Mellow Yellow Sighs And Purple Whispers

Cloud piles explode into the upper reaches of the atmosphere along a dry line hugging the Eastern New Mexico border. Thunder, lighting, hail, and gusty winds foreshadow a needed dousing. The comforting smell of rain on the wind speaks of drought relief. An hour passes and the storm furies flee the area with a whimper. The brief splash of rain barely wets the rain gauge and scant hail pebbles disappear in short order. The full force of the storms races into West Texas.

On the open prairie the meager precipitation serves to knock down dust and erase tracks in loose soil. Yellow pockets of flowers grace the dry landscape. Delicate, purple blossoms adorn a resilient clump of Wire Lettuce (stephanomeria pauciflora) and join the tenuous Spring flora chorus. Yucca seedlings belie the bristly, bayonet-like weaponry of mature  leaves and curl elegantly into the afternoon sunshine. Despite extreme drought conditions the Llano Estacado harbors unique, albeit reluctant beauty.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Hover Fly On Douglas Groundsel

Purple Whisper

Ragwort Fan

Static Motion

Las Sombras De Los Llaneros

Let your shadows be the footprints to mark your passage through our natural world.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Yo I Mi Sombra - Me And My Shadow

Admirador Secreto - Secret Admirer

Agua, Agua Por Todas Partes - Water, Water Everywhere

Carretera De Hielo - Ice Road

Cazador De Luz - Light Hunter

Corazón Salvaje - Wild At Heart

El Espantapájaros - The Scarecrow

En El Llano - On The Llano

Fantasma Del Llanero - Ghost Of The Llanero

Jardín De Yucca - Yucca Garden

Lampara De La Esperanza - Lamp Of Hope

Sombra Hirsuta - Shaggy Shadow

Sombra Verde - Green Shadow

Sombras De La Pradera - Prairie Shadows

Viejo Invierno - Old Man Winter

Promesas de Alegria - Promises Of Joy

Sarape Del Llanero - Llanero's Blanket

Vaquero Filaree - Filaree Cowboy

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