Feburary 2, 2022

Ever since I was alittle girl I have always been able to see the world differently from others. Some would call it "a good imagination", Some would call it "Strange", I call it a God-given gift. When standing at a location, I can visualize it has something else or add some drama to the scene. Most of my nature photography are composites. Composites are single images that are made up of 2 or more other images to make a complete fiction or non-fiction reality. I do this to tell a story or bring a meaning to the pieces. Just like my life and most others, we have to piece together parts of our lives to make sense of the whole image. For example, the image above titled 'Ascending' represents the times in my life when I was at my lowest points, (there have been many), and all I need to do is look up and take those small steps upwards until I get out of the depressive state that I had allowed myself to sink into. Other images have deeper representations or stories behind them.

Church by the Falls is a perfect example of becoming more than you believe yourself to be. The church in the image sits nestled in the woods off of a weathered road outside of a populated township here in NWA. This church has been sitting in the same spot since I can remember. Off the left of the church sits a trickling run-off that kind-a looks like a waterfall after a hard rain. This church sits there silently amongst the dogwood trees with a cliffside behind it. It is a calm scene to come across especially when there is nothing else to be seen down the potholed filled road it resides on. I had gotten out of my car and stood taking in all the splendor that was this little oasis of worship. Just a little history note, (because my mom is the unofficial | official historian of this township who took me on history walks yearly), this building used to be a school. Hence the two doors. The boys and girls were separated before going into before their lessons, then the building become a house of worship. 

Anyways, I just stood there and thought to myself "You could be so much more. This area could be so much more. You have so much potential." and that was the thought that provoked this image. Potential. Once I had finished my little adventure into the unknown and driven for miles that day with my camera beside me. I went home and produced this image. It was literally the same location, just added more "potential" to the scene. I have had several folks ask me where this location is. This location is not on any map. This is what I saw the day I drove up to this little slice of peace in the woods. Fun fact: this image is composed of 5-6 images and the building faces to the right, not the left. 

This image saddens my heart when I gaze upon it now because this ole lady doesn't exist anymore. This image was captured almost a year before she finally gave in to her age and crumbled to the ground one breezy day. This ole lady was a post office of a town just on the border of Arkansas and Missouri. I always drove past her to go visit family in Eureka Springs. One evening I was driving home from one of my adventures | history lessons when I looked over and saw her. She wasn't standing up straight anymore; kind-a hunched over. She had started to lean to the left very badly and her roofline (hair) was falling into her windows (eyes). I pulled over on the side of road, grabbed my camera, and stood on the side of the road staring at her. I walked into the center of the road and asked her if I can take her photo, "May I?" (yes I ask old buildings if I can take their photo, old buildings have spirits too you know) and snapped a few images while the sun was setting gracefully across her face and along the blades of grass in the field where she stood. As I walked back to my car, 

I slowly turned around one more time to take the moment in. The sun suddenly shined even brighter and more brilliantly than before. A warm feeling came over the area. I said out-loud to her, "You just wanted to see one more glorious sunset before you go, didn't you." I tear up every time thinking about that now that she has given up her spirit.

Introduction: This series of journals called "Landscapes with Inspirational Stories" are suppose to be lessons that nature can teach each and every one of us. This includes appreciating the little things to perseverance to loving yourself for who are, not giving up, having potential and believing in yourself, and just enjoying that last sunset.
All images used in every journal are images taken by Ivory Peacock Photography and prints can be purchased at the link at the bottom of the each journal.