It’s hot. What else can I say? It’s the last day of July in southwest Oklahoma, and it’s hot! The sun’s been baking all day and this world is well-done–heat’s radiating off of everything. Lake Lawtonka is evaporating, and steam is rising on the surface. It’d be more visible if it wasn’t for the slight breeze pushing the water’s surface into wavelets and dissipating it into the breeze. The slight breeze does what it can to help with the humidity, but there’s not much can be done short of a gale, or October. This is July in southwest Oklahoma. It’s hot and it’s humid. By the time I get my shots and get back to the truck there won’t be a dry stitch on me. This is my home and I think it’s beautiful!
Finding the Frame
I get my gear out of the back seat of Waylen’s truck. I brought my wide angle landscape bag of gear and of course, my heavy tripod. I rarely go anywhere without it. I swear the thing’s gaining weight as it ages, just like me. It’s going to be about a 200 yard trek across an empty stretch of beachfront to get to what I’m calling the starting point. I throw the bag’s shoulder strap over my shoulder, grab hold of a leg of old heavy with one hand and heave off to the west. Waylen’s done the same—Waylen’s 83 years old.
I’m looking, and thinking, and talking, and looking, and thinking, and laughing as we move slowly toward our goal.
The Unspoken Narrative
I like the flow, the movement I see in this image. I see the shoreline–small grains of granite—the remains from ancient Wichitas eroded by the same forces that’s aging me. I see the shoreline is stretching back toward its beginning, back toward the Sun, back to when it all began, back toward the Son. But it can’t get there. There’s a gap in the way. And the sun’s reflection shines on the water in the gap and the shoreline makes it there. The Wichitas on the other side of lake provide a stop for my eyes and for my wandering thoughts. The light breeze is pushing the lakes wavelets against the shore carrying bringing my eyes and thoughts back from those ancient Wichitas to where I’m standing, now. And the wispy, ephemeral, wind-shaped clouds are here today, but they won’t be tomorrow.
Open To Interpretation
You know, that’s what this image means to me. It’s what I see. It’s what I feel when I look at it. Being there, seeing it all in person and creating this image in my head before putting it on the sensor made me feel connected. I am connected to all creation because I am connected through a common Creator.
You may not see that when you look at this image. You may have another interpretation. If you do, I’d like to hear yours. Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.