Monday, August 27, 2012

A Purging of the Land

North Fork Toutle River Valley, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved  (Velvia slide film)



Reminiscent of a Dantesque landscape, shaped by purgatorial smoke, ash and fire, what once was a densely forested river valley was dramatically 
purged by the violent eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Although it will take many lifetimes to restore this valley to its former lushness, life is slowly, persistently returning, offering hope for the return of a renewed paradise among the mountains of the Cascade Range.

24 comments:

  1. Was that really 32 years ago? Wonderful to see how life slowly returns to the mountain.

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  2. So breathtaking Doug. You have captured such depth in this landscape. Brilliant.

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  3. A movie scenery, a place of dream...Wonderful image!
    Léia

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  4. Extraordinary face of the nature, fantastic photograph. I am greeting

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  5. I don't agree with the comparison with Dante. From this scale the Earth looks like a living, growing organism in this image. A criss-cross of veins and arteries, axions and neurons. More life than death. Maybe I just like nature more than people.

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  6. Wow, you got a lot of nice contrast, and I love the size of the river compared to the river bed. You visited at a very nice time of year!

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  7. Superbe paysage,une lumière et des couleurs fantastiques.

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  8. My Compliments Doug!
    Have a wonderful new week :)

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  9. Amazing display of nature's destructive force--while strikingly desolate it's a gorgeous result Doug

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  10. It's remarkable how nature reclaims even the most desolate of places...and it's a remarkable how you have imbued the image with a great feeling of depth.

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  11. WoW! That's a fantastic shot!

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  12. What an amazing view, and fantastic captured!I really admire your work!
    :)

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  13. what a captivating document! amazing how much of life has returned already. i was there in 1989, and compared to then it looks like a rainforest today ...

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  14. Wonderful landscape!! Specially, I like the winding brook. Beautiful picture again!
    Have a nice day.

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  15. The landscape is spectacular! You must have had a good observation point.

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  16. Breathtaking. Made me think of this scene during the 1980 eruption.

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  17. Wonderful photo, it includes so many aspects of the landscape. Great to see the plants slowly returning to stabilise and rebuild the area.

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  18. A very impressive landscape, would love to see it for myself!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  19. i guess all the emission from that explosion nurtured & fortified the land for even more lush growth.. i see it's starting now.. such a beautiful landscape.. :)

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  20. A beautifully detailed image with lovely light, Doug.

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