Friday, November 23, 2012

Existential Angst


If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it,
does it make a sound?


If a leaf hooks onto the bark of a tree,
remaining suspended for eternity,
did it ever fall?


Looking at the forest below,
I can't imagine the trees wouldn't notice a fallen comrade,



or that the leaf wouldn't rather join its family
on the ground for their end of the season celebration.


If a snake rests on the path,
as pale and still as the sticks it lies camouflaged among,
is it still a snake?


These questions imply that our reality is subjective
to the person doing the perceiving.

If no one is around to perceive it, did it really happen?

The answer, of course, is "yes!"


And just in case you aren't sure if what you've just seen
really happened...

Bring your camera and a witness :)







43 comments:

  1. Hard to imagine, but some can walk through spaces and seem to not notice you see so profoundly. It's a treat to experience what you see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee, such kind words, thank you for making me feel so special :)

      Delete
  2. Wolałabym patyka z wężem nie pomylić. Wszystko co widziałaś było z pewnością prawdziwe, są przecież śliczne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam.
    I'd rather stick with a snake is not wrong. All I saw was certainly true, there are still beautiful pictures. Yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Giga, we are lucky to be able to see all that we want to see :)

      Delete
  3. As usual very good photo's Rosemary,
    the light and colors are lovely.

    Wish you a nice weekend.

    warm greetings, Joop

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joop, fall is such a wonderful season to photograph :)

      Delete
  4. I love this! If a group of people were asked to witness an event and then describe it, every telling would be different. We tend to see what we want to see. It's when we observe through a different perspective that true enlightenment happens. But to assume that something didn't happen just because we didn't see it is to create a definition of existence based on our participation, even if it is simply as an observer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree, we are a biased species, but we do have the potential and opportunity to grow, which we always do when we step outside of ourselves :)

      Delete
  5. Good thinking... that brings us into the most important thoughts of... what is nature all about, and what are we suppose to accomplish in our "borrowed and physical" existence on Earth!
    Well we've got answers alright!
    Many ancient wise men have kept this Holy Science to bring it down to us, such as Swami Sri Yukteswar!
    (And just in case the subject has you raise an eye brow, look up Santos Bonacci, he is definitively onto something interesting! ;-) )
    Cheers Rosemary, and many thanks for kind words on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like I'm an observer, and am happy to walk around marvelling at the infinite beauty found in nature :)

      Delete
  6. The answer is: Still keep enjoying the beautifull nature (de mooie natuur)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right! That is the answer for me too :)

      Delete
  7. Hermosas imágenes! Muy cierto lo que dices y en realidad, sin un testigo (alguien que lo vea o una persona con una cámara, por ejemplo) las cosas pasan desapercibidas. Triste, no?. Un abrazo grande y feliz fin de semana!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Silvina, I usually have my camera with me but when I don't I take everything in with my eyes and the beauty goes straight to my heart :)

      Delete
  8. Hello Rosemary!
    As usual, a fantastic picture. I am delighted with them.
    Snake? I am afraid of snakes.
    Have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lucia, you don't have to be afraid, this was a very tiny snake, and you could always pretend not to see it :)

      Delete
  9. Dear Rosemary - you have such a discerning eye for the little details that past so many by. Bringing this gift to our attention is your special forte for which I thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rosemary, I will keep your compliment close to my heart :)

      Delete
  10. Rosemary, you never cease to amaze me with your talents. You are able to find the deep, poetic side of all you see. (You were my inspiration to try fit a little poem into my blog yesterday:)Your photos from your walk are as delightful as always; I love the hooked leaf! Keep warm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tammy, whenever I'm having a bad day I will come back and re-read this comment from you! Nature is visual poetry. I feel the same poetry in the way you photograph the birds in your blog, so much is said in the lighting, the angle, and the words you choose for each of your pictures. I think we're both lucky to have found something that brings us so much joy!

      Delete
  11. Beautiful fall pictures and wonderful thoughts to ponder, all except the pale and still snake one. I like thinking of the leaves wanting to join each other on the ground for an end of season celebration. That warms me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laurrie, so we'll just pretend the snake's not there (which it would actually prefer) and focus on the colourful leaf party on the ground!

      Delete
  12. A lovely photo walk and interesting thoughts. It looks quite cold but still a good time for a camera walk, especially if you have company.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're fine with the sunny, cold weather, it's the freezing winds we don't like! And company always makes the walk feel warmer :)

      Delete
  13. Beautifully thought provoking as usual!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I enjoyed your beautiful photos and thoughts to ponder, Rosemary. Regarding the snake, yes, a snake is ALWAYS a snake as far as I'm concerned. I will take flight over a snake. LOL Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny because the snake was doing such a good job pretending to be a stick that I almost stepped on it and when it moved it sent my daughter running off into the forest. That's one powerful snake :)

      Delete
  15. Simply gorgeous Fall colors and pictures!
    Love it! And your thoughts to it :)
    How's this, "I you had not known me, does it mean I don't exist?"
    Just a joke to spread more cheer for the weekend..lol!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ash, we are lucky to be having an extended Fall right now and I am not complaining! This is a fun philosophical question to play with, right? If I had not known you I would be sad, that's for sure :)

      Delete
  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful pictures Rosemary, the snake has a perfect camouflage.
    Also very nice to the photographers, who looks wonderful in so their camera ready to shoot.

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Irma, the snake was so well camouflaged that I almost stepped on it! My daughter and I are duelling photographers and it so much fun to come home and compare pictures :)

      Delete
  18. Beautiful, love the text to accompany the pictures.
    Bye,
    Marian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Marian, I find the pictures always form themselves into some kind of story.

      Delete
  19. Sempre belle le tue fotografie, complimenti!! Felice week end...ciao

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Giancarlo, I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well :)

      Delete
  20. Lovely shots of really late fall - 3rd is my favourite. I assume your photos will be different tomorrow - snow expected ? [our 3 children in Barrie reported they had 15cm today).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rick, so far we are snow-free! I'll only start to panic if it looks like there'll be no snow for Christmas :)

      Delete
  21. Beautifuk story with nice pics, well done again !
    Have a nice week over there !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lorents, nature provides us with an endless amount of moments to photograph :)

      Delete
  22. Really awesome post! You both look like you had fun. Always bring the camera....a must. That snake is a cool find...and that walk looks oh so nice:)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your kind words :)

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Pages

Blog Archive