For this week’s Lens-Artists Photography Challenge, let’s get wild! I’m talking about Mother Nature untouched and untrammelled, allowed to get on with her work without human help or hindrance.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
Rachel Carson
Maybe you’re lucky and have access to some truly wild landscapes. Perhaps you’re not. But give her a chance, and Nature will break free and get wild wherever we let her! Even if your only access to the natural world is the local park, you will certainly find something wild in your world. It could be a bird migrating through on its way north and south, or a wildflower springing up on an empty lot.
I don’t want to see groomed gardens or animals in the zoo. No people or signs of people. I want to see and revel in the natural world in your posts. Where’s the wildest place you’ve ever been? Where do you go to let Mother Nature regenerate your spirit? Please share with us the wild places, plants and beings that are close to YOUR heart!
“But love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had eyes to see.”
Edward Abbey
The natural world is my passion in life, and I love to share it. A long time ago I decided the most important goal in my life was to wake in beauty every day. Because I’ve made that a priority, I’m more fortunate than most when it comes to being close to nature. With a telephoto lens, this is the view from my bedroom window.
The price for that view is no running water or indoor toilets, and the hard work and logistical challenges of attempting to maintain an off-the-grid homestead. But it’s a price I’m happy to pay, because every morning when I wake up, the angels sing!
I live in the center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska, one of the biggest protected wildernesses on the planet. But these days I usually snowbird it and go south in the winter. There are too many beautiful places in the world to spend your life in just one, no matter how wonderful that one is.
I migrate, like the birds.
I used to be a ranger in Death Valley National Park, which has more wilderness than any other national park outside Alaska. Pretty easy to find the wild there.
My favorite way to get next to the wild is to get up close and personal with wildflowers. Drop down to their level. Breathe in their fragrance. Get out a magnifying glass to really check out the intricacies of the tiny flowers. Revel in their beauty, but don’t pick them. Leave them living, so others will have a chance to appreciate them, too. I spend March and April most years following the wildflower bloom, first in the desert…
And then catching the spring flowers in the Sierras and Oregon on my way back to Alaska.
And then there’s the sea. Another way to get close to the wild in the world. I have really fallen in love with the seashore in the last few years. What could be wilder than the ocean?
“Wilderness is not only a haven for native plants and animals but it is also a refuge from society. It’s a place to go to hear the wind and little else, see the stars and the galaxies, smell the pine trees, feel the cold water, touch the sky and the ground at the same time, listen to coyotes, eat the fresh snow, walk across the desert sands, and realize why it’s good to go outside of the city and the suburbs.”
John Muir
Wild places are important because we need to learn to share our planet with everything else that calls it home. It does not belong to us exclusively, although we all too often act like it does.
Wild places are also important because they rejuvenate our souls. Wilderness is essential to our mental health. What a sad world it would be if we had no wilderness. Celebrate the wild in the world this summer, and please protect it wherever you may find it!
“…the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Dr. Seuss
Please join me in this Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and share the wild in your world. Remember to use the lens-artists tag and include a link to my original post.
Next week, Patti will be offering LAPC #151, so be sure to check out her site then! Her theme is From Large to Small. Pick a color and take several photos that feature that color. Start with a photo of a big subject in that color (for example, a wall) and move all the way down to a small subject in that same color (for example, an earring).
Thank you to Tina, Amy, Ann-Christine and Patti for inviting me to host this challenge. It’s wonderful to be part of the Lens-Artists community and I look forward to seeing all your wonderful wild posts this week.
So excited for this challenge and to be connected to a fellow Wilderness enthusiast via Lens-Artists! Will be posting over the weekend, remembering the Wilderness 50 Conference in 2014 that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act, and also how much I love Death Valley!
So excited for this challenge and to be connected to a fellow Wilderness enthusiast via Lens-Artists! Will be posting over the weekend, remembering the Wilderness 50 Conference in 2014 that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act, and also how much I love Death Valley!
“Wild thing
You make my heart sing
You make everything groovy
Wild thing” –The Troggs
One-Five-Oh (challenge #). A benchmark of sorts. Stunning banner shot, and I love that tree bark so much I can hardly ‘bear’ it. 😂 Great theme. Game on!
Thank you for taking me into the wild with your beautiful images and for reminding us of the importance of wilderness. Thank you for hosting the challenge and for choosing a great theme.
Great idea. I love your wild waves and the bears. Top. https://solaner.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/lens-artists-photo-challange-150-lets-get-wild/
Your photos are majestic! Here’s my small contribution to your challenge: https://thisandthatthenextpart.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/lens-artists-photo-challenge-150-lets-go-wild/
Here’s my contribution: https://blog.suzyblue.org.uk/2021/05/29/wild-2/
A beautiful post Dianne, and a wonderful topic! I expect to see many amazing views of nature’s best. Always love your Alaska stories and images and this week is not exception. Loved the bears an the butterfly especially. Hmmm…no running water….not sure I”m ready for THAT much adventure!!
https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/lens-artists-challenge-150-lets-get-wild/
Thank you so much, Dianne for sharing your adventures via your lens. The one through your bedroom window is an amazing scene! I admire your goal of waking in beauty every day. I love this series! A great theme.
I was starting to envy you until I read “no running water, no indoor toilets”. Ufffs, I think I might go for a couple of days, but for a city girl like me, I think I’d rather enjoy your gorgeous photos.
I like the subject, I’ll see if I find anything wild in my life…
There’s always a trade-off, isn’t there? We all have to make choices. BTW, I see you succeeded in finding a little wild.
What a fascinating life you lead, Dianne! Nice to meet you and I love your perspective. I have hills and wild coastlines to escape to. They keep you sane. Just! 🙂 🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful weekend!
I’m so glad to now know your blog. Wonderful adventures and photos.
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/lens-artists-challenge-lets-get-wild/
Your photos are all so amazing. Happy to have met you through this challenge. Here is my take on the topic.
https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2021/05/30/pelicans-in-the-wild/
Hi, Dianne. You know how much we admire your photos and your wonderful perspective on nature! Once again, you’ve stunned us with the natural beauty you’ve discovered on the job and in your travels. We’re delighted you’re hosting the challenge this week. I’ll return with a link to my post.
I love your wonderful photos and your dedication to your craft. Happy to have met you here in this challenge.
I thought that I had already commented on your photos but apparently not. So Here is my take on the topic. https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2021/05/30/pelicans-in-the-wild/
Thank you for an interesting challenge topic. I look forward to putting together my own take on the topic. I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the future.
Thank you, John.
I’m back again, Dianne with a link to my post. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
https://pilotfishblog.com/2021/05/30/lens-artists-challenge-150-lets-get-wild/
What a great theme, but so hard to choose what to write about! There are so many wonderful wild places in the world and I’ve been fortunate to visit several (although by no means enough 😉 ) Your photos are inspiring, as always. I love the tree bark, the mountain with the rainbow in front, the swallowtail butterfly and the bears 🙂
After deliberation with myself I settled on sharing some scenes from the stunning Torres del Paine: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/to-touch-the-sky-the-torres-del-paine/ I hope you agree they are pretty wild!
I agree, Sarah, it’s hard to choose! But you chose a sensational subject. I’m insanely jealous, as Torres del Paine is #1 on my bucket list of places I really want to see. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. They are definitely wild. Such a beautiful world we all share!
Thank you for hosting this lovely challenge Diana and what an amazing part of the world you live in! We’re blessed with plenty of wilderness here in the Highlands and our contribution for this week is here: https://tranature.com/2021/05/30/silent-sunday-wild-and-wonderful/
It looks like you live in an amazing place, too, Xenia. Thanks for sharing your piece of the wild with all of us and taking us on such a lovely walk through the wilderness!
Fun challenge! Thanks for hosting.
Hi, Dianne. I am so happy I found your site. Brings back memories of traveling in the wild . Gorgeous images .Here is mine ..
https://100countrytrek.com/2021/05/30/lens-artists-challenge-150-lets-get-wild/
Such wonderful photos and beautiful vistas! You have the life, waking up with beauty, following the wildflowers, not being tied to one place. Thank you for sharing so those of us stuck at home can live vicariously through your photos 🙂
Thank you, Marie. I’m glad you liked my post. One of my favorite things is sharing our beautiful wild places with others, which is probably why I became a ranger!
Diane, wonderful challenge. I loved all your photos especially in Death Valley. We are going back in April for the wildflowers. I wish I had started this photographic journey when I was 20 years younger. Then I could have gone without the wonderful amenities we take for granted.
Thank you, Anne, I’m glad you enjoyed the challenge. It starts to get pretty hot in Death Valley in April, so be prepared for that. The valley’s blooms will be finished but there will still be a lot of wonderful flowers in the higher elevations. I hope you have a great trip!
Wow, you have a wonderful selection of wild going on there. 🙂 Here’s my contribution, https://tblsite.me/2021/05/30/lens-artists-150-lets-get-wild/
Impressive images, theme and stance. As you will see, I found it hard to remove humanity from the wilderness. As I see it, without me there are no photos. 😉 Just teasing a little. Thank you for this challenge.
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2021/05/31/lens-artists-pc-wilderness/
Thank you, Manja. I loved your post, and the Ansel Adams quote!
What a wonderful set of photos you have here: with that lovely capture of a rainbow, the wonderful shot of the butterfly, the grizzlies, and the great landscapes. But the most breathtaking of all is that giant of a tree!
I thought I would bring you this observation of the odd behaviour of black bears in the wild:
https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2019/12/27/the-social-life-of-bears/
Thank you, I’m so glad you liked them! I loved your post, too. What an incredible experience that must have been! Thank you for sharing.
Great shots here. All show an aspect of nature quite well, I think. However, my favourite is the butterfly. There’s something about it that makes it slightly more appealing than the other images.
Here’s mine for this one:
https://stupidityhole.com/2021/05/31/weaving-through-valleys/
Thanks, SH. I love your photo of the Blue Mountains. It makes me want to go there and see them for myself.
Love the rainbow and bears.
Great clicks
Thank you for the inspiration
Thank you, Philo. I’m glad you enjoyed them. I really love the squiggly trees in the opening shot of your post for this challenge!
My contribution
https://philosophyvia.photos/2021/05/31/lets-get-wild/
Your clicks are amazing.
Love the rainbow and bears.
Thank you
Great photos, every one, Diane! I really like the way you combine flowers into your landscapes.
Here is my submission to your challenge
https://jazzibeeblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/how-wild-is-this/
You live a fascinating life, Dianne. Amazing landscapes and photography, amazing experiences! Thank you for hosting a wonderful theme!
Thanks for hosting this week. Here is my post
https://norasphotos4u.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/lens-artists-challenge-150-lets-get-wild/
Dianne, these pictures are more exquisite than fabulous. The picture taken from your bedroom window woke me up. I am writing my challenge for Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays, and it’s writer’s choice this week. I’m tying my post to your topic, and I was kidding as I was writing about you having to bring your lunch because of the dearth of restaurants in the vicinity, then that picture appeared and you started writing your story. All I can say is WOW! I’ll post a link when I’m done. 🙂
Thanks, Marsha. I look forward to seeing it!
Dianne, I’m off to visit some of your friends who have posted. Here’s my post. https://alwayswrite.blog/2021/06/02/wqwwc-27-writers-choice-have-a-wild-life-at-kings-canyon-national-park/ Thanks for sharing your wonderful post. 🙂
Hi Dianne, I saw your link from Marsha’s post as I prepare my Sunday Stills challenge for this Sunday! I missed the L-A challenge due to my weekend off but I’m glad I found your blog! Your photos of wild are amazing. BTW, I have visited Yosemite NP 26 times, mostly the Tuolumne Meadows area but spent plenty of time in the Valley. We went on many Ranger-led walks and I dreamed of being a ranger at one point. Kudos to you for combining your photography with your passion!
Thanks, Terri!
You have truly got away from man’s hand on the landscape in these lovely photos. I, breaking the rules, have gone quite the other way: https://margaret21.com/2021/06/03/lets-get-wild-on-parys-mountain/
Hello again Dianne, Eivor and Pearl’s contribution for this week’s lovely challenge is here: https://whippetwisdom.com/2021/06/03/haiku-wild-voices/
What an gorgeous post you have. I adore your photograph. I like the wide range of wild topics too. 😀 😀
Here is my entry for the week.
https://ceenphotography.com/2021/06/03/lens-artists-challenge-150-blue-and-green/
Stunning images, Dianne 😃 Here’s mine: https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2021/06/04/oh-deer-lens-artists-challenge-150/
Better late than never! Here’s my contribution to this week’s challenge.
https://lindylecoq.com/2021/06/05/lens-artists-photo-challenge-150-lets-get-wild/
Lovely shots all but the Forget-Me-Nots of Alaska are the hardest to forget.
Thank you. Glad you liked them!
Outstanding post and photos, Diane! This one really resonates. Best, Babsje