Mysterious

Mysterious. That’s what Patti wants us to discover in this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.

I’m starting off with what I find to be one of Nature’s most mysterious offerings – here in the UK anyway. The murmuration. When hundreds upon hundreds of starlings take to the skies at dusk, weaving and turning and painting the sky in ever changing patterns. Until, quite suddenly – they stop. Until the next sundown, when this astonishing performance takes place all over again.

Landscapes can often present a mysterious face. Sunsets and sunrises can do that. As my featured photo shows. And fog. As here:

And trees. Winter trees, with their blackened branches and awkward angles, elbowing us into the mystic woodland.

What about a stag, looming enigmatically out of the shadows?

Let’s go into town. A cobbled street, the shadow of a lamp standard ….

And now to lower the tone. A toothless hag … an otherwordly face discovered in parkland in a pile of logs.

I’ll finish with my favourite mystery memory. Mists rising from our local river at dawn on May morning.

Welcome back, Patti. After an unwelcome forced absence. You’re sharing the post today with Becky and her NovemberShadows: two, to be exact.

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

50 thoughts on “Mysterious”

  2. ‘Elbowing us into the mystic woodland’ is a superb turn of phrase, Margaret. That lamp has eyes! And is nearly as spooky as your lead photo, but my favourite is the drystone wall and foggy hills xx

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  4. Hi Margaret. Wonderful to see you here again! Thanks for the warm welcome back. As always, your posts are always a delight…like the one today. A great selection of mysterious images. I especially love the stag in the shadows. Wonderful shot!! I hope all’s well with you.

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  9. Beautiful set Margaret…really shows that Winter is here, with its early darkness and misty dark colours. Last year one of our neighbours cut down some big trees on his land which caused thousands of Starlings to ‘murmur’ if that’s the right word. This went on for about two months then abruptly stopped. We loved seeing them, but they flew over our car and you can guess what that meant!

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  10. A lovely set here Margaret. The starlings are back here this year, but hanging out on the hedge behind my garden means too close to film a murmuration, but it’s mesmerising watching them take off in fright.

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  12. Ooh, I love that foggy landscape with the sun just catching one distant field! And you’re so right about the mystery of a murmuration – how do they all know to turn at the same time?!

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  17. Margaret – how great to see you pop up in the L-A responses!! Loved your examples – is the stag real or a statue!??! My favorite of the set is the murmuration. I’d love to see one live but I don’t think they happen around here. Terrific response.

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    1. Oh, that stag is very real! I think he’s feeling Top Stag, because he’s established his harem and all’s well with the world. Murmurations? If you could have one of your trips to include somewhere where they happen, it would be Quite Something. Thanks Tina.

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  18. Margaret, what interesting and splendid choices for the challenge! Love the murmuration – I think you are the only one to have it in your post! The stag is fabulous.

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