Light

The nature of photography requires a relationship with the little understood fifth force of nature intrinsic to the phenomena we know as light.

Light is a fickle mistress.
She can be a fiery blaze or a faint glow.
She is brilliant,
But often chooses a subtle burnish to make a point.

Light is the joyous dance of an aurora
And the peaceful splendor of a starlit night.
She resides in the romance of candle flames 
And the sonorous fury of a lightning flash.
Every dawn renews her splendor.
Every sunset is a promise of a bright tomorrow.

Light doles out caresses and affection,
But demands understanding.
She enjoys whimsical affairs with subjects in her realm.
Yet, her capricious nature resists capture
And challenges image makers in pursuit of her favor.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Light Catcher (Silver Maple)

G'day Mate (Cooper)

Humble Potential

Eine Rose Für Mein Schätzchen

Let There Be Light

Shadow Dancer (vanessa atalanta, aka Red Admiral)

Austrian Pine Strobili (pinus nigra austriaca)

Tree Of Life (Arborvitae)

A Yew For You

India Hawthorne Flush

In The Pines (Cooper)

Red Admiral (vanesa atalanta)

Grape Leaf Soliloquy

Austrian Strobili Parade

Lästige Motte (euxoa auxiliaris, aka Army Cutworm Moth)

Silver Maple Light Parade

Collard Dove Solo (streptopelia decaocto)

Soul Catcher (Cooper)

As American As Apple Pie (turdus migratorius, aka American Robin)

Fence Patrol (streptopelia decaocto, aka Eurasian Collard Dove)

I'm A Bird Watcher (Cooper)

Looking For Moth ID

Heart Catcher

Smile (India Hawthorne)

Schmetterling (Roter Admiral)

At Day's End (Cooper)

Poetry Of Spirit

We mortals pen poetry because our hearts enjoy the dance.

© Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Lazy Moon

Before bedtime I step into the prairie night. Balmy daytime temperatures linger. Cooper explores shadows dancing in the beam of my flashlight. The stillness under night skies reaches into my soul. The waxing Moon lies recumbent against a canopy of gossamer clouds on starlit velvet. Night winds whisper sweet nothings. I lend ear. My heart spills poetry.

Pear blossom canopies

Dance on whispers of night wind

Lazy Moon slumbers

© Ilija Lukić 2013

Lazy Moon

Vernal Havoc

Meadowlarks give feeble voice to joys

Written upon human hearts and souls.

Icy winds engulf songs of lone cowboys

O’er snowy mesas and dry water holes.

Life slows in sand drifts along cactus trails,

Tablelands pause sunny refrains of spring,

Holed up coyotes forego moonlight wails,

Cry havoc, White Owl Woman takes wing.

Solitary windmills defy the gathering furies,

Azure horizons yield to dark wintry squalls,

Smoke rises from sheltered ranch chimneys

Amidst lark medleys and spring calf bawls.

© Ilija Lukić 2013

Horses At Dusk

Adrift in liquid gold

Horses dream of chasing winds

Endless horizon beckons

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Hoses At Dusk
Llano Estacado tablelands near Broadview, New Mexico USA

Stalwart Beaut

Reminiscing days of yore near the northern precipice of the Llano Estacado.

Stalwart Beaut
Broadview, New Mexico USA

Windswept Encounters

Warm winds assault the spring renewal stirring on the Llano tablelands. Drifting sand borne on restless winds creates aesthetic shapes on the lee side of prairie vegetation and fence posts. On the other hand the keen teeth of the pristine grains raze fresh shoots struggling into frail existence on bone dry cultivated lands. Circle irrigation pivots toil twenty-four-seven to stem the onslaught of wind, sun, and dearth of rain.

Cooper and I work our way across a nearby section of open prairie just after mid-morning. The genial drama of sunrise now defers dominion to gusty Sou’westerlies and windswept cloud cover. Sixty-degree airs feel uncomfortably cool.

Our game trail thoroughfare takes us through a curiously silent prairie dog town. Usually our presence draws noisy rebukes. Cooper investigates several burrows then lopes ahead, nose to the wind. I pause and soak in the serenity .

We strike out in the direction of a Siberian Elm cluster. Along our passage broom weed skeletons primp woody stems with greenery. One lonesome Chocolate Daisy bloom vies for attention and blueweed stretch scruffy basal leaves across red soils. The serpentine shape of a Bullsnake grabs my attention. Its tongue works feverishly in attempts to taste my scent. Cooper keeps a respectful distance, as we both take a few moments to gaze at the colubrid. Yesterday a Great Plains Toad and today this ubiquitous plains reptile. The Llano Estacado wakes from winter slumber. We bid adieu as friends.

As we reach the Siberian Elm stand, a Cooper’s Hawk on a pigeon kill disappears in a flurry of wing beats followed by skillfully executed flight maneuvers. This raptor is very adept in navigating a tree thicket in pursuit of prey. Several piles of feathers lead me to conclude this bird was in the process of plucking feathers before I interrupted breakfast. Once we depart this hunter will most likely return.

Before turning homeward I cannot resist the glorious palette of wind, light, and prairie vegetation around me. Whispers on the lively winds urge digital images of heavenly moments in time. The warm morning light emphasizes the rust and golden hues of freeze-dried flora. Delicate spring greenery adorns trees. Windblown clouds against azure New Mexico skies complete my slice of paradise.

Windswept Encounter

Llano Estacado Cathedrals

Sea Of Grass

Wax Goldenweed Skyline

Brisk Tail Wind (Cooper)

Llano Estacado Trail Sweeper (Cooper) 

Chest Deep Prairie 

Gusty Winds

High Plains Spring

Balmy breezes in the 50s are such a contrast to yesterday's 20s. The bison near Ned Houk Park evoke primal emotions. Sensations, scents and sounds of the Llano Estacado reach into my heart and compel poetry.

Ferocious wind and frigid airs are king,

Until balmy breezes wipe our memory.

Chollas extol the gentler side of spring,

With gilded fruit they grace their jubilee.

Life stirs in burrow, den and prairie nest,

Even as earthy bosom brings forth seed.

While storm clouds gather to the west,

Yucca stems long for flowers to succeed.

Lark song melodies join prairie dog bark

With throaty bellows bison muffle grunts,

Fierce kestrels take last wing before dark

And snatch quarry with bold aerial stunts.

Oh cherished spring adrift in seas of grass,

Return post haste to winter-weary lands.

Suffer promises of autumn come to pass

And prepare life for summer’s torrid hands.

© Ilija Lukić 2013

Kindness

Allow your heart to dwell on kindness.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Spring Jubilee

Lucent pearls of dew

Sun wakes melodies of spring
Tulips celebrate

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Ephemeral Pearl

Green Purple Eater

Heart Of The Universe

Pinnacle Of Success

Purple Enigma

Surrender

Yellow Blaze

The Yin And The Yang

Waxing Moon

Clouds race with starlight

Night winds rouse mortal hearts

Waxing Moon craves love

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Chimayó

Hooded friars, five knots on white rope

Join pious pilgrims dead on their feet.

Their souls yearn for renewal of hope,

Near T’si Mayoh, in a hallowed retreat.

Tewa elders remember the sacred waters,

Where modest adobe belfries now stand.

Earth Mother shared her healing powers,

Restored body and soul with gentle hand.

Ghosts of the Summer and Winter People

Still roam pastures, climb the sandstone hill.

Penitentes brought bible and adobe steeple,

Flagellation entreated God’s favor, good will.

El Santuario de Chimayó mysteries endure

On whispers of miracles embraced by her soil,

Released by prayers raised to their Savior

By humble hearts weary of suffering and toil.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -