Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #257: Simplicity

Published on by Yinglan

Happy Sunday! This week, Philosophy through Photography is the guest-host for the Lens-Artist Challenge and the topic chosen is Simplicity.

Keeping things simple has always been my life’s motto and more so in the recent years as I’m having these little anxiety surges throughout the day. Complexity makes my anxiety worse, that and my mother, who often commands me to do things her way. It’s my way or the high way – that’s her motto.

I’m least anxious when I’m alone and when I’m not anxious, I begin to notice things. It’s almost like seeing the world through a whole new pair of eyes.

Like this dandelion. If you ask my mom, she would immediately grab the bottle of the strongest weed killer and probably dump the whole bottle on it. “It’ll die in a few hours,” she’d say. To me, it’s a photo opportunity to showcase how wonderfully beautiful nature can be.

This was one of the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and I do wish I’ve done it justice with my camera. Imagine a forest filled with these yellow flowers, everywhere you look are these bright yellow blooms, all the way up and all the way down. This is a man-made forest in China. Every single tree was planted by human and then let nature do its thing.

This was also one of the last times I got to spend with my grandmother before she passed in 2021.

I live about 2 miles from an air force base. At random time everyday, the airmen would perform drills, flying over my roof in their supersonic jets, either temporarily disrupting my TV signal or causing me to have to pause whatever I was listening as I wouldn’t be able to hear anything.

Even after living in my current neighborhood for the last 14 years, I’m still not used to the noise and probably never will. Strangely, I enjoy watching the plane soar over my head when I’m not working or in the middle of something.

My final image is that of a sunset. When it comes to sunset, I tend to ignore the background as my feelings toward a sunset is always the same. I wonder if anyone else feel a sense of simplicity and finality when they watch or witness a sunset as if it’s another wrap to another day.

18 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #257: Simplicity”

  6. What an interesting narrative to go along with those lovely clicks!
    I enjoyed reading and looking at each photograph.
    Whether it’s a single dandelion shot or a forest tree with nothing but blossoming yellow flowers, it puts us in a good mood! And what a visual pleasure!
    I like the plane click where you effectively utilised negative space.
    Nothing beats a sunrise or sunset, and who cares about the background?
    Thank you, Yinglan, for sharing these treasures with us and bringing us all joy.
    Thank you for taking part in the challenge once more.

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  7. Love the yellow forest story. There is something special about planting trees for the sake of having trees and not planning to cut it all down in due course. We once left the lawn to go to dandelions and we loved the yellow flowers. My youngest and I just enjoyed it. There was fall out however, more dandelions. Eventually my sensible eldest arrived and had the lawn mowed.

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    1. Well, I sure hope they didn’t cut it down after this but we’ll never know since it’s China where trees and animals are killed daily for human uses and consumption. I would not be at all surprised if that spot is now a community of apartment complexes.

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  8. You are so right about taking to nature to relax and rejuvenate, Yinglan. I truly loved the dandelion and the story about you being with your grandmother and enjoying the trees is pretty special. Sounds like you live in her reflection. Very nice.

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    1. Thank you. I do miss her despite she was one of the people who didn’t treat me fairly as a child because of my gender but it seemed like that changed the last time I saw her. So I guess things have changed.

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      1. Yes. That would be the generation. I am glad for the last time you saw her. We had similar circumstance with my in-laws and my daughter’s choice of a husband. It was sad, and now they realize it was a mistake and are trying to make up for lost time. 10 years and 3 great grandchildren later. But they are in their mid-80’s . I guess we can always just hope.

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