Posted by Joshua Hardin on February 10, 2013 at 7:18 PM
Many of us venture out on our own to photograph the outdoors. During our travels we sometimes also come across examples of solitude in nature: a lone wolf looking for food far away from the rest of the pack or a twisted bristlecone pine on a mountain slope with no other trees growing for miles. This month, submit your images that depict a sense of solitude. It could be a remote landscape that you were the only one visiting at the time of your photo's exposure or it could be that your subject is alone or isolated in some way from the rest of its environment. Let's see some creative images of solitude in this topic!
Remember, if you have ideas for monthly theme topics please feel free to share them with us in the We Need Your Ideas topic.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on February 10, 2013 at 7:22 PM
One place where I usually find myself alone at is the Pawnee Grasslands on the northeast Colorado plains. This pronghorn was also alone. I didn't spot another one for miles. Perhaps she was a lookout for the rest of the herd?
Posted by Brent Doerzman on February 10, 2013 at 7:53 PM
I think this will be a cool theme this month! Looking forward to seeing some good stuff!
Here is one of the only 4"x5" images I've shot while visiting my family in Iowa a few years back, in a park I used to play in all the time as a kid. Thanks for looking!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2013 at 12:05 AM
Hot Solitude, White Pocket
Believe it or not this tree still showed signs of life !
Posted by Bob Miller on February 12, 2013 at 7:38 PM
I've found solitude at the Hassayampa River Preserve near Wickenburg, AZ. Nice images Joshua, Brent & Bill.
Posted by Roger Rouch on February 13, 2013 at 9:58 AM
The Pawnee Grasslands pretty much do the solitude thing for me. I was recently weeding out my old 35mm and large format film collection. I had forgotten the pleasures and pains of film.
Posted by Roger Rouch on February 13, 2013 at 10:03 AM
One more from the Grasslands, post sunset. I don't think this one is possible anymore due to the wind turbines to the east of the buttes.
Posted by Scott Fricke on February 13, 2013 at 10:39 AM
For me, I've never felt as much solitude than when I am in a cave or lava tube. The lack of light and sound, the cold, and sometimes confined in narrow passageways can make you feel very isolated. There is definitely a fear factor involved in exploring these places but they also offer an opportunity to experience an entirely different ecosystem and sometimes discover artifacts thousands of years old. After being in such a place for any period of time it is always uplifting to see that first glow of light that offers a hint of the outside world. This photo was taken in a lava tube in El Malpais National Park. Midway through the tube part of the roof had collapsed creating a small opening in the ceiling that let a ray of light illuminate the tube.
Posted by Angela Classen on February 16, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Wow, I feel so alone Great images, everyone!
When I lived in Kansas, one of my favorite things to look for was lone cottonwoods on the prairie. I found this one close to the Chase Co. Fishing Lake.
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 17, 2013 at 11:26 AM
An abandoned whistlestop on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM.
Posted by Rick Dunn on February 21, 2013 at 9:17 PM
Jennifer at the Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley. An amazing evening with water on the Golf Course and not another soul around. We went back the next evening and it was bone dry.
Posted by Grant Collier on February 22, 2013 at 11:24 PM
This is probably the best photo I have for this theme, with vast ocean-scape dwarfing the lone fisherman in the distance.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 23, 2013 at 2:48 PM
A lone hiker gazing upon the Chinle Wash area along the Utah/Az. border.
Posted by Howard Cihak on February 24, 2013 at 9:08 AM
A cabin with a view ... east of the Million Dollar Highway in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
Posted by Bob Miller on February 24, 2013 at 11:01 AM
I really like your entry here Grant. The colors are so sweet. I can hear the soft even lapping of the waves and the leading line to the lone subject works perfectly.
Posted by Nathan Apodaca on February 24, 2013 at 8:11 PM
Sitting alone out in the lake... (some of you may have seen this recently in the landscape gallery)... Lot's of great images here!
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 26, 2013 at 9:43 AM
December's End
The eve of December 30, 2011 saw the bay below unusually void of boats and Alstrom Point barren of other people. It was a quiet way to enjoy the expansive view of Lake Powell.
Posted by Peter Coskun on February 26, 2013 at 6:49 PM
I had titled this image "Alone" because that is exactly how I felt when I was at this location. Not a soul for miles, no sounds of civilization. Just the morning breeze and flowing water of Mcgee creek nearby. John Muir Wilderness.
Posted by Bernie Wolff on February 27, 2013 at 6:18 AM
I'm rather late to the game here, but I can't resist posting one from my most recent trip, a backpack to Cape Solitude in the Grand Canyon. Though I suppose any of my shots from the location would technically fit the theme, I think this one has the most sens of emotional solitude, looking into the blue twilight of a Grand Canyon view without a visible sign of humanity.
Discussion
19 repliesRemember, if you have ideas for monthly theme topics please feel free to share them with us in the We Need Your Ideas topic.
Here is one of the only 4"x5" images I've shot while visiting my family in Iowa a few years back, in a park I used to play in all the time as a kid. Thanks for looking!
Believe it or not this tree still showed signs of life !
When I lived in Kansas, one of my favorite things to look for was lone cottonwoods on the prairie. I found this one close to the Chase Co. Fishing Lake.
The eve of December 30, 2011 saw the bay below unusually void of boats and Alstrom Point barren of other people. It was a quiet way to enjoy the expansive view of Lake Powell.