Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
The Sheltering Sky
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

The Sheltering Sky

by Jim Sabiston

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 9, 2012158 views11 comments
“Death is always on the way, but the fact that you don't know when it will arrive seems to take away from the finiteness of life. It's that terrible precision that we hate so much. But because we don't know, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless.”
¯ Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky




Preparing some stock for a new gallery and ran across this fav of mine which I never shared here. These dune images always bring to mind some infinite element of time and space and make it somehow tangible. I never tire of it.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on August 9, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Jim,
I love the way you compose and present these scenes, and I do think I understand those combined feelings of infinity and tangibility.
The tint and the vignette, along with your control of contrast all give this a timeless feeling, as relevant now as it would have been decades ago, recording it on a wet glass plate.

Interesting quote. Seems that the boundaries of time are just artifacts of our limited individual memories and lives. It's not life that is short; it's only our individual grasp on it.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 9, 2012 at 11:14 PM
This is beautiful. Love the kind of high key look. The highlight vignette works well.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 10, 2012 at 9:02 AM
I can see why you never tire of this. Simple timeless beautiful.

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 10, 2012 at 9:10 AM
Beautiful work Jim. The high key approach works so nicely here - inspires me to want to mimic you and try this with some of my beach shots. Actually, I have tried it several times, but haven't been happy with the results; perhaps I'll try again. Well done.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on August 10, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Beautiful work Jim! I love the way you have presented that piece "simple and timeless" and I love the thoughts below it...it brought a tear to my eye. I wish I had more moons with my mom and partner who are no longer here on this earth. Although, I have no regrets, for the time we spent was full and rich. I have always believed to live to the fullest and enjoy each day as the last because you just never no when the count is up for either you or one of your beloveds. But there is still that lingering wish for more...of the limitless time we perceive in our minds. Thanks for sharing! Blessings, Deb
Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments
Comment posted by Ant on August 10, 2012 at 5:37 PM
It's a fascinating picture. Very simple, and yet full of things to see and think about. Calm, but with a hidden tension which, at least to me, is communicated by the clouds and the wind. Splendid.
Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 10, 2012 at 7:02 PM
Wonderful high key image Jim. The sepia treatment works well especially with the quote. Very evocative.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 10, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Very nicely done, Jim.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 11, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Subtle and powerful, beautifully composed
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on August 11, 2012 at 3:37 PM
Very nice! :toast:
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 11, 2012 at 9:59 PM
This is wonderful!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments