I challenged myself with a very difficult task – to select 12 of my favorite nature photographs I took from this past year – one from each month. The ones I finally decided upon were all pictures of surprising or unusual perspectives of things I have encountered.
Like the psalmist (see Psalm 104), I never cease to be amazed at the beauty and diversity within God’s creation.
Whether by the natural forces which God has instantiated, or by his creative interventions in living things, God deserves all the credit for the beauty we see in nature. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36
“Beauty boomerangs from God into created beauty, then through the senses and soul of the image-bearer, and finally back to God with praise and glory.” – Steve DeWitt, Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything
January
Ice crystals that had formed over some standing water in the gutter. Beauty in common places.
February
Winter in the Rockies – from Copper Mountain
March
Samaras of a Maple tree just getting their start – surprising colors and shapes easily missed.
April
Invariably, the tulips in my garden experience some snowfall, but they persevere!
May
Sugar bowl Clematis (Clematis hirsutissima) – such an interesting shape! Purple was the favorite color of my sister who passed away this month.
June
Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum) growing in Red Rocks Park – a favorite cycling destination.
July
Water carved sandstone in Peek-a-boo slot canyon in Escalante National Monument – a fun and challenging hike!
August
A relatively rare Say’s Mantidfly (Dicromantispa sayi) on my car’s windshield. Something for this entomologist to be excited about.
September
In Colorado, the aspen turn golden at the end of September. Here, the sunlight is highlighting the leaves from the side while storm clouds are moving in overhead – a great contrast.
October
Fruit of the Eastern Wahoo or Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpureus) at our local Botanic Gardens
November
A burst of color found walking along a river up in the mountains. Possibly Dog Rose.
December
Out on a hike Christmas day. Interesting play of light through the dried leaf of a wild teasel plant.
Cicada Song 