The Dry

Posted in Life, Love, Macro Photography, Meditation, Nature, Photography, Relaxation, Spirituality, Sustainability, Truth? by Mark on 22/01/2013

Drought is no stranger in Oz and it is back with a vengeance. While we usually have the wet season about now it has drizzled and gently rained on a few days out of the last few months and it isn’t looking like getting wet any time soon. The bees, and everything else, are dying for the rain, the monsoon that brings more life than death.

This has significant implications for the wildlife, water being the first requirement of sustainability. But everything gets through, adapts or moves on. As it happens there is one spot that will probably never really dry up as it is an integral part of the drainage system of one of our big shopping centres that flood water from the inland hills must pass through – it was once a part of the natural system that was built over but maintained.

There is always an upside, as far as I am concerned, it’s how I keep going through the brutality of a war zone society often looks to be – and actually is. Yeah, let’s not go into that – you see it or you don’t and that’s enough. Nature is also a war zone, but there’s nobody to suffer emotionally – is there another kind – from it. Optimism has no place but with the pessimist.

So I tend the garden, more of a haven for the little ones this year than last. Some surprises – a new born Emerald Cuckoo Wasp, and some amusement – the bum of a bee sticking up out of a bamboo, looking like it doesn’t realise. And one giant wasp and mate that make good use of some water I leave out – must be over 2” inch long and thick as my little finger – that is well aware of me and to whom I haven’t gotten close, yet – we’ll see. You get the pix I get …

What a shocker nature can be, to the insanity of the emotional thinker, if it can but see … what a wonder, in a sense of the whole where the particular retreats to perspective … and it only lasts the blink of an eye.

The rest is just living; no big deal except it keeps going somehow – by the same singular purpose.

Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture to enlarge in a new tab – best in FireFox

Tagged with: Human Nature, Macro, Meditation, Nature, Spirituality, Sustainability, Truth

43 comments

43 Responses

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Starfires said, on 31/01/2013 at 1:08 am

Such incredible macros, really beautiful.

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- Mark said, on 01/02/2013 at 1:16 am
  
  Thanks S …
  
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taiten1027 said, on 29/01/2013 at 2:15 pm

wow！ so pro

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- Mark said, on 29/01/2013 at 5:05 pm
  
  Thanks T …
  
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kylechavez2011 said, on 24/01/2013 at 4:20 am

Your show a very interesting perceptive. I love the vivid colors detail.

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- Mark said, on 24/01/2013 at 5:18 pm
  
  Thanks Kyle …
  
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Lunar Euphoria said, on 24/01/2013 at 1:31 am

Awe-struck as always by Nature’s Place.

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- Mark said, on 24/01/2013 at 5:18 pm
  
  Glad you like it LU …
  
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Deb said, on 23/01/2013 at 7:00 am

Another great set Mark, thanks for sharing.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:55 pm
  
  Thanks Deb …
  
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Thomas Peace (author) said, on 23/01/2013 at 6:50 am

Excellent macros!

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:52 pm
  
  Thanks Thomas.
  
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Not telling, you don't need to know said, on 23/01/2013 at 5:09 am

Where do you live? I’m in Ohio and last week it was raining pretty hevily and now it’s snowing!

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:52 pm
  
  No, I don’t need to know. Ohio is not Brisbane. Even in the rain and coming snow there are opportunities for macro …
  
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suzysomething said, on 23/01/2013 at 5:07 am

Mark, as usual I’m humbled by the views of Nature that you and your camera reveal. Also humbled by your philosophical prose.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:50 pm
  
  Hi Sarzy, thanks for dropping … :)
  
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Godfried said, on 23/01/2013 at 1:52 am

Nice pictures Mark.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:48 pm
  
  Thanks Godfried.
  
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Claratee said, on 23/01/2013 at 1:20 am

Great photos. Water is scarce indeed on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The meliponas are lingering more regularly near the kitchen tap for water. Concerning.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:47 pm
  
  Thanks Clara, stingless bees? I leave a few containers of water around the place, in semi shade – for all the creatures, with water plants in them and sometimes anything I think might take root – some sand in the bottom and the sun and heat help produce a green algae (or something) that eventually forms a coat on the water and helps keep it from evaporating too quickly and from which they can stand and drink. It’s new for me and I haven’t got a shot yet. Nicoya sounds like a nice place.
  
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Marylynne said, on 23/01/2013 at 1:09 am

Beautiful images as always. I enjoy your shots and your reflections on their significance.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:36 pm
  
  Thanks Marylynne – can’t help myself … :)
  
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Karen Douglass said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:08 am

As always, lovely and thought provoking. I love the phrase “the little ones”–caring for the creatures most of us regard as a threat or at the least a pest. You make us see them differently.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:34 pm
  
  Thanks Karen. If we don’t start seeing them as our neighbours to be respected we will kill them off and in the same stroke kill ourselves – we need them more than they need us … For sure …
  
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When you’re not out standing in your field « standingoutinmyfield said, on 22/01/2013 at 11:39 pm

[…] on one of my favourite blogs brought this to my mind this morning…Mark Berkery wrote about a severe drought in Oz. I loved his post, but it got me thinking about droughts in general, such as the devastating […]

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standingoutinmyfield said, on 22/01/2013 at 11:13 pm

One of my favourite posts! I like, “Optimism has no place but with the pessimist.” :D Here’s hoping for rain.

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- Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:31 pm
  
  Thanks Laura, careful what you hope for … Realism is best, no hope, no despair.
  
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Alex Jones said, on 22/01/2013 at 9:15 pm

These photographs are gems. I get a clear impression that the insects are built for war by the look of them.

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:01 pm
  
  Thanks Alex. And a most pertinent observation …
  
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lydiaa5656 said, on 22/01/2013 at 5:23 pm

The exquisite beauty of nature,oh ! the rich colors.

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:02 pm
  
  Yes, and the pointed function of form.
  
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  - lydiaa5656 said, on 23/01/2013 at 2:55 am
    
    ” function of form”, indeed Mark.
    
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    - Mark said, on 23/01/2013 at 12:49 pm
      
      Yes, warriors and workers with self defense … :) Monsters and prey … ?
      
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gwenniesgarden said, on 22/01/2013 at 5:18 pm

beautiful pictures !!!

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:03 pm
  
  Thanks Gwen …
  
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Emily Heath said, on 22/01/2013 at 5:15 pm

Gorgeous emerald wasp. I’m glad it has found a safe haven in your garden.

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:03 pm
  
  Sure is, and tiny …
  
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smallpebbles said, on 22/01/2013 at 5:11 pm

Beautiful, really beautiful…..photos, words….all……I love those close-up looks. I too garden but my eyesight is not great and don’t have a good macro so really appreciate seeing nature’s smallest. in peace….kai

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:04 pm
  
  Thanks PH. Mine isn’t great either but AF on the right spot is very useful at times.
  
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lylekrahn said, on 22/01/2013 at 5:00 pm

Beautiful photos of uncommon views.

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:05 pm
  
  Thanks Lyle …
  
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Rob Ashdown said, on 22/01/2013 at 4:27 pm

More wonderful images as usual. Love your cuckoo wasp shots, I am told that they parasitise the larvae or eggs of other wasp species and so need their special armour-plating when discovered, and attacked, by the wasps whose nests they are invading! In any event, you’ve captured the magical details of their armoured exterior!

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- Mark said, on 22/01/2013 at 10:06 pm
  
  Thanks Rob. It’s probably dazzling too …
  
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