What do I see in the picture below? I see a forest of trees across a marshy wetland. The trees are green and happy, dappled in sunlight. Life is grand for the distant trees. The sky's the limit for them. They breathe the fresh air. They frolic in the late Summer winds. I want to visit their playground of wonder, where nature thrives.

Then I notice the other trees, the ones at the edge of the marsh, the dead ones. Warning bells chime in my head about what toll a journey across the sprawl of grasses would take. Did those barren trees venture out too far? Is the water deadly? Is the goo under the surface strong enough to grip my legs and render me immobile? Are the winds fierce enough to peel the skin from my bones before I could reach the other side? I hesitate, gripped in the fear of unknown possibilities.

Maybe I’m watching the slow migration of the quagmire into the forest. The plants and habitat of the bog may be stealing the life giving energy away from the receding woodlands. Maybe it’s the weak trees that are being usurped by the mire as the strong trees rush away from me. Maybe...maybe...maybe I think too much.

Have a great weekend.

Nikon D800 Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 30mm f/9 ISO 100 5 image HDR