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Martin Hughes's avatar

I find it fascinating how creatures see on all manner of different wavelengths. Shapes and colours—unseeable by some, overwhelming for others!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

And it makes me realise how little I know, after stumbling upon this knowledge!

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Jon Gibbs's avatar

Gorgeous words and images Michela. It was also nice to play back the voiceover, I saw that Michael (Beecham) did one like this the other day and I had no idea this existed on here. The first image and the blade of grass frame are especially lovely. This has inspired me to do a future yt vid that I though about the other day, to photograph a whole shoot at ground level. Whether my poor knees will allow it is another thing!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Jon! Mostly I’ve been okay, and have no doubt built up my leg muscles through all my low level photography. Yet while doing this set, I have to say I had a bit of trouble getting back up! I’m hoping it’s temporary / cold weather related and not age ;-

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Jon Gibbs's avatar

I know the feeling!!!!!!

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Maurice Frank's avatar

Thank you for sharing your extraordinary lyrical writing and your beautiful images.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks for your kind words Maurice, so glad that you enjoyed this letter.

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Ren Powell's avatar

Your work is such an inspiration (aspirational). So beautiful. Thank you.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thank you so much Ren; your kind words really made my day.

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Cindy Wilson's avatar

Your point of view and appreciation are a breath of fresh air in this world of chaos and uncertainty.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Cindy, glad to be able to share a little calm reflection with you.

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Ling Warlow's avatar

That opening sentence truly sums up this cold, grey week 🌿

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Michela Griffith's avatar

It’s been dull hasn’t it? The sun appeared on Thursday, took a look around and high-tailed it. Still, it isn’t windy or wet!

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Dave Mead's avatar

This is excellent as usual Michela, with the frog colour vision fact on heavy rotation in my conversations. I was also able to enjoy listening to you today whilst reading along and loved that laugh when you slipped up, I laughed with you.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Dave. Tongue and teeth sometimes get a little muddled 🤭 Glad the frog fact is helpful; I love the idea of mice seeing blue skies above. Other colours too I’m sure, but it made me smile at the idea that their skies might always be blue.

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Maïlys Ray's avatar

Another beautiful and evocative letter Michela. I love these words ‘By shifting focus from sweeping panoramas towards humble vignettes we open ourselves up not just artistically but emotionally too.’

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Mailys, so pleased that this resonates with you.

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

I love every letter you share - both your gorgeous and evocative images and your quiet and insightful words. But my favorite part this week was that laugh at the end of the voiceover. It made me laugh out loud in response, and that’s no small miracle in such dark and trying times. So, thank you. 💜

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thank you Jamie, that means a lot. I appreciate your kind comments. Ah yes 🤭 Since I took a break from recording the voiceovers I find myself tripping over some of my words. Once upon I time would have re-recorded it, but now it feels more authentic to leave it in. I’m developing a reflex of laughing at myself, which is no bad thing.

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

It’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time! 💜

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Beautiful words, beautiful photographs, beautiful thoughts...you are encouraging me to look for the details, the small things, the oft overlooked things as I go on my daily walks...thank you!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Carolyn. I don’t yet have a solution for a purely drawn or painted interpretation of the tangled world of the moss, but these little vignettes are unexpectedly taking me off in another direction. So this may be a ‘to be continued…’ 😂

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Michela, your post took my breath away! Just beautiful.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Pamela! Happy to be able to offer a moment’s distraction.

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

You did!

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Amy's avatar

I do like the black and white images - very effective. Interesting about frogs and toads seeing colour, I’d never heard that before!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

I have to admit, I started off thinking about linking them to my monochrome take, but looked up to check. I never knew either (and I love the idea that mice see blue skies above them!).

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Sophie S.'s avatar

My parrot loved the start of your voiceover 😁 Beautiful images, they are just incredibly stunning!

Happy Spring is coming for you, but that means Autumn is coming for me and I'm not sure how I feel about that 🤔

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Oh that made me smile! Thank you, nature is endlessly fascinating in her detail. Hmm, yes, tricky that, but hopefully your autumns are enjoyable. We seem to spin ever faster through the seasons.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Every year seems to go quicker and quicker! Autumns here can definitely be very beautiful and usually not too cold, and to be honest, we've been experiencing a drought so could really do with a bit of rain.

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Gill Moon Photography's avatar

Beautiful words and images Michela and some really lovely observations. Paying attention to the small things really does build knowledge and care. 🙂

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Gill, good to know you enjoyed this. Of course now I’ve found yet another way to add to the number of photos! ( It did occur to me that for once a selfie stick would be useful, to hold upside down, as my knees weren’t too happy. Hopefully it’s just the cold weather!)

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Linda Clark's avatar

Such intriguing details in your photographs. I love the ladders between the layers in the peat. So interesting. Two new words! Enjoyed listening to the sounds, your reflections and thinking of the birds flying north! We are so close to spring now. Thank goodness.

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Linda Clark's avatar

Thank you!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Linda. I’m sure there is a ‘correct’ botanical name but they do make me think of ladders. I still have plenty to learn but it shows how much there is to discover. The birds were a bonus, arriving just before and after my reading—and how lovely that the swans were low enough to see.

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Linda Clark's avatar

I like ladders! Its a perfect description. Did you see the article about ice lensing in peat? It was somewhere in Scotland. I read it earlier but can’t find it now. It was amazing to look at, beautiful, but degrades the peat.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

I’ve saved it but have yet to read (https://open.substack.com/pub/highlifehighlandranger/p/glass-beneath-the-bog). You might find this one interesting too which I was shown yesterday https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/13/country-diary-what-looks-like-snow-but-acts-like-paper. Nature can be weird as well as wonderful.

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Lin Gregory's avatar

Beautiful and thoughtful Michela - appreciating the smallest of details brings more connection to the environment we're in. Fascinating to see that ladder of moss between the peat layers - life brings life.

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Michela Griffith's avatar

Thanks Lin, it does indeed root us more deeply. I wonder how far down those stems and leaves might be traced… of course, compressed and consolidated. And if accumulation is approximately 1mm a year, how old are these strands?

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Lin Gregory's avatar

...and what stories could they tell? It seems to me that the mosses are to peat bogs as mycelium is to a woodland.

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