A Thursday Three Pick : Twentyfives
Mike Bradshaw Photo-Video
Note: The text is actually written by Dawn M. Armfield but a data problem resulted in us being unable to recover original author data.
There is a different beauty to be found in the desert. It is a subtle, underlying current of movement, color, and life that can be passed over if you aren’t paying attention closely enough.
The heat is the most common element that is commented on but it’s really the water and the shade that are the most dramatic pieces of the desert. They offer sanctuary. They offer life. They are the proverbial oasis in the desert. Humans, animals, and insects alike flock to the water and shade of the desert to find a respite.
The photographs of Mike Bradshaw, otherwise known as Twentyfives on flickr, are also a respite from the harsh climes of the desert. On a first glance, you can forget you’re in the middle of the hot Sonoran desert. You can forget you’re surrounded by saguaro, cholla, and ocotillo cacti. It feels cool here. It feels like an oasis.
Stop for a moment. Take a second look. Notice the sharp barbed wire fences that mimic the prickliness of the saguaro. The trees don’t have large broad leaves but, rather, thin leaves that conserve water and energy. The ground is not covered in lush greens but in red rocks or the classical red dirt of the desert southwest. Even the flowers have learned to conserve energy and bloom in the waxing and waning sunlight hours.
Listen. To the untrained ear, silence reigns supreme. Listen more closely. The sounds of crickets’ wings flexing against one another, the scurrying feet of lizards, and the occasional caw of the ravens will break the silence. Listen again. You may hear the rooting of the javalina in the underbrush or the strong wings as a falcon takes flight.
This is not a place for the weekend warrior who ventures in without water or food thinking the desert can be conquered. This is not a place for the weak of heart, mind, or spirit. This is the place dreams are made of; a place where only those who have taken care and put thought into their journey will survive.
Note: The text is actually written by Dawn M. Armfield but a data problem resulted in us being unable to recover original author data.
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, catherinejamieson and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
