From Our Neck of the Woods

Summer is such a joyous time in our neck of the woods. The days are pleasant, gardens are in bloom, and forest trails are cool, even on the few days when the weather turns hot. The pristine forests that fringe the rocky coasts call to Marty and me for image making as well as quite meditative moments. Rich carpets of moss cushion the forest floor, enhancing the beauty of these woods, and the cool winds that blow ashore make this an ideal place to hike and photograph throughout the summer. While the wildlife is often elusive and we do not have grand mountains, this corner of the world is magical.

Having been born on the coast, Marty and I often joke that we have salt water in our veins, and therefore, the seashore is both comforting and necessary. Almost daily, you can find us escaping the office to spend an hour at the shore. As we walk with Phyllis we remark how blessed we are to live here.

As nature photographers, we are all blessed, because we get to spend time in Mother Earth’s wild places around the world and truly experience her numerous wonders. If everyone, each and every person in the world, could experience nature at its best, would there be a greater desire to live in a more sustainable manner? This is a question I’ve pondered for many years.

Another question others as well as I ask, is: “How can we reach people who never venture into nature and let them know the importance of wild places?” How can we convince the millions and millions of people untouched by nature that the survival of all aspects of the natural world is vital to the survival of Mother Earth herself? The answer is there are few among us who can individually touch millions of people—we must all work together.

Recently, David Schwegmann, one of our subscribers, and I were having this discussion. David said something that spoke to my deepest feelings, so I asked him if I could share his statement with you here, and he agreed. David said, “For the change to be effective, we each need to be a ripple rather than a tidal wave.” He is so right—ripples gently alter the makeup of a shoreline; tidal waves are destructive. Our images, as well as our knowledge of the wild places, can serve to act as the ripples in a sea of change, slowly advancing society toward a more sustainable way of life.

Best wishes for  a wonderful summer filled with inspiring adventures.

Love & Namaste, Helen

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