Altered Horizons 15

Altered Horizons 15 Robin Botie of Ithaca, New York, photoshops fake landscapes with contrived horizons in her effort to deal with change and loss.

It took nearly all summer to find my way back to the old laptop and Photo-shopping. Despite the heat and rain, the past three months I’ve only wanted to be outdoors. If I wasn’t hiking, I was out by the pond. Raking algae, pulling pondweed, scrubbing the slimy stairs leading into the pond, paddling around in the tiny plastic boat. Who am I now, and what is with me, that I can’t sit still? Now that I’d rather push myself to work away in the heat than sit cool and comfy, creating new landscapes in Photoshop?

And that blasted computer. Breaking down at my first attempt to create anything in weeks. It kinda confirmed that outside is where I’m meant to be, for now. In the woods. In the pond, in the weeds. Anywhere but in the house in front of a computer.

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6 thoughts on “Altered Horizons 15

  1. Susan R Beresford

    Hi Robin. I dropped off from writing and blogging because a lethargy crept in. I wish there was a fire in my belly for working outside, for anything. But I’m still reading your blog. And it’s good <3

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Thank you, Susan. Maybe I, too, am experiencing “lethargy.” I certainly have “dropped off.” Photography classes started up last week, and seeing my classmates in person was so exciting. But it only takes a shutdown of schools, the thought of having to do everything through Zoom, and watching too much news on TV to bring my world to a standstill. I hope it isn’t going to turn into “lethargy.” Because I’m really craving that “fire in my belly” too right now. And I guess we have to do everything we can to find new fires. Create new adventures somehow in a difficult world. I thank you so much for reading my blogs and am wishing you a powerful wind of inspiration. It will be interesting to learn how and where you find fire, even as you baton down the hatches for a trying winter.

      Reply
  2. Elaine Mansfield

    This is my favorite of your new series.
    I thought I’d spend the summer writing about Monarchs, but instead I’ve focused on finding eggs, protecting and feeding them, collecting milkweed, and photographing caterpillars and butterflies–with only a little writing. As always, I’ll see what happens next. Your pond is full of life and new possibility–and lots of night sound this time of year. We have a whole winter ahead for being inside. Peace to you.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      OMG, Elaine. I’m trying to brace myself, no, inspire myself, for the upcoming winter. Never thought we’d have to go through another like last year’s. Gotta strengthen ourselves, without toughening our souls. Gotta be open and adventurous at the same time as being safe. Can we do this? Challenges. I try to convince myself that challenge is what keeps us young-minded and engaged.

      Reply
  3. Lucy Bergstrom

    You created a beautiful, enigmatic, outside image. Outside is your element, Robin. In the winter, maybe you could write a children’s book or two, using some of your old images from Silk Oak. There’s one with two cats, one purple, one b+w (as I recall) that are begging for some dialog.
    Love, Lucy

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Yeah, Lucy. I’m wondering what I will do this winter as well. Thanks for reminding me of the cats. Meanwhile, I hope you’re having as brilliant a summer as I have been, despite COVID and politics and weeds.

      Reply

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