The Slow Turn

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Afternoon Reflections” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the page.

For those who are familiar with the Glen Ferris Inn I assure you that I was on the same side of the river as the inn when I took the picture. It’s not until you look at a map or a satellite image of the three rivers area that you realize that the river takes a long but very sharp bend. Both the river and the road double back. It’s easy to lose perspective because the change is so gradual. Before we realize it we are traveling in the opposite direction.

For those who are not in the area here’s a view shot through the windshield of my wife’s vehicle.

The section of road looks straight but is slightly curved and then takes a sharper bend at the end of stretch.

Sometimes in life we might believe that we’re traveling in a certain direction when in reality we’re not. It’s important to be aware of the subtle changes in our course.

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The Return Of Daylight

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Wading Willows 2019” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the page.

The return of the evening sun brings a sigh of relief to my spirit. Even though the difference is artificial, the simple act of setting a clock can make a major difference in the quality of life. It’s not just an extra hour of light but an extra hour of living. Most people who have a day job fill their morning with the obligations of maintaining their jobs. Lunches are packed, attire is selected, pets are settled for the day and children are shuffled off to schools or day care. There’s very little time left to enjoy the light before being sequestered in front of a computer screen. But today I won the race against the shadows and made it home before the darkness was able to touch my driveway. I even had time to stop and check on my wading willows at Kanawha Falls. Bearing the marks of the recent high water gave them the appearance of children who had been playing in the mud. As a bonus I was also able to enjoy another long awaited ritual that signals the end of winter for me. The first drive home with the windows down. Two Spring activities in one day! Moreover the time change will increase the opportunity for a sunrise shot or two over the next few weeks. I was able to get several shots of different things while at Kanawha Falls and I’ll be posting them separately. But for now the combination of daylight, warm weather and the peaceful sounds of the Kanawha River lapping at the shore was both soothing and reinvigorating at the same time.

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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! Simply message me on Facebook or use the contact form on my website and 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 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! 😊

In A Breath’s Space

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Downtime At Three Rivers” and is available as prints by following the instructions at the bottom of the page.

The big blue truck rolls to the foot of Gauley Mountain and coasts to stop at the wide spot near the three rivers. It’s cool day but not as cold as it has been. The Spring of 2018 was well under way and the redbud was in bloom. I sat for a while with the windows down just absorbing the fresh air after a long winter of being stuck in the house. It was one of those rare “no agendas” days when I can get out for a little while and enjoy the sunshine. Best of all, I get to take a breath. Most people over the age of 6 minutes probably consider themselves expert breathers. Most healthy people don’t even have to consciously think about filling their lungs with atmosphere and then letting it out again. But that’s just breathing. Taking a breath is something more. It’s less mechanical and more spiritual. It’s the difference between maintaining life and truly living. Our lives have purpose beyond our responsibilities of maintaining a daily existence. Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us that the duty man is to keep God’s commandments but duty and purpose are two different things. Duty is the pathway to purpose. I believe that God has an individual purpose for each one of us but in general I believe that the purpose of mankind as a whole is to simply spend time with God. Before the fall of Adam God would come to him every day just to visit. The bible doesn’t really mention an agenda. There is no talk of thunder and lightning or thick clouds of smoke. Just a walk through the garden and the conversation between friends. No thou shalt or thou shalt nots. (Which are actually intended to get us back to the point where we can enjoy that friendship again. ) It was just friends hanging out.

To slow down and take a breath is to push back all the distractions of modern life and give space for that simple conversation between friends. The one without a wish list or complaining about all the bad times. You see, our friend desires that simple conversation as much as we do. But he’s not rude. He won’t barge in and demand your attention while you’re too busy. He won’t change the subject when you need to talk about the issues that he’s already been working to resolve. He simply waits for us to settle down and be ready in that “breath’s space”.

After a few minutes of peace and quiet at the three rivers area and a good conversation while snapping photos I’m ready to head towards the house. My friend assures me that He’s going to be close by even though the conversation is over for now and that we can pick up the conversation again anytime I’m ready. I fasten the seatbelt and the big blue truck starts to roll again towards home.

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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! Simply message me on Facebook or use the contact form on my website and tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page! 😊

On Thought Patterns And External Influences

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Awakening On The Mountain “and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the page.

The early morning hours seem to be the best time seek out a quiet place where I can find my center. I like to get out away from the house for this when I can. A lot of times when I stay in I’m tempted to turn on the news or I’m distracted by the to do list. It’s impossible for me to pursue a moment of peace when the rest of the world is whispering a list of problems into my ear. Sometimes I turn on some music and sometimes I have a podcast playing but mostly I shut off all stimulation just for a while. The point of the exercise is to let go of the outside world and rest my mind so I prioritize my day or search for inspiration. The outside world has so many voices vying for your attention that your own voice can be lost in the crowd. I remember singing”Oh Be Careful Little Eyes” in Sunday school class as a very small child. We would learn the lesson by song and as young children but did we comprehend it? I’m not really able to go into a lot of detail without the post becoming unbearably long but those things that humans are exposed to by what we see and hear can become a part of our self identity. If you notice the first two verses are passive actions. Namely watching and listening. The rest of song is proactive. Those actions are speaking, doing, going and thinking. When taken as a whole we see that what the children ( in the song) see and hear influences what they do. This is a real phenomenon that’s not limited to children. It’s more pronounced in children but adults do it as well. And think about all the negative thoughts that we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Angry voices in the news, in music, on T.V. shows and in the movies and now on social media. All this anger becomes normalized and internalized to the observer. It’s like a parasite of the spirit. But there’s good news as well. Positive thoughts can take the same route and become internalized as well. And by taking a few minutes every day to break the negative cycle and weaken that pattern it becomes less prominent in our subconscious easier to overcome.

I’m not always able to get out and find those quiet places. In fact it’s actually a challenge. So when I am able I use my camera to bottle that moment and tuck it away for later. I pull out the photo and recall that moment of peace whenever I need that boost of solitude.

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I have new way for you purchase photos!

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 message me on Facebook or use the contact form on my website and tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page! 😊

This Moment Is Mine

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Peaceful Resolution” and is available for purchase by using theinstructions at the bottom of the page.

The big blue truck veers from the highway and comes to an abrupt halt on the berm. The rain clouds have dissipated and the roads are clear of debris. It’s time to sit by the Kanawha River for a few minutes and recharge in the fresh air and warm sun. Down river Glen Ferris basks in the Sun beneath the dormant kudzu. The trees are still sleeping but the soil is starting to come to life deep beneath leaf litter. And the frogs are awake! Even though it’s broad daylight the forest is alive with the croaking and chirping of the males singing for a mate. I can also hear a cardinal high in a treetop declaring his love for his lifelong mate. The sun is at just the right angle to produce a nice reflection of the Methodist Church in the distance on the water. The breeze blows just enough to feel fresh but not enough to chill. I take a deep breaths and savor the atmosphere. There’s no rush today and the big blue truck ism going anywhere else for a while. Today is mine and I will take full advantage of each moment while it’s available because those moments when a person can clear away the mental clutter is just as important to health as diet and exercise.

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