Patterns - Of Our Workings

Without intention. Without plans. Like bees in a hive, humans create patterns on the land from their labors and toils, from their gatherings and their solitudes, from calculations and mere necessity. Without design great order emerges, from mundane tasks subtle grace arises. No blueprint is necessary. But the beauty is no less a miracle for the lack of a plan or a planner. 

Wheat harvest in Kansas.

Farming in Washington.

Sailboats at low tide, Edinburgh.

Whisky casks on Islay, Scotland.

Westray, Orkney, Scotland.

Sandhills ranchers, Nebraska.

Sheep sale, Lairg, Scotland.

Stone fence, Flint Hills, Kansas.

All images ©Jim Richardson

Comments

[Penegra]

Wow!! Different and amazing patterns on the earth with real diversity.. how could the land patterns be such a beautiful..

[Markus Spring]

Jim, these images certainly evoke feelings of utmost beauty, and I can submerge myself for a long time in admirings the patterns as well as the details.

What I do see completely different however is your statement that "from mundane tasks subtle grace arises". The word grace for me clearly has a twofold meaning - beauty and mercy. I just recently visited some work of J. Henry Fair and was fascinated by the beauty of his aerial images, but even more by the contradiction between visual beauty and utmost horrible ground situation.

So yes, beauty there is, and it is a grace we are allowed to receive. Yet man's work only sometimes leads to this grace.

[Jim Richardson]

Markus,

Thanks for the comments. It's an odd paradox of our human nature that we can often know something is ugly, but when we see it we cannot help but see beauty. Some of J. Henry Fair's images of the Gulf oil spill are like that, aren't they? So the beauty comes from the physics of the way light, water and oil interact to create patterns, but our minds know something else, something horrible about the situation, and we are left feeling a bit guilty by finding pretty patterns in the destruction.

But on to your second point: the connection of grace and mercy. I'm obviously using grace to mean graceful. There is in the structure of the grace/mercy connection the precept that man is somehow different than the rest of nature and that there is someone from whom the grace flows (and which we are there to "recieve.")

Truth is I don't think man is an different from the rest of nature. To me that's one of the glories of the world we live in. And I think you and I will not agree on that one.

But I'm glad you enjoy the images, and that is one of the beauties of photographs. I can't enforce my vision on anyone else, and you are free to take away whatever you think and believe.

Jim

[Markus Spring]

Jim,
re-reading my comment it looks like I came out overly relitious, which was not my intent - religion a regard as a privat affair, and I don't want to come over as a missionary.

But just a remark on "I don't think man is an different from the rest of nature". I guess here we deviate: Man's ability to create, to organize, to plan and to be aware is unparalleled in the world. It's probably our dilemma that we are unable to make best and not only egoistic use of our potential.

[Daniel Ochoa]

Jim- I'm really enjoying your pattern study here. Very well composed and captured. I espeacially enjoy your "Farming in Washington" image. Some nice subtle lines of crops combined with the bold shadows on contours and the plume of dusts makes for such a strong image for me. Makes me jealous actually:)We humans do love to organize and pattern our world.

I also wanted to tell you that I had enrolled in the Travel Photography workshop in Santa Barbara and I was truly dissapointed to learn that it was being cancelled. I live in Santa Barbara so I jumped at the opprotunity. I was really looking forward to having a nearly one on one experience with such good image makers like your self. The learning oprotunities the program was to feature were amazing and exactly what I've been looking for: critiquing sessions, photo trips, one on one work, the business side, making contacts,and just learning how to stand out with unique images that are sought after.

Can you think of any other opprotunities like this in the coming months (for the budget concsious photographer of course)? Thank you and I'm sorry I won't be able to meet you this month in Santa Barbara, I was really looking forward to having someone with your eye critique some of my photos.

[Tgibbins]

Jim,
These images are breathtaking.
I am amazed at how you take everyday happenings and make them come to life. You truly are the most talented photographer.

Beautiful.

[Coeur d’ Alene Landscaping]

Great photos! I love the wheat farming and whisky cask pics. The textures and shapes are gorgeous.

[Dish Internet]

Amazing photos !! great images...wow

[Sharif Putra]

I was very impressed with the results of this photo. How this picutre is shot. I rarely see such a beautiful photo and amazing..

[cialis online]

Hi, thank you for sharing this great info. Was just browsing through the net in my office and happened upon your blog. It is really very well written and quit comprehensive in explaining with a very simple language.

[Generic Viagra Online]

Amazing photos !! great images...wow

[buy cheap viagra]

Thank you! I didn't know they picked up on it until I saw your comment.

[Tree surgeons milton keynes]

Lovely post and I love the pictures! keep them coming I thourghly enjoyed it

[mia]

Loved the photos, especially the one of the flint hills in Kansas

[kiwigram]

Jim, what a great collection. Rarely do we get to see these things from this perspective. Well seen and shot. Love the sheep.

[Marinus Wieten]

Stunning images and beautiful Landscapes. Stunning color and density control, well done. Please visit my gallery, nature and landscape photography if you have the time; htttp:marinuswieten.com To broaden your vision on Photography, take a look at this site. Special Effect Photography. Create jaw-dropping images. Video tutorials and Ebook. Learn all the technical and creative aspects of Photography.

[Tree surgeons in London]

the Whisky casks picture is fantastic, very inspiring in some ways.

[du hoc canada]

The picture has content about sheep is so cool. See it on air like that worms.:D

[Mike Deeden]

To one day be able to create as you have. What a great artistic eye to give a birds eye view of what our world looks like. Great perspective for all. Thank you.

[weapon flash game]

Markus,

Thanks for the comments. Its an odd paradox of our human nature that we can often know something is ugly, but when we see it we cannot help but see beauty. Some of J. Henry Fairs images of the Gulf oil spill are like that, arent they? So the beauty comes from the physics of the way light, water and oil interact to create patterns, but our minds know something else, something horrible about the situation, and we are left feeling a bit guilty by finding pretty patterns in the destruction.

But on to your second point: the connection of grace and mercy. Im obviously using grace to mean graceful. There is in the structure of the grace/mercy connection the precept that man is somehow different than the rest of nature and that there is someone from whom the grace flows (and which we are there to recieve.)

Truth is I dont think man is an different from the rest of nature. To me thats one of the glories of the world we live in. And I think you and I will not agree on that one.

But Im glad you enjoy the images, and that is one of the beauties of photographs. I cant enforce my vision on anyone else, and you are free to take away whatever you think and believe.

Jim
+1