Shadows of their former selves
The recent bushfires have decimated the native bush and you can see it clearly in these photos – not long ago we had trouble walking here for the rampant blackberries and undergrowth and now it’s just empty and stark. My husband took these photos while out on a walk last week and the starkness struck me as shadows of their former selves. Interestingly the metal thingy you can see is part of the old water race and has been hidden under blackberries and only came to light after the fires had been through.
Coming out of the shadows into the light
While in Amsterdam a while ago, we went cruising on the canal – as you do! I love this view of coming of the shadows of the tunnel into the city of Amsterdam.
Fun with shadows
Just last month we were in England with some friends from Scotland and we introduced them to Wells Cathedral – they’d not heard of it before. Wells is the smallest city in England and a fabulous place to visit.
They had a movie about a train trip projected onto a very old wall of the cathedral and we wondered at the significance but couldn’t work it out despite reading the blurb about it. So the Mathematician and Mary just had fun with the shadows pretending they were on the train and making shadow animals. To be honest it felt a bit sacrilegious to be playing around that but it certainly made us laugh!
I am aware that I’ve talked about bushfires a lot recently but it really has been a catastrophic event for our area, and it helps me to process what’s happened. I hope you’ve noticed that my selected photos get more positive as my post progressed!
How would you show shadows? I actually had trouble thinking about what I’d do for this week’s prompt but in the end it was quite easy 🙂
Yes I think I’m coming out of the shadows and into the light….
Deb xx
Shadows is the prompt for Terri’s Sunday Stills this week
All my Sunday Stills posts can be found here
Also linking up with Denyse’s #LifethisWeek with the prompt of Share Your Snaps.
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
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Awesome shots, Deb. They express your theme perfectly!
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Thanks Donna, I was hoping my message was clear through my photos. Things are improving!
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Sorry to hear you were struck hard, I’m in a safe zone so we had weeks of gross smoke and ash air but nothing nearby!
Great shots, love those framed shots coming out from the bridge … take care 🙂
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Thanks Kate, the whole country has been suffering it seems. Glad to hear you are OK, but the air quality from smoke has been awful everywhere!
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I’m sure we’ve all had a dose of it … has to damage the lungs at that intensity 🙂
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Nice photos to represent the shadows theme. The pictures of the fire aftermath are so very sad, though. They cast a shadow on my heart.
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Thanks Janis, I was reluctant to use the fire shots but then I thought how well they demonstrated my train of thought. We have views like this around our town and area and it’s heartbreaking.
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Lovely photos Deb especially the poignant ones of whats left of the bush. Sad to see the destruction but new life will start appearing now I’m sure.
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Yes it is sad to see the destruction Jonno and we now see it everyday everywhere we look! It is starting to regenerate but will take some time yet. Thanks for your comment.
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Those photos of the bush really show what has happened over there and makes you realise how very lucky you were. I hope that as the year evolves you start to see regrowth gradually appearing.
I have never been to Wells cathedral – it looks lovely, I shall have to add it to my list of places to visit.
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Thanks so much for your kind words and thoughts Deb. I highly recommend Wells and surrounding areas as a place to visit. Hope all is well.
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Nice pictures!
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Thanks Ashley, they mean a lot to me.
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A walk around my place is easy too without the thickets of lantana and small shrubs to block the way. I too used my blog as a way to help me recover, writing about my experience does help plus it lets others know the devastation on a personal level. It is amazing what can be found. The fire blokes found my old fencing pliers lol
Love the tunnel image Debbie 🙂
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Thanks so much for your understanding and it really does help me to process things by sharing my thoughts and photos. As you say it also helps others to see some of the devastation and to hear our stories. I’m glad to hear you feel the same way. How amazing to find your old fencing pliers 🙂 The tunnel shot is my way of saying there is light at the end of all this…..and it says it perfectly!
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Yes indeed….the light at the end of the tunnel
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Debbie, my heart aches for Australia, such devastation! We deal with wildfires every fall near my area and it is scary. But this is a magnitude and length of time that just seems unprecedented. Your shadows and depiction of them are marvelous!
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I do appreciate your kind words and thoughts Terri. It has been a very scary time for everyone. I’m glad you enjoyed my shadow depictions too.
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I’m conscious I’ve been AWOL so not touched base or read any posts since your return from o/s so must catch up. I know you were torn about your return – excited to come home but worried about what would await you.
I like the ‘coming out of the shadows’ analogy. I feel like I’ve kinda done that over recent days.
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I think we all go through this feeling from time to time Deb. At least I think I can see the end of the tunnel up ahead!!
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Hi Deb – an interesting selection of photos. Fire certainly devastes the bushland doesn’t it? It will gradually come back, but will look barren for the next few years. The train pics were very random for a cathedral – but nice to see that they brought a smile to your faces.
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Yes it was nice to have the shadow fun in the cathedral to lighten things up! Thanks for your comment on my post 🙂
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Debbie, Thank you for your thought-provoking images this week. Lots for me to reflect upon!
SSG xxx
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My pleasure SSG I’m just glad I managed to finish on a lighter note 🙂
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Hi Deb I love your interpretation of this prompt and it’s perfect for the way you’re feeling at the moment after the fires. You must takes photos in the same spot in the bush in the spring or perhaps in 1 year when revegetation is appearing. #lifethisweek
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That’s a great idea Jennifer, it would be good to compare the differences and the progress. It was a good prompt to get out some feelings!
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Great pics as always… Your lead photos are definitely stark, but I giggled at the thought of shadow play in the cathedral. (I’d probably do the same thing)…and I’m still wondering what the train track projection is about?
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It was really weird Jo, and so out of context having it in the Cathedral. I did read the profile blurb about the film but it still didn’t make much sense. It appealed to us to make shadow figures and really helped lighten the mood of the sombre church setting. I’m sure someone was watching us on CCTV and shaking their heads at our immaturity 🙂
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Empty and stark are two sad words, Deb. Amazing photo coming out of the tunnel! Your fun with shadows reminds me how my 4 year old granddaughter received a book for her birthday with a flashlight. Shining the flashlight on each page of the book creates shadows on the wall. First time I have seen this concept. All of your photos are interesting and beautiful.
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I love the idea of a flashlight with the book Erica! How clever 🙂 We had fun with the shadows in the cathedral. Considering I thought it was a hard prompt at first I’m pretty happy with the end result. I really appreciate your kind words.
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I think that prompt was written for you and I think it sums up your current situation perfectly. So sad to see the devastation caused by the bushfires but pleased that you can see the light – I think it would be weird if you didn’t talk about the bushfires given what your community has been through and blogging is very cathartic like that, isn’t it?! Loved the shadows in the cathedral – it looked like a lot of fun!
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That’s lovely of you to say Sammie! The cathedral shadows were fun for all the big kids 🙂
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Great post..there is a part of me that wants to capture some of the fire’s remains near us. It was the closest we came – about 5 kms away but the other part of me says “just watch”. So today I did. I drive along the Pacific Hwy towards my regular coffee place on a Wednesday and go past the trees on either side which were part of the fires. What I noticed with one week’s difference is the green growth from the blackened trunks and branches. Amazing recovery. Now we need to make sure the ‘people’ come through this OK too. I noticed today the NSW DofE schools in fire affected areas are giving out information for families so that children can get some help talking about their experiences if they choose. The psychological damage is going to be discovered over these next months and even years. Thank you for linking up for Life This Week #174. Next week’s optional prompt is 6/51 Interesting 10.2.2020. Hope to see you again there too. Denyse.
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Thanks Denyse, the difference in a few weeks is amazing with new growth shooting out everywhere. It’s a stark brutal beauty. Yes I’m sure there will be issues with some kids and teachers for some time to come. Thanks for the linkup, it’s always fun.
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Fabulous photos Deb, from darkness and shadows to light and hope, I can totally understand where you’re coming from.
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Thanks Miriam, for your understanding and support.
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I think your blog is the perfect place to process all that has happened with the fires, don’t apologise for that. Thanks for sharing your beautiful images! I love the one in the tunnel in the canal; it’s beautiful.
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Thanks very much Suger, it’s good to be able to write and share stories of this awful time. The canal tunnel is my favourite too.
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The photo taken as you exited the tunnel in Amsterdam was the perfect segue from the heavier photos of the devastation from the fires and to the fun loving photos of the Mathematician making shadow puppets. Your photos of the church perfectly captured its majesty.
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Thanks Leslie, I didn’t want it to be too heavy a post and the light at the end of the tunnel just spoke to me! The cathedral shadow fun was pure delight for all the big kids!
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Hi Debbie, I loved the pictures. It was really sad about the fire destroying the forest. The shadows pictures look fun. My husband and I also do silly stuff sometimes that may not go down well with some other people present but yes we get the laugh out of it, so it’s all okay. Haha
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting Sophie. I’m glad to hear you do silly stuff too, life can be too serious at times!
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