Simple Things

“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity…” Leo Tolstoy

I often photograph “simple” things. I like simple things. What draws me into these simple things is how much detail there is once you get past the surface. At first glance, this is just a bunch of leaves on a log. And it is. But there is so much going on in this pile of leaves on a log. Patterns in each leaf are created by the “veins,” known as venation, the curling of each leaf as it wraps around the other leaves that have also come to rest on the same log. The subtle colors in each leaf, the spots, and even the shapes of each leaf are all different. Then there is the log itself. The bark has peeled away, creating a resting place for the leaves to gather. The striations are made from the fallen tree's fibers—the wood's varying colors from different states of decomposition and moisture. There is so much going on in the “simple” image

Then, there is the biological aspect of this “simple” scene. Yes, it's a bunch of dead leaves on a log. But, these leaves were once alive. They once transported water from the ground to the leaf, and photosynthesis took place, converting water into sugars to return to the tree and sustain the life of the tree. These leaves fall to the ground in autumn, decomposing and returning to the soil. The log these leaves rest upon, once standing tall and providing life to these leaves. It, too, now returns to the earth. Another tree will sprout from this soil, and thus, the circle will continue. This process is slow and complex, involving many plants, insects, and animals, with many different stages. It is far from simple, and it is never-ending. I like images like this because they remind me that seldom are things as “simple” as they seem.

Something is always going on below the surface, a reminder that all things are interconnected and depend on each other to continue this cycle of life.