Mealy Pixie Cup Lichen & forest floor growth, Metamora-Hadley State Park, Michigan
I found myself at a new location this past weekend instead of visiting a spot I hadn’t been to in awhile. While I initially wanted to visit Seven Ponds Nature Area, I had forgotten that they don’t open their gates until 9 am. So as a backup, I found myself driving around the general area, occasionally looking at nearby spots on my map.
I ended up at a Michigan State Park I never heard of, and likewise, never been to: Metamora-Hadley State Park. Now, you would think going to a new state park I might be taking various shots of what the park looks like. But I guess that was never my kind of gig. I tend to collect little pieces of places, but rarely assemble them into a whole representation of what it is like.
I found myself on one of the trails, surrounding a very beautiful, peaceful lake – with my head down in a bunch of lichen. It just seemed to be the one thing that stood out to me here. It was evident this area had a lot of glacial history in its past with large boulders dotting the forest floor here and there. The lichen growth very much reminded me of a coral reef, where life seemed to fill in every little crack and crevice it could find.
Time just flew by as I was searching for interesting patterns. I just about forgot there were other parts of the park I might want to check out. When I finished with the lichen, I was ready to go home. In 10 years, I probably won’t even remember what Metamora-Hadley State Park looks like from a landscape perspective. I might not even remember the lake. The lichen are what I took away from here, and will probably be my only impression of this place.
My wife typically asks me if I found anything while being out for hours, leaving long before dawn. Pictures of lichen might draw a joking comment such as “you were gone all that time and just got pictures of lichen? We have lichen in our backyard!” My typical response…. “Yep.”
Thank goodness we are all individuals with our own unique interests and views, even when looking at the same scene. It’s not about one vision is superior or more advanced then another. While I would have taken different images then you, I can understand, appreciate and celebrate the beauty of your efforts. It starts with molecules and ends, or doesn’t, somewhere beyond the universe and in every case it’s amazing with plenty of visual stories yet to be told.
Yes indeed Brooks. Great points! How boring would it be if we all saw the same things, the same way!
While there is always room for the “Grand Scenic” I think it is a sign of our development as photographers that we begin to see those details as a better representation of a place than the broader view. Quite often I come home with those detail shots and only then realize that I never really saw what the place looked like! But photos like these express what the place felt like, and ultimately I think that’s why we go.
I have found myself many times questioning if I should have spent my time on a wider variety of subjects. And I can see that being a part of development where you concentrate on the smaller details of a familiar place. But in a new place, I think there is opportunity for wider subjects if the time was allocated for it.
I am a big fan of showing people what a park really looks like and for my money that is just what you have done here, Mark. Most folks think of trails and mountain views or ponds and lakes while never giving a thought to what is basic for the successful ecological balance of said parks. It’s the small details that make the world go round.
Well thanks Steve. It perhaps shows a bit of a healthy forest floor if anything. 🙂
State parks and Nature areas are a vital part of my sanity. They are the places I can quickly get to and away from the din of the city. They’re my therapy.
I also can step into certain areas of focus when I have a camera in my hand. The focus could be down along the trail, above in the tree branches, the clouds or even focus on people sharing the trail. There are times my focus is on the sounds: a birds song, a mouse or rabbit scurrying under the brush, or the wind moving through the trees.
Of course we do have people asking what we’re taking “pitchers” of. I usually tell them whatever is presented to me.
Nicely said Monte.
Most state parks in Iowa are pretty benign visually as a whole. Most look like every other one. Campground, cabins, boat ramp.
A few have some really great geological features.
Even though the patch of woods at Kent Park State Park look just like the patch of woods at Pleasant Creek State Park, there are subtle differences if you go in and really look instead of taking it in as a whole.
This one was very much like the benign parks you mention Kevin. It does take a much closer look to find unique characteristics.
Isn’t it funny, as soon as I saw the picture it reminded me of a reef, then I read the post 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever seen lichen in real life, is it like moss & bits of other wild roughage? Interesting post as always Mark 🙂
Suzy
Haha Suzy. I think most underwater photographers would end up thinking that. It is also an interesting contrast. All life shown here is plant/lichen/fungi life vs on a reef where it is all animal life.
Here is an interesting Wikipedia tip: someone estimated that 6% of the Earth’s land surface is covered with lichen! More here: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen
I really like the lichen shot. Isn’t it interesting how we may become interested to the point of immersion in one single aspect or detail while another photographer might be equally drawn to other totally different details. That’s the fun of the seeing through someone else’s eyes. I know I totally would have missed these .
Indeed Howard. Although sometimes I think I may get a little too absorbed in one particular spot.
I do the same thing. The tripod gets plopped down and I have to force myself to move it after a while.