WONDER..."A FEELING OF SURPRISE MIXED WITH ADMIRATION CAUSED BY SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, UNEXPECTED, UNFAMILIAR, OR INEXPLICABLE."
It all started this week with a single word: “awesome”. I don’t remember if it was the pair of pants I’d bought for our upcoming trip, the new gadget our son showed us, or the wine. But after I said it, I was struck by the thought that maybe we don’t take that word seriously enough.
The Hubble space pictures are awesome. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon is awe inspiring. I often stand in wonder at the peace, beauty, and vastness of the desert. These views of nature cause us to pause and consider things beyond our comprehension - something greater than ourselves.
So I made a decision to no longer use the word “awesome” lightly. Instead, it would be returned to it’s previously more lofty usage, reserved for things that are “beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable” - things that I don’t understand. Things that cause me to think beyond myself and wonder.
This image of a lone wild horse turning in for the evening as the sunset light floods the desert is made almost unreal by the luminous cloud, like a UFO, hovering overhead. This was beautiful and unexpected This was the unfamiliar that caused me to pause and ponder.
"Wonder" is the new release in my ongoing wild horse Silhouettes Collection. This image is available in our online gallery in several sizes, as well as in custom sizes upon request. It's also on display and available at the Richardson Gallery of Fine Art in Reno, Nevada.
An equestrian for most of her life, Maria combines her passion for horses with her art and the desire to bring public awareness to the American wild horses. Maria Marriott Photography is a proud supporter of several non-profit organizations that tirelessly work to ensure the well-being of the American mustangs.