Algonquin Rain
It rained the whole time I was visiting Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Somehow this seemed appropriate given the wild and rugged landscape. Autumns colors were shining brightly in spite of the dismal weather but after finding more than 500 images capturing the glory of Algonquin’s color…. this image stood out to me more than the others. Bent by the wind, alone on a small island, a pine tree bows in the driving rain. On the far shore (which you won’t see unless you enlarge the image) there is a red canoe overturned in the brush. I feel an overwhelming connection to this picture because I too feel at times overturned, useless, upside down and like I can’t accomplish the purposes I was designed for. Yet there is hope in this scene as well… which is why I selectively left the color in the canoe. There is a piercing beauty in the lonesomeness and isolation. Its ok to be upside down for a while. And like the pine tree, bending but not broken, isolated, but not alone we do manage to stand lifes storms.
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Joanne Bradley
Oh I love this shot of Algonquin! That little bit of red canoe adds so much to the composition of these strong trees despite being bent by the wind. Regardless of the weather it is a magical place and it is no wonder so many painters have memorialized it! I love the starkness and the feeling of overcoming adversity in this image! It’s what the wild is all about!
Dawne Olson replied
Thank you Joanne… (I really like your new avatar… or maybe its not new and I’ve just been gone too long but in any regard its great!)
Gene Walls
Wonderful shot, Dawne! Your very thoughtful text is just as beautiful as this excellent image. Thank you so much for submitting this work, just as you have. I have been complaining about the weather way too much lately. I really needed to hear your words to remind me that I had always felt the same way in my heart.
Well, back to the lake… there are beatiful images out there to capture.
Dawne Olson replied
Dear Gene… you’ve encouraged me as well by responding so warmly! Thank you.
Troy W. Smith
Cool shot. It really does look better large. so much detail, and so much going on in this shot. Nice one Dawne.