November 7, 2009

A Walk in the Woods: Lichen










In recent days on my woodland walks I've noticed the white patterning on rocks and trees. I don't know if these lichens are especially vividly contrasting with the rocks which provide their ground at this time of year, or that I've become more aware of them because of my photographic project. They have a marvelously animated quality, looking like organic abstraction, paintings based on natural forms. The range of textures from the subtly variegated white lichen to the rough granite, and then to the softly fuzzy greens of mosses draws focused attention, as my eye wanders across a terrain that, at times, loses its sense of scale and becomes an immensity.

No comments:

Post a Comment