Where the bones of the earth show through.

[Kkimm]

There's something about places where the bones of the earth show through. The Highlands of Scotland, the Derbyshire Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales or, closest to my heart, Snowdonia in Wales.

The soil is thin but rich in minerals and rare and beautiful plants grow in the tough exposed conditions. The hardship and struggle seem to bring out the beauty.

If you have had to struggle you may have developed some of the same sort of qualities.

[mrmonk]

Such rugged beauty. There's a poem in there, I'm sure of it.

Thank you for posting, Kim.

[Kkimm in reply to mrmonk]

Thanks for your reply

[Rafiki11]

Wow. Breathtaking!

[Kkimm in reply to Rafiki11]

Thanks alot

[Dolphin14]

Beautiful photo with a great message.

❤️🐬

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

Thanks very much Dolphin

[Hidden]

Gorgeous landscape, you take the best photos!

[Kkimm in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nice to hear from you, how are you doing these days? Thanks for your lovely comment

[Hidden in reply to Kkimm]

Trying to hold on, I guess. I hope you are well.

[Rayblade900]

Hi Kkimm and great photo. Totally agree with what your write. My image below is somewhat different, but equally expressive. Some might think it's "dark & depressing"! However, my reason for taking this shot is it depicts my struggle with depression. The "dark" moody nature illustrates a "bad day" and the lightning strike that has split the trunk emulates the struggles in my head at times with the inner torment we go through... hope that description is not too deep!! 😀😀😀 I'll try and upload a more positive image to show balance for a good day.

Best wishes to you.

This represents my battle with depression.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Thanks so much, amazing photo by the way. I don't find it too dark, it reflects how you feel at times.

[Midori]

I understand what you are getting at and I totally agree. I moved to Wales, partly because it always called me, and I love that rugged land.

Cheers, Midori

[Kkimm in reply to Midori]

Hi MidoriIt has always called me too. Used to be taken on holiday there as a kid and was able to fulfill a dream and buy a little terraced house not far from where we used to stay two years ago now.

The money came from an inheritance from my mum when she died at 94 quite peacefully really. My father had died ten years or so before that. I like to think they would be pleased at how I spent the money.

I like the idea that as a child on holiday in the same little seaside town I could have glanced towards where my house now is across the estuary and most have seen it.

Kim.

[Kkimm in reply to Midori]

Thanks for replying I love this rugged land too.

[Rayblade900]

Hi Kkim... as promised, the image below shows balance. A good day in my head and positivity and beauty.

This image illustrates a good day in my head!

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Rayblade900]

I love your beautiful photos Rayblade. Thank you for posting them. 🙂

[Rayblade900 in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Thanks Rachmaninov2. Not trying to upstage Kkimm and turning this into a photo competition 🤣. I spent over 20 yrs in photo retail (but that was 30 yrs ago). All my photos now get taken on my phone!

However, it's a good medium for expression and creativity. It's also good for mental health and the outdoors.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Rayblade900]

It’s amazing how well photos come out when taken on a phone.

I’m very appreciative of all photos of nature and the countryside and as I have limited mobility at the moment it brings nature to me. 🙂

[Kkimm in reply to Rachmaninov2]

I agree it is possible to take good photos on a phone. I still keep my old camera for shots of birds etc but for scenery the phone is great and so convenient.Kim

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Thanks very much for attaching your photos, it is great to see them

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Beautiful image, I wonder if it is Ashness bridge in Cumbria. If so I have taken a similar image, late autumn though with a light sprinkling of snow.

[Rayblade900 in reply to Kkimm]

Haha... you are spot on! 👏I took in last year and only just come back from there a week ago. Just stunning. Honister Pass is spectacular.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

We have such wonderful landscapes on our little island don't we.

[Rayblade900 in reply to Kkimm]

Hi Kkimm, we certainly do. I've recently moved to Loughborough and just stunning. The Peaks are not too far away and yet to explore them. We could start a photographic forum! 😀

Good to see people appreciate a nice image too.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

I would love to join a photographic forum as part of this website where we could put up photos exploring moods and feelings as well as the beautiful landscape and nature. Sometimes poetry and prose to go with the images perhaps.My partner and I lived in Leicester for a few years and like you found some beautiful landscapes. Charnwood forest for example.

The granite there is certainly the bones of the earth pushing through. You have some real wonders to discover in the Peak District, I know that area really well as we used to visit it alot when young and camped and walked all over it. I think the rivers of the white peak particularly in springtime are second to none. Areas around and including Dovedale, if you visit at a quiet time, are stunning.

Do message me if you feel like a chat and chance to exchange photos etc. I am not sure if photos can be attached to messages however, I will check.

Great to have chatted to a fellow lover of landscapes.

Kim

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Hi Ray.Thanks for your message. You are right we can't attach images to messages so I have replied here instead. I also love taking wildlife photos as well as scenery. This is a Red Admiral I took yesterday on my budlia. What I think is amazing is how beautiful they are with wings closed.

Kim

Colour photo of a Red Admirals butterfly with the wings closed

[Rayblade900 in reply to Kkimm]

Hi Kim. Nice shot. I took this a few days ago on a warm down from a run on my phone. Normally can't get close before they fly off! 😀.

Taken using my phone on a run.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Nice one. That is a Comma butterfly from the look of it.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Kkimm]

I love your photo Kim. Butterflies are such beautiful, delicate little things aren’t they. I have a buddliea but haven’t seen any butterflies on it this year, and have only seen two Red Admirals in the garden so far.

[Kkimm in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Thanks very much, yes I agree they are wonderful

[Rayblade900]

I love B+W... or Monochrome as some folks say.

Normanton On Soar

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Like your black and white landscape with a gate. I think black and white often has more atmosphere somehow. The gate seems to draw you in. This is what's called a Marmalade hoverfly. Love the name!!I like the position of the seedhead next to the poppy with the seed head before the petals have fallen.

A colour photo of a poppy with a Marmalade hoverfly on it.

[Rayblade900 in reply to Kkimm]

You've done well to capture that. The hoverfly compliments the seed head.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Thanks, you're right, I hadn't thought of that

[Rayblade900]

Another example of "Bones Of The Earth" I took a couple of weeks ago.Hope we're not boring others with our photo slide show!! 🤭

Taken near Honister Pass - Cumbria

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Rayblade900]

I for one am not bored, on the contrary. 🙂

[Rayblade900 in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Phew... Good to hear 👍

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Rayblade900]

Not sure about the rules for this forum though. Some are very strict about ‘off topic’ subjects. 🙂

[Kkimm in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoy seeing these images

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Love this image, yes, it certainly is the bones of the earth pushing through

[Kkimm]

Hi I don't think it is off topic in that getting interested in nature and appreciating scenery has such restorative properties. Both daily excercise and getting out in nature, even if it is just a city park can do so much for mental well being. I know it was what helped me so much to get over GAD.

Photography is also great because it gives you a focus and a way to record and look back on positive experiences. Most people have a mobile phone these days.

[Rayblade900 in reply to Kkimm]

Hi Kim. Totally agree. I started the Couch To 5K at the tail end of Jan this year to both help me mentally & physically. The good thing is that it's forced me to leave me flat (as currently working from home). If I didn't have this regime I wouldn't go out as much as also live on my own.So agree... outside time is hugely beneficial and hobbies like photography etc give you a reason to get fresh air.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

Hi RayThat's a great thing to do and will really help your mental health I'm sure.

[Kkimm in reply to Rayblade900]

I have learned such alot from experiencing anxiety and depression that I can't regret having gone through it. I realise however how lucky I am to have recovered so fully after three years and that others have suffered and continue to suffer so much more.What I have learned is to value each moment. Having a few warm words with a stranger when out on a walk, looking up into a starry sky, having my first cup of tea in the morning, seeing a beautiful building or a butterfly open it's wings. All these things are moments to be treasured.

I walked with the people I love most along a moonlit quay with Thames barges moored near a pretty Riverside pub where we had just had a drink on Friday night. The weather was balmy and things are going well for my daughter, son in law and my partner. Again currently we are all lucky. Another time I will be so upset because I have been thinking back to the loss of a beloved pet or devasted for a period when my partner has upset me so much by saying something insensitive. But at this moment I am happy and contented and safe and I am living in this moment.

Thames barges at a quay in the moonlight