Monday, June 13, 2011

Misty Monday - Change

Near Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee  © Doug Hickok


Change is constant and inevitable. But change is often difficult to accept when it's unwanted. The once beautiful Carolina Hemlock forests that graced the mountains of the Southern Appalachians are disappearing. The beautiful lacy branched conifers are dying from the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive sap-sucking insect. As you can see on closer inspection, some of the trees are only skeletons now.

Yet, as the hemlocks perish, nature adapts and evolves. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, a different ecosystem of flora and fauna will take the place of the hemlock forest and thrive. Change will continue, and a new forest will emerge, one with a beauty of its own.

In this way, nature's example gives the human race hope. As our planet and our lives constantly change, we'll both adapt, and thrive in a new and, I hope, beautiful way. Unless of course we're unable or unwilling to change. Then it's a different story. Then, we'll become the next hemlock tree.



 

22 comments:

  1. Very, very nice!!!
    Have a good new week Doug! ;-)

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  2. A beautiful Photo Doug. I like the black & white treatment. It highlights those suspended wispy clouds.

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  3. This is a beautiful juxtaposition of metaphors, Doug. If we don't learn from Mother Nature or from our past mistakes, when will we ever learn? I do pray it's not too late!

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  4. Beautiful shot. I will be hiking these mountains next month.

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  5. Smoky mountains seems quite an appropriate name, beautiful capture!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  6. A very beautiful image and hopeful words !!!
    great post !
    have a nice day !

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  7. Great Photograph Doug!

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  8. The Green Mountains of Vermont have been cloaked in mist also these last few days. I can feel your fog on my cheeks.

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  9. Great post! It's a terrific shot and your reflection upon change seems the perfect companion.

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  10. THIS PICTURE IS AMAAZZZZIINNNGGG!!!

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  11. like the foggy mood on this superbe b&w shot.well done!

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  12. Wonderful shot! Man, I really need to get to this place. Everything I see from TGSM is amazing.

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  13. A beautiful image with wonderful atmosphere to it, and a very thoughtful commentary, too.

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  14. wonderful feel to this, beautiful.

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  15. Every cloud has a silver lining.
    Remember those camel thorn trees in Lanting's pictures in NG (Africa Super Park)?
    Who knows you might be able to shoot something like that in TN?!

    Guess what's my word verification for today?!
    "Silva"

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  16. great catch.. well, that's life.. we have to enjoy it while it's still there.. :)

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  17. Wonderful in black and white. At first I thought it was smoke before I realized it was mist. Mist wins any day!

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  18. great tone variations delivered by the mist

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  19. Change is coming; so true and so inevitable--as you say, how we handle it is really the only question. Superb post Doug--love this shot.

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  20. I have always wonder if I have a chance to take these landscapes ...

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