September 'Photo of the Month'
September 'Photo of the Month'
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It’s the end of September 2024 and Florida has had quite a month. A recent hurricane moved through the state, up the Gulf Coast, and into Georgia and North Carolina, causing total destruction, damage, and unfortunately, many deaths. There is still much to process and understand about this hurricane, but above all else, it serves as a reminder that nature is a force and a very real part of living in the world. Even when humans act as the masters of the universe, nature will relentlessly, time and again, tell them no. But, at the same time, nature is neutral. There is no intentional malice in the storm. There is no vengeance. Nature is not out to ‘get us.’ Nature, simply, just is. And we are the ones who must abide.
And yet, humans today can and do understand patterns and past events in order to predict future outcomes. In fact, human beings—their curiosity, innovation and abilities — cannot be overstated enough. As just one small example, scientists who study the night sky are able to pinpoint when the Earth, sun and moon will line up in space, causing a lunar eclipse like the one that occurred on September 17th and 18th. In ancient times, however, and before recent understanding of astronomy, lunar or solar eclipses were thought of as omens or messages from the gods.
As a photographer and star gazer, I’m glad I was able to catch a glimpse of the nighttime event. If you missed it, I hope you enjoy the photo. I also do hope that you take a moment and pause at the power and relentless force that is Nature. Much respect is owed. Even ancient civilizations knew that.
