Love Letter to People & The Planet

Sunrise & Seguin, 2018 Photo by ERSwett

The sun
rises and sets,
oblivious to us & our
​endless admiration. So today ​we
express gratitude to and honor that sun
and all that makes our lives possible, including
the food we eat & the fibers we wear. The
sun & the earth do not have a say
however, and must take
whatever we
give.

The Golden Hour, 2012 Photo by ERSwett

Roads,
for example,
curve in relation to the
topography, but still there are
roads. We impose again and again.
But from a hot air balloon on this particular
morning, in this ​particular place,
it was a stunning,

Anniversary Hot Air Balloon Ride, 2005 Photo by ERSwett

as are
the gardens
that emerge in old
mines & around old homes.
The shapes and colors captivate &
each photograph honors the play of light
on the textures & forms that we
create. But these scenes 
are all about us &
​the imposition
of our will.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC Photo by ERSwett, 2011

Kew Gardens & Chihuly, May 2019 Photo by ERSwett

This
love letter is
to people & the planet
because Earth Day is about our
relationship. For me, it celebrates those
quiet places where I find and nurture peace,
not alone in the wild, but in domestic places, like
in an intimate garden at home where
​I try to be in balance with
the land on which
​I live.

Lilacs, 2010 Photo by ERSwett

Are these
solar panels, for
example, a blight on the
landscape, or a work of modern
art? As a photographer, it's all about the
relationship between light, form and function.
As for me, it turns out I am happiest celebrating the
natural world when in close proximity to
structures of all kinds that allow
us to live. I am, I guess,
a domesticated
​naturalist.

Solarscape, 2015 Photo by ERSwett

I
admire
how light & the
sun generate power in
​panels & reflections
on windshields.

Windows & Windshields, 2016 Photo by ERSwett

I love
how that same
sun sets on the ocean,
creating reflections on water,
food for animals &
enjoyment
​for us.

Mexico, 2016 Photo by ERSwett

My
pleasure
in and gratitude
for the natural world are
immense. And in the fifty years
since we first named a day in honor of the
​earth we humans have learned and accomplished
a lot. We pay attention to air & water quality
& we make time to reflect on our
dynamic relationship...
most of the
​time.

Galapagos Islands, 2011 Photo by ERSwett

Cheers!

Gram's Cool Purse, 2014 Photo by ERSwett

I love
how there
are bags decorated
with flowers that become
gifts from generation to generation
and I love that we can travel to far away
places to buy intricate textiles for
our children to use & enjoy
for generations to
come.

Textiles in Ecuador, 2011 Photo by ERSwett

The
fibers, dyes,
and designs on table
runners & bags come directly
from the magical interplay of sunlight
and the earth. It's stunning
and I ​love the
​all of it. 

The Herb Garden, 2018 Photo by ERSwett

So even
though it snowed
this morning, later today,
I'll be in my  protected and nurturing
herb garden planting some rhubarb, most
of which we will eat and some of
which may become a
​work of art.

Rhubarb, 2017 Photo by ERSwett

When
I look at this
rhubarb in the compost,
I see the playful and colorful action
of the discarded stems on the surface & the
discolored coffee filters & mildewed orange rind hidden
behind. 50 years of celebrating the earth & I think I, like many, 
continue to struggle to both enjoy the beauty of what we
see while also embracing & actively working
with the mess we have created just
below the surface.

Funny Guy at the Lebanon Landfill, Earth Day 2020 Photo by ERSwett

And
when at the
Lebanon Landfill this
morning, this funny little guy
seemed to say "Happy Earth Day, Lyn.
I'm in good hands here. These people know what
they are doing. And when they burry  me, I'll still be here
50 years from now."  There he was, sticking out
of the molded mountain of waste
on which I stood, ensuring
that I not forget.

Rhubarb & Pea Pods, 2019 Photo by ERSwett

At the
end of the day,
the sun will set, and
the light and energy that gave
me life will move on, whether I am
here or not. I can, however, celebrate the
beauty that surrounds us while also
honoring the true impact
of my life.

Sunset over Vermont Photo by ERSwett