Friday, August 22, 2008

Skywatch Friday

You have to know how to look at this country. You have to slow down. It isn't pretty, but it's beautiful.
--Kent Haruf in West of Last Chance

In the weeks before I went to North Dakota in June, I spoke to a couple people out there and the weather always came up in conversation, mainly the hope for rain to "green things up some." Green it was, but every so often we'd come across a view like this of a pale ocean of prairie grass laid out to the horizon. More often than not there weren't any trees to mark the edge of vision, the sky and clouds a kaleidoscope of moods, the play of sunlight on the land the only thing to distinguish one moment from the next.

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24 comments:

Kelly said...

Lovely photo and I like the comment under the photo that says to "Slow down" You have to know how to look at this country, It isn't pretty, but it's beautiful. You have to slow down. It Says that it is written by Kent Haruf. I really enjoy that comment, it is true, I think that we'd all find a lot more beauty in the world if we would just slow down!! Great post!!!!

Kim said...

What a nice relaxing scene!! Great photo!

Minkydo said...

I thought I recognized that scenery. I live on the border of ND & MN. Nice picture.

SkyWatch Friday Post

z-silverlight said...

So much sky.
It's nice to see someplace that isn't wall to wall condominiums.
Wide open vistas to dazzle the eyes.

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Inkivääri said...

It really is beautiful:)

sonia a. mascaro said...

What a wonderful and calm view, Laura! Beautiful photo!

I would like to invite you to join us on Ecological Day, in September 2, on my blog. You can see how to join on my page.

Have a nice weekend.

imac said...

Beautiful, just beautiful

bobbie said...

Yes, we should all slow down and take a good look. Beautiful picture. Especially beautiful sky.

Merisi said...

Flat landscapes are were I come from, and they are my passion to this day,
and the one you captured is exquisitely beautiful!

I have read Haruf's "Plainsong" and "Eventide" and both books speak of a person who slows down to take a careful look at more than landscapes.

Rose said...

That is a beautiful scene...when I see the flat land around here and in pictures like this I cannot help but think what the earlier settlers must have thought when they found it.

Anonymous said...

We should all slow down, relax and enjoy. Great post for SWF:)

KGMom said...

I love Kent Haruf's novels. The quote fits the point of view he is conveying in his work.
I do love what you do with photos.

Nova said...

Wow i love it...

here's mine check it out:
http://www.supernovachron.com/2008/08/friday-sky-watch-just-ordinary-day.html

Jane Hards Photography said...

It is such a serens skywatch scene.

Sekhar said...

Great shot :)

LauraHinNJ said...

All: Thanks for the nice comments.

Merisi and KGMom: Kent Haruf is a favorite of mine and I found this new book just recently - desperate for something new from him!

chanpheng said...

Beautiful photo!

We've been having some excitement here in Laos. My SWF offering shows scenes of floods and sandbagging over here.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Laura: That stark field is a reminder of how fickle nature can be. Thanks for capturing it for SWF.

Arija said...

I love the wide open spaces, the green, the sere grass and that gentle sky.. all in perfect proportions. A picture for meditation.

Louise said...

Wonderful view! I love all the colors in this photo. It makes me want to take a walk through that field.

Louise said...

Wonderful view! I love all the colors in this photo. It makes me want to take a walk through that field.

LauraHinNJ said...

Thanks... I loved North Dakota.

;-)