Exploring the elements of earth, air, water, and fire through the landscapes that surround us.
The first time I visited the American Southwest, I remember emailing a friend, “It’s all, just, so brown. It’s brown everywhere!” My eyes were accustomed to the greenery and flat beaches on the East Coast, and I was both confused and in awe of this extreme landscape. It was so different, so much of a contrast, so much earth.
A year later, I found myself visiting Sedona, AZ—another mountainous desert landscape. As I was hiking around Bell Rock, I paused to appreciate the scenery and how beautifully different it was from home. I felt the elements so strongly: the sun grew hotter like fire, the little breeze was a slight respite from the heat, the earth kicked up dust around me, and there wasn’t a drop of water in sight.

When I look at this picture I snapped that day, I see the stark contrast between the dry, hot earth and the cool, breezy sky. To me, it represents the elements of earth, water, air, and fire in both a spiritual and concrete, physical way. It’s impressive to see how, in any landscape, these components find balance and synchronicity, whether that’s the sandy, cool beaches of the East Coast, or the fiery, dry deserts in the Southwest. Regardless of how these elements interplay with one another, they find their unique expression and balance in each setting.
For this week’s challenge, explore the classical elements of earth, air, water, and fire. How do you capture something invisible like air, or the movement of water? Or, more personally, is there a place you go to feel connected to the earth? Take a moment to explore these elements, in or out of balance, together or individually, as you pick up your camera this week.
http://wp.me/p92OFd-o
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Nice
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Beautiful!
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I could not help but think about trips we have done in the Australian Outback, it is SO elemental out there 🙂 https://juliepowell2014.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/weekly-photo-challenge-elemental
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Good Post!
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I can relate to this having moved from the lush UK to the stark, brown of Africa. It took me years to really understand and see the beauty of it that space and life
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Wow, this is stunning!
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https://lequangtrungautovina.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/nhung-mau-xe-oto-ban-e-nhat-thang-72017/
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My entry for the week – https://anshulrautela.wordpress.com/elemental/
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Correction in link – https://anshulrautela.wordpress.com/photo-challenge/elemental/
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Thursday’s entry is a morning at the lake – http://wp.me/p3CFsE-3Rt
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Elemental and important.
https://mukhamani.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/the-daily-post-photo-challenge-elemental/
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http://wp.me/p5sYeD-1Gq for my Sunset images on Elemental.
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https://pyszniepiekniepoetycko.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/wincyj-nieba/ The sky
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Yes! The Native Americans believe this is the most spiritual place on earth. Hoping you saw the twisted trees on Bell Rock, Evidence of the earth’s vortex. Thanks for swinging by my neck of the woods.
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Stunning photo, Erica! You can almost touch the clouds. And it brings back happy memories: https://figmentsofadutchess.com/2017/08/10/photo-challenge-elemental/
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Here’s mine https://jullianeford.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/weekly-photo-challenge-elemental/
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Erica, Thanks for posting the Red Rocks of Sedona. God, is somewhere in that picture. Amazing capture.
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Thank you so much!
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I’m not a photographer but this has given me some ideas for how to write.
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Really interesting idea, can’t wait to try.
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Into the elements = Into the Alps!
https://m2explore.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/in-the-alps-8/
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Love this! Heres mine https://paintedwords1.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/elemental-theres-a-storm-coming/
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great colour of earth. https://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2017/08/elemental.html
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The place is really cool. I can’t remember when was the last I have seen so many white fluffy cloud.
Thanks for sharing something so colourful & beautiful pic.
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Cool
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Beautiful earth!
Mine is water: https://judesphotography.wordpress.com/
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I love your posts on the elements. Water is mine,so I go to the beach. I embrace all elements,for me they keep me in touch with my spiritual being and that feeling of serene makes me complete and at peace. I’m not a swimmer so just to watch the waves and smell the fragrance of saltwater gives me a sense of serenity. When I’m there I’m free to be me. http://www.illondamadison@wordpress.com
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Check out my post “should art class be required?”
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rock, sea, waves – struggling to think of more elemental forces of nature: https://fotorichter.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/elementar-elemental/
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Nice
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