photos: visiting the Big Trees Forest Preserve solo (oct 1) and with justben (oct 25)
This is two sets of photos -- the first was taken when I went to Big Trees Forest Preserve alone on the 1st, and the second was taken on the 25th when I visited with Ben for the first time. The first set is small, mostly self-portraits, and pales in comparison to the second but I edited them so I'm sharing them anyway, dammit.
Efaniburl ♥
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(these earrings are my latest creation)
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Venazoe!
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still intoxicatingly green
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and still warm enough for a spaghetti top and thin duster
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mm, sunbathing
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(I love how my chin hairs are all lit up :D)
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endlessly photographing my lil serpent friend
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moss has always fascinated me
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I love the curve of the leaf here
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the paths are so magical
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with my friend who finally gave me zir name -- Kefentiasûl.
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unexpected beauty
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am SO proud of this one.
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Going to Big Trees with Ben was a revelation. As we walked through, we were together, but loosely; ze was comfortable with me wandering off a bit and also wandered a bit zirself, and even when physically separated there was a strong sense of connection. When sharing a sacred space with someone previously, I've had two experiences -- either I am 'leading' and they're sort of reliant on me to open the way for them, or they have a separate experience in the same space. I've never felt that sort of open and free connection before and it's amazing!
But the most thrilling and beautiful part was that I saw it all with a depth that I hadn't before. Ze noticed things I didn't and shared them with me! (usually the other either doesn't share, or doesn't notice things I haven't (or both)) I love that so much! It was so incredibly inspiring for me both emotionally and creatively; this set of photos is BY FAR my best, and quite a few of my favorites were of things that Ben pointed out to me. I'm delighted with how ze sees (and even more with how ze shares) ♥
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I'm amused by this 'cause I've never seen this light flare pattern before and Ben and I are both red souls so it seems strangely portrait-ish.
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the leaves are just starting to turn
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gazing up
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Ben & Efaniburl
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an angle I'd never seen before 'cause for some strange reason I've not walked around the trees, but approached from the same spot every time -- didn't realize this until Ben DID walk around.
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ohhh *shivers* I love this one so much
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Ben glows!
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*snorfle*
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ze was in the middle of telling me a story here and I've completely forgotten what it was because I was so enchanted (and therefore distracted) by the smiling and gesturing that accompanied it. oops!
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the caretakers of BTFP had taken this stump and placed it artfully on the side of the trail. I can't even express how much I love that they not only noticed its strange beauty but took care to find the right place to display it. It's balanced there but not rooted; it came from nowhere near.
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I love the varied leaves in this photo
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"come look at this!"
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and this is what ze was pointing at.
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(on the other side of the bridge)
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one of my favorites ♥
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this one was kinda accidental but I love it!
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♥
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ohhh the roots here ♥ this tree is so magnificently tenacious.
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Ben showed me this -- I love it so much I plan to get a print!
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and this caught my eye just as I was starting to feel like I wasn't noticing anything for myself, heh.
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moonstone-streaked
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♥! this one feels like a heart-portrait to me, with the colors
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I didn't capture this as well as I'd hoped but it looked as if the water was just glowing there, not lit up from an outside source.
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looking up at my friend Kefentiasûl
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who is caressed by a nearby friend (shortly after this photo, I hugged Kefentiasûl and Ben came up behind me and hugged both me and the tree ♥ It was SUCH a wonderful feeling.)
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I love the colors here
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Ben has such GORGEOUS eyes, gold and cinnamon, so rich and warm and intense.
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we stopped for coffee afterward and I snuck a photo through the window while ordering my coffee :D
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Ben CHOSE to sit facing the sun so that I wouldn't have to look into it! (it was too cold to sit in the shade) That was so amazingly thoughtful and generous -- it completely overwhelmed me.
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