Those of us who live in areas where water is a rare commodity know how necessary it is to body and soul and life.  We have a visceral need to see it, feel it, and be surrounded by it.  The catchment ponds dotting the mesas of northern New Mexico provide that for wild and domestic animals.  They are also mesmerizing for humans. We recently took advantage of the drying earth and walked to one such pond near us.  As we approached it, ducks blasted into the air.  We noticed that a small canyon had formed in the earthen dam, probably due to the wetter than normal winter.  But it still held ample water, which was soothing.  Just watching the ripples move and reflect a sky alternating between sun and clouds provided a true attitude adjustment.

The pond and surrounding area are fairly undramatic except for that precious commodity - water.  When clouds cover the sun, the light can be flat, rendering the water totally lack luster. Here is a shot of the water's surface under a mixed sky, somewhat ordinary but interesting in its rhythm.

water shot 1

But when you crop different parts of the series of photographs I took, magical things happen, such as is shown in the image below.  There was just enough blue sky to mix with the overcast and produce some really interesting results.

water shot 4

This is a broader shot when the sun was beginning to shine...

water shot 2

...followed by slightly brighter sun on this particular section of the water.  The water almost looks like it is woven into a design.

water shot 3

And finally, the clouds, filtered sun and a reflection of trees on the shore create a totally different abstract.

water shot 6

I never cease to be caught off guard by what can be seen in nature, and hope that you are presented a delight or two by it this week.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@