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“Gentle waves, like a sheet of rich blue silk, touched the shore. With barely a breeze, only the gentle pulse of the water filled the air, and the sun lit the horizon, like a distant fire. All around me is peace. I drink it in, savouring every moment; the perfect ending to a wonderful summer day.” – Ed Lehming Today, a brief pause in my California series for an image made yesterday… Read More
“Despite colder temperatures, the days are beginning to lengthen and the sun fills the forest with warm sunshine. As I stand on the trails, enjoying the scenery, it warms my skin and my soul.” – Ed Lehming It’s mid-February, there have been many snow-filled days, somewhat limiting my time in the forests, though I make a point of venturing out as often as I can safely. The trails themselves are fine, but… Read More
“There are times to rest and times to keep going, it’s good to have a choice.” – Ed Lehming I’m still working through photos I made over two weeks ago on that magical December second morning. The overwhelming beauty of that day is still with me, though I’ve travelled these trails several times since that. The way the freshly fallen snow transformed the world that day was indescribable. The trail, within Uxbridge,… Read More
“There are times in our lives where we simply need to stop and enjoy what is placed before us.” – Ed Lehming I have “noticed” this scene many times over the past year, but I have never stopped to enjoy it. It’s one of those things we notice from the periphery of our “busyness”. It captures our attention, only momentarily and then we carry on. Today, I was determined that I would… Read More
“Seemingly simple but infinitely complex, nature offers new details the closer you look.” – Ed Lehming This week I decided to take a break from mainstream social media, especially Facebook. I’ve found myself overwhelmed by intense and polarized viewpoints. I think much has to do with the physiological effects of the COVID restrictions. It will be some time before the full effects are assessed and understood. I know it’s been challenging for… Read More
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more” ― Lord Byron This was a common scene along many stretches of Iceland’s Ring Road; beautiful cabins on the mountainsides. I’m a bit envious. I’d love to stop at one of these retreats… Read More
“Videy Island” – Reykjavik, Iceland “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” ― John Lennon This was our final full day in the glorious land known as Iceland and we spent the day touring the city on foot, starting at the harbour front. I could not help but be entranced by the raw beauty of… Read More
“It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for a reason to be happy or sad, you will always find it.” ― Kamand Kojouri In this hectic world, I am usually looking for things that bring me peace. I find this peace in simplicity and often in the most obscure things. Last weekend I went out with the intention of going on an extended hike and make some photos of my experience. It’s been… Read More
“Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that. “ – Jon Kabat-Zinn It’s allergy double jeopardy, a bee on ragweed. Strange, I used to have a real aversion to bees and wasps. Now that I am pursuing more macro images, I find myself surrounded by them, as I strain for that next… Read More
“You get peace of mind not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by quieting and relaxing the restless mind.” ― Remez Sasson Alas, the next wave of peonies is upon me. All the varieties are now in full bloom, some already spend and the buds of the second generation of flowers is beginning to open. These secondary blossoms tend to be a bit smaller but no less beautiful. I spotted this… Read More
“We must believe that there are places where tranquility exists and nature is given back her power to speak…” ― Nanette L. Avery Seriously, I am trying to move away from whales, and the ocean, but the draw is too strong. I’m still going through the many photos I made on my recent vacation and finding images that simply resonate with me. The image above of one such photo. Made around eight… Read More
“We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert This is one of my images made the last week of December. Conditions were ideal to be out on the trails, light was soft and warm, and the temperatures were comfortable. As I was on a few week’s vacation, I spent a lot of time on the trails, enjoying the wonderful sights… Read More
Time spent alone, not lonely; Untrodden trails, my footsteps, singular; Unspoiled, for my eyes alone; Newness, freshness; Never seen before, yet fleeting; Nature surrounds me, and astounds me; I am renewed. – Ed Lehming A surprising splash of colour in a predominantly white landscape. I finally had the opportunity to get back on the trails today. We had a few days of unsettled weather, including some freezing rain, a particularly unwelcome visitor for… Read More
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, aus einer Wurzel zart, wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse war die Art Und hat ein Blümlein bracht mitten im kalten Winter, wohl zu der halben Nacht. – author Unknown Today, a break from the birds and an image of a rose from a recently purchased bouquet. The image got one of my favourite Christmas carols rolling through my head. Growing up in a German household,… Read More
“Rather than crying and craving for those who left our path during dark moments of our life, let’s spend some time to thank those who stood and helped us to pass those dark paths.” ― Nehali Lalwani This image was made on a somewhat foggy morning. As the fog dissipated I came across this scene. Amidst a damp low area, filled with spruce and hemlock, stands a small grove of silver birch…. Read More
“In transitions, we must learn to be still. Being still is, in part, about learning to be comfortable with ambiguity.” ― Janet Rebhan These are the words that echo through my head, as I consider this recent image and the events over the past several months and yesterday evening. I find myself standing here once more, drinking in the beauty and the quiet, as the world goes on about me. But here, in… Read More
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well, with my soul.” – Horatio Spafford It’s difficult to put into words the multiple feelings I experience when paddling. My canoe is one of my ‘sacred places’. Like being behind a camera, I am in the moment, and experience only this. Through this photo, I’m… Read More
“The whole point of getting engrossed in something that interests you, is that you dissolve into it, the more the intensity…the more you become vapour – you dissolve. In fact, there is no you to judge, to see… only emptiness within, that is the whole purpose of life… at least my life!” ― Ramana Pemmaraju Above, is another photo of “The Gut”, a location mentioned in an earlier post. This time, looking… Read More
“We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert My wife and I discovered this magical place a few years ago on a “fall colours” tour of the area where we spend our summers. I was following the local waterways, looking for a few named waterfalls when I came across this place, who’s location I will not divulge. The… Read More
“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.” ― L.M. Montgomery My final memory of an extended weekend away is… Read More
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. ― Anne Frank Such a menacing name for such a beautiful, delicate flower. But, the Dogbane… Read More
“The human body may need to receive sunlight through the tree canopy in order to be in a healthy state. I call this light “Interference Green Light” and it may be the top thing that you need to be receiving in order to be in good health and free of pain.” ― Steven Magee I don’t know how true the quote is, but I know I need my ‘green’ time. To walk… Read More
“See that path in front of you? That path has been laid before you, the one that you’re supposed to take, the one you’re told to take through life…just like everyone else. If you follow that path, you’ll be following all the rules, you’ll always know that you did what everyone wanted you to do and you’ll make it through… See that path in front of you? I dare you to step… Read More
“When introverts go to church, we crave sanctuary in every sense of the word, as we flee from the disorienting distractions of twenty-first-century life. We desire to escape from superficial relationships, trivial communications and the constant noise that pervade our world, and find rest in the probing depths of God’s love.” ― Adam S. McHugh I have real love of sacred places. Cathedrals are such humbling places, filled with quiet places to sooth… Read More
“Sometimes the waters of our spirits are churned and murky, and it is difficult to tap the reservoirs of our innate wisdom and knowledge. But the waters will settle as we do. Quietly and gently encourage yourself to go inside. Clarity will come.” ― Sue Patton Thoele If we were having coffee…I’d tell you this week had some major ups and some major downs. On the up side, one of my photos,… Read More
“Whenever there is stillness there is the still small voice, God’s speaking from the whirlwind, nature’s old song, and dance…” ― Annie Dillard Chilly water flows beneath icicles formed by the spray of the creek below. I found this to be an odd sight. April in my area has been ‘confusing’. We had beautiful sunshine and mild temperatures, followed by a deep freeze, snow, freezing rain, and strong winds, all within a… Read More
Ed Lehming Photography 
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