DP Photo Challenge: Forces of Nature
Machhapuchchhre. Say that three times real fast. I’m very, very disenchanted by the forces of nature this week, especially the shifting of tectonic plates in the Himalayas that demolished numerous ancient World Heritage site buildings in Nepal, and burying hundreds of people under the rubble.
It’s one thing when one human does something unnatural to another human—plunder, assault, molest. You shake your head and say…wth, why can’t we all just get along? But when nature does its thing–earth quake, typhoon, volcano eruption, tsunami—all you can do is sit there with your fingertips in your mouth and gape at how picayune a force we humans really are in the realm of all things on the planet.
Sometimes, the forces of the cosmos put you in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, it’s the other way around.
Clearly stratified, the buttes contain three separate layers: the lower is organ rock shale, the middle is de Chelly sandstone, the upper is a moenkopi formation. Talk about forces of nature doing their thing! Imagine these rocks in liquid form, moving and settling on top of one another, then cooling into this hard stuff you don’t want to be standing under when it crumbles.
You can find other photo challenge photos here: Forces of Nature
Also submitted to Lucile’s Photo Rehab: Photo Rehab
Also submitted to CEE’s Odd Ball Challenge: CEE’s Odd Ball
Badfish & Chips Cafe 
I totally agree with your thoughts about nature in regards to the fish tail in Nepal. We were there a few years ago and am horrified about the loss of life, the wonderful villages and the damage to the fantastic mountain range. But sad mainly for the people of Nepal who have so much to rebuild now after the earthquake. Great pictures showing nature!
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Truly. And thanks for visiting and sharing. I just feel so at a loss when something like this happens.
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Such a beautiful tribute to the recent events in Nepal…and gorgeous photos as well!
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LISA,
Thanks so much for visiting and sharing. I just love Nepal. And now, some of it is dust. I’m not even sure how I feel. Maybe it’s shock.
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Such a horrible tragedy for a place that holds such magic for so many people.
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Yes, and the tragedy simply continues for the poor people living there. Very difficult to assist in those mountains.
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Well, here is a way to help https://www.facebook.com/eleanor.marriott/posts/10153166462631620
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Excellent photographs of these great natural surroundings… All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀
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Lovely pix as always and do know exactly what you mean about feeling so small in the scope of what nature can do…….
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Really. I saw a video of a tsunami the other day. A guy on the beach just watched as the wave came in, didn’t even try to run…you have to wonder just what was going on in his mind. Then this giant wave washed over him, and he was…just gone.
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wow…mind blowing!
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Hey Moon, thanks. Sorry, I just got around to your message (didn’t see it!). What blew your mind, the rocks?
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No, the mountain peak 🙂
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How is “Machhapuchchhre” pronounced? I might try to say it fast three time, if I knew that. I LOVE how you have given us the panoramic view, the ‘almost there’ view, and the up close and personal view!
A VERY well said: “It’s one thing when one human does something unnatural to another human—plunder, assault, molest. You shake your head and say…wth, why can’t we all just get along? But when nature does its thing–earth quake, typhoon, volcano eruption, tsunami—all you can do is sit there with your fingertips in your mouth and gape at how picayune a force we humans really are in the realm of all things on the planet.”
And then: “Sometimes, the forces of the cosmos put you in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, it’s the other way around.”
All three pictures are outstanding! Perhaps, only because of the exquisite hues in the bottom photo, the richness of color, I’d like that best.
YET another most excellent post!!!!
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Hey dude. I had to approve your comment, and now I see your new avatar and new name. What’s up with that? Machhapuchchhre is pronounced just like it’s spelled, doofus, and none of the h’s is silent. You know what…I didn’t actually think about giving three separate views, it just “happened” that way. Spooky stuff here. But then of course, you would recognize that kind of thing, eh? Thanks for that, and for being you. I liked the one of fish tail best, until I actually looked at the falling rock up close. It is an awesome piece of earth isn’t it—those three distinct layers!!
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Don’t much like the forces of nature myself at the moment – Nepal, Christchurch, Japan, Banda Aceh, Haiti, New orleans, Vanuatu the list goes on and on. It’s a precarious life we all live. Simply cannot imagine those rocks as liquid, although intellectually I guess I have to accept that they once were. They weren’t rocks when they were liquid, and bizarre to think they would cool into something so hard. Kinda like crystallized candy I guess.
Great photos, especially the mountain peak.
Alison
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Yeah, we may be at the top of the food chain. But Mother Nature knows we still need a baby seat at her table. I also liked the mountain peak when I took it.But it was one of the first photos taken with my first digital camera (gone…three cameras ago), and it was set at “small” size. And low quality. And then I took it at the end of the zoom, so…real poor quality. It looks good as a thumbnail, though!
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These impressive photos put us respectfully, in our small place in this planet. Nature. A force to reckon with.
Unpredictable. As the weather forecast does not stop disaster. Nor prevents its extension.
And although tectonic plates will continue moving and causing havoc, it is the unnatural havoc and damage to nature, that we humans are creating, that scares me the most.
Very sad about Nepal but also about all wars around the world, as we just celebrated WW2 liberation day of NL.
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Yes, again. What is the deal with humankind? World wars, child soldiers, women being caned for getting raped, men strapping on a bomb under their vest and…well it goes on. People say there’s good and bad in everything. Sometimes it’s just hard.
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Beautiful images, excellent entry for the challenge! I wish we can avoid certain type of force of nature…
About the third image, I would be freaking out to stay long below the rocks 🙂
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Beautiful pictures and a tribute to the Nepal events. Some things are beyond our control.
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excellent entry for the wpc 🙂 – I love the forces of nature you highlighted, but my fav take away is the way the little yellow sign sits on the side like that – it showed the scale and vastness – and you are so right “you don’t want to be standing under when it crumbles.”
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