Evelyn R. Swett Photography
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Love Letter to People & The Planet

4/22/2020

6 Comments

 
Picture
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.
Picture
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,
Picture
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.
Picture
Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC Photo by ERSwett, 2011
Picture
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.
Picture
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.
Picture
Solarscape, 2015 Photo by ERSwett
I
admire
how light & the
sun generate power in
​panels & reflections
on windshields.
Picture
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.

Picture
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.
Picture
Galapagos Islands, 2011 Photo by ERSwett
Cheers!
Picture
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.
Picture
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. 
Picture
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.
Picture
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.
Picture
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.

Picture
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.
Picture
Sunset over Vermont Photo by ERSwett
6 Comments
Margaret Jernstedt
4/26/2020 07:58:20 am

Lyn, I love your photographs and all of your comments. I missed seeing Kew gardens, and I am enjoying all of your garden photos. Thank you, Margaret

Reply
Lyn link
4/27/2020 09:40:20 am

Margaret -- Thank you for your support and interest. Isn't today's snow...typical? Cheers, Lyn

Reply
Judith
4/26/2020 12:01:45 pm

Your photos, the reflections they bring, and the form into which you fit them; they're inspiring. They make me want to run out into this gloomy day and think not gloomy thoughts about how special each day is. I wonder, though, why those beautiful rhubarb stems are in a compost and not made into a delicious sauce with sweet or a=savory. There are many. Also I'd be more than willing to share a rhubarb plant or two with you. That's how I acquired more than several of mine; friends shared (and with other types of plants as well).

Reply
Lyn link
4/27/2020 09:42:29 am

Judith - - Ah, the rhubarb mystery. Every year I put some out for neighbors to take. They are in a bucket at the top of my driveway. If no one takes them after 48 hours, I throw them in the compost. We have so much rhubarb around our property that we have lots to spare. Why eat days old, when you can have fresh? I am curious, though, about learning techniques for including rhubarb in savory dishes. That may be this spring's adventure. Thank you for your interest and support! Cheers, Lyn

Reply
Réné
4/26/2020 01:59:28 pm

The way you share your world is magnificently personal. You are a gift. You make our world more beautiful. Thank you.

Reply
Lyn link
4/27/2020 09:44:23 am

Rene - - Thank you for your heartfelt message. I've been striving to go deeper and make things more personal for years, but it's hard. My head gets in the way much of the time. It's a practice to stay in my hands and my heart. Be well. Cheers, Lyn

Reply



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