Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 20 – “Solitude”

I’ve seen a number of posts from people who are participating in these weekly photo challenges and it always looks like such fun so I’ve decided to give it a go! The theme this week for Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge is solitude.

As soon as I read the word “Solitude” I knew which photo I wanted to share. The following photo was taken at Deadvlei in Namibia in January 2015. The person in the shot is a good friend of mine, lets call him J. I met J in 2013 when he was my tour guide for my first trip to southern Africa. I returned in January 2015 to travel with J yet again because he was retiring from guiding, after 7 years. It wasn’t just a career change that J was about to embark on though. He had a whole lot of really big plans and life changes that would be commencing when he returned home.

Armed with that small piece of information, and seeing the photograph of this man, alone in this vast landscape with just his thoughts … Solitude is the word for what I see. What is going through his head? Is he contemplating the future? Is there sadness in his body language at the end of an era? Relief? Memory? Exhaustion? What do you see in his moment of solitude…?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
SOLITUDE

 

UPDATE: Thank you to Hugh for selecting to feature this photo for the Solitude theme!

33 thoughts on “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 20 – “Solitude””

  1. This is beautifully surreal. I thought I was looking at a painting. The pink sky is brilliant. Now, I’m definitely putting Namibia on my list of places to visit. Have a beautiful Sunday, Kim. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, my friend. It took your artistic eye to point it out to me but yes, I can see how it could be painting. For some reason, this image just triggers a really emotional response in me. Not sure if that’s because I know him or if it’s something in the body language? Or maybe it’s the landscape? Pleased to hear Namibia has made your list. Enjoy the rest of weekend 🙂 xo

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  2. What an amazing landscape Kim and capturing the essence of solitude beautifully. I see a man alone in this thoughts but what they are, only he knows. What I do know is this is a perfect photo for Hugh’s theme.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Miriam. I really appreciate that feedback. I usually don’t like taking photos of people but this is one of favourites. I like the hint of emotion in his posture. Fortunately, he loves it too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. Hi, Kim. Thank you for joining me in my weekly photo challenge this week.
    I really love the photo. It’s a beautiful landscape and the colours are amazing. J looks to be really enjoying his moment of solitude.
    I appreciate you joining in the challenge.
    Best wishes,
    Hugh

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Hugh. I really like the idea of these weekly photo challenges, such a great concept that we can all enjoy and participate in.
      As for Deadvlei, it is certainly a stunning landscape. I love the contrast between the colours and its sheer size (which this photo doesn’t illustrate). Being a tour guide, solitude is something J didn’t often get so your interpretation may well be correct.
      Thanks again for stopping by & commenting 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Cookie! I really appreciate that. It does look a lot like sky but unbelievably that’s not sky … It’s an enormous sand dune. Some of the biggest in the world 🙂
      I love that you saw that though – it gives me such a fresh perspective on my photos and how they are seen!

      Like

      Reply

      1. Seriously? I totally thought it was an early evening or morning sky and that the black speckles were high flying birds.
        Perspective is a funny thing. But beautiful photograph nonetheless.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yeah, someone else saw it as the sky as well. That’s so cool. I never would have noticed it if you hadn’t said it. You’re right, perspective chances things – I was totally blind to that observation because I know what’s outside the frame of the photo. In a sense, you could say I wasn’t really looking at my own photo 😄

        Like

    1. Hmm a follow up is an interesting idea. I hadn’t considered that.
      And thank you, I agree it’s quite surreal. I was so pleased with how it came out. It’s been so fascinating hearing feedback from others, like yourself, about what they see in this photo 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I think you’re right. I believe he was a little torn over his situation. Excited for a new phase in his life but also starting to miss the soon-to-be old life. Big life changes can lead to those kind of mixed feelings. Thanks so much for your thoughts 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lyn! I was looking at it earlier today trying to figure out what it is about the photo that grabs me. And I think I’ve figured it out. It’s that he’s in a stunning place that everyone else would be gawking at but he’s oblivious to it. So lost in his thoughts he’s not even aware of the beauty around him.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Pingback: Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 21 – Fresh – Hugh's Views & News

  12. That is a very evocative photograph, surreal, almost mystical in its colours and images. I see a person deep in thought, perhaps even prayer – comfortable and at peace in his surroundings. A truly beautiful photograph.
    Thank you too, Kim for the follow of my blog. So very much appreciated 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment