertainty of the times we live in but the truth is that uncertainty has always been present. For my generation it was the Cold War and the threat of Nuclear Weapons. For the WW2 and WW1 generation it was global combat and starvation during the Great Depression. There has always been a reason to fear. But the same God who brought mankind through all of that can also see us through the current age. So let me encourage you to choose the light and focus on the peace. If you do then it’s more likely your actions will be well taken and you will make it through to the other side.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

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’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?

Stonework

Architecture, Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Old Stone Chimney 122920a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for cut stone. It’s not just the rich texture and earth tone colors or even the solid strength of something built to last hundreds if not thousands of years. Working with stone is an art and a science. In fact I’d say that stonework is probably the oldest science. Even the most primitive stone arrowhead requires an understanding of the nature of the stone. A person may not have the mathematics of physics or chemistry but they must be able to look at a stone on the ground and understand how to strike it so that it breaks in just the right way.

Image Titled “Old Stone Chimney 122920b” showing a tighter view of the large stone at the top.

Some years ago I became so interested in stone masonry that I spent days in a library reviewing VHS tapes of old techniques. (yes I’m that old.) I went out and bought a two pound sledgehammer and a variety of chisels. I experimented with stones out of the creek and got some advice from my wife’s grandfather who had worked with some stone masons at one point in his life. I by no means achieved a mastery over all of knowledge but one thing that stuck with me was that it takes a bit of patience to cut stone. It’s not the mighty blow of the hammer that’s needed but the consistent gentle tapping on the chisels. A powerful blow will definitely break the rocks but unless you’re making gravel the prize of that perfectly shaped block will be lost. It’s all about lifting the hammer and controlling the fall. Making sure that the chisels are directing the shock in the right ways and listening to stone. When the sound of the blow goes from a sharp “tink” to a dull thud the fracture is formed. If you remove the hammer and chisel you can often give a bump with the palm of your hand and separate the pieces.

We often use the term “heart of stone” when we describe someone who is hard to convince of any point. And I’m guilty of trying to use “a mighty blow of my hammer ” to try and change that heart. But that’s the wrong technique. We need to use the gentle taps and listen to that heart to tell us when it’s ready to cleave. And stop when it’s time to stop.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

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’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?

Frozen Solitude Actively Finding Peace

Color Photography, Landscapes

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Frozen Solitude 120220a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

There’s not many scenes more peaceful than that of a winter forest. I look into the snow covered trees and think about what it would be like to live in a world where only the basics are needed. A companion, food and water and a warm fire. I’ve done my share of winter camping and there’s something almost magical about being comfortable near the fire but yet fully immersed in the season. The occasional flicker of movement in the bush signals that the songbirds are out foraging the rich harvest of wild seeds. Every so often they stop to sing. Their movement is quick and agile. In spite of being very small the cold never seems to bother them. Perhaps they find their comfort in their flock and the fire in their souls. Or, maybe it’s just the natural state of life to be happy at every opportunity. A few days ago it occurred to me that “Nothing can be given unless it is also received.” It been on my mind ever since. What if things like joy and contentment were ever present but when we don’t experience them it’s because we’re not actively receiving them? Receiving is an activity. I could lay at your feet the fortune of a kingdom but unless you accept it you can never have it. Love and acceptance might surround us constantly but if we reject it then it’s never felt. The same is true for peace. Winter is a harsh season but that is merely circumstances. The ability to be comfortable under those circumstances is within our grasp if we simply make fire. But it’s our activity that changes our circumstances. We can’t always avoid conflict but we can have peace of mind in conflict and that gives us clarity of thought and clarity of thought helps us resolve the conflict. We are an active part in our own peace.

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.