Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

I spent a goodly part of every season for over decade in West River, South Dakota carrying out wildlife field research. If this looks to be a long way from anywhere, that pretty well described the progressively higher plaines leading up to the East Slope of the Rockies. Absolutely astoundingly beautiful solitudinous country...it's the reason I'm "Dave from SD" rather than from anywhere else!
Every day filled with haiku-o-genic scenes and moments!

For those who are new to haiku and haiga it's only fair to admit that, for me, anyway, a haiku doesn't pop forth in my consciousness fully formed. It may go through a number or versions / iterations, and consultations with fellow haijins before being set before the public eye....as was the case with this one. Thought I had it nailed with:

Left at the horizon
First right
Then just a mile
The edge.

But a fruitful consultation pointed out an "angular distraction" ( left..first right...) that I hadn't appreciated as perhaps incompatible with the expansive...extensive nature of the scene. Hence the Haiga posted.

See? They don't appear...ready for prime time...right off the bat! But "working" the haiku is much like working the scene (you really don't want to see the other versions of this fenceline...)

So, stick with it...unless it's no fun, not worth the effort...or unrewarding...but stick with it until you're sure it's maybe not those things.

Best,
Dave

Version2

(Download)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Not convinced Ill ever get with the words Dave but this is a great image my friend.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

The haiku was a play on the comment often made to someone who lives in the way-faraway..."you must live out near the end of the Earth" ...to which the usual witty response is "Not quite, but you can see it from the back steps!"

And I do thank you, kindly, my friend, for the compliment.

Dave

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Having driven across Montana twice, SD once, and seeing lots of wide open spaces in central WA, I can appreciate your image and sentiment.

It's a beautiful photo, Dave. Was going to say serene, but that seems counter to barbed wire fencing :) But absolutely a place where you can hear your own thoughts.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Xxxxxxxxxx
Hi, Linda,
I do appreciate your comments. I'll admit to being brought-up-short by your reaction to the barbed wire fencing...it has been a long time since I had that reaction to "the Devil's fence". As a north-easterner , where barbed wire was an impediment one might cross two or three times in a mile, I've now become used to hiking or driving many miles between fence-crossings. In the out-and-beyond wide-opens a barbed-wire crossing may be the only substantive evidence of the hand-of-man one might encounter in several days of back-pack photography. I was pleased how this one provided a definitive leading line of perspective that enhanced the sense of the image and my reaction to the scene.
If possible, any comments you might have on the effect of the haiku in the composition to your reaction to the haiga would be appreciated.
Thanks, again, for looking and for your comments.

Dave

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Understand the Haiku Dave as I spent time in west Texas and sometimes a visit would elicit “you’re out in the middle of nowhere” and with a point of the finger the response was no that’s a couple of ranches over. Fabulous photo, your perspective could not have been done any better.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

To tell you the truth, I've just never been that interested in poetry (or music, for that matter). I liked your "rejected" version better, though I can't really access the part of my brain that would be able to explain why :)

With regards to photography, I think I'm more likely to appreciate a title or just my own emotion to the visual image.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Thanks for your additional thoughts, Linda.
I do, indeed, appreciate your perspectives and candor.

Dave

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Frank,
It's good to get such a compliment from one more-than-a-little familiar with the wide-opens!
Many thanks,
Dave

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

With or without the poem, I love the way that fence moves me to the horizon of this image. I also think that the snow adds a lot to this photo. Makes me think of forlorn and lonely more than it would if there were no snow.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Thanks, Erich,
I know that "forlorn and lonely" is elicited in many by this image (one of my favorites!)but since 1967 I've camped just a few miles SE of that near fence post five or six times - and in every season of the year. I hate mid-continent heat and black flies and am thus partial to winter camping (with a good down bag rated to -28°f) and have never had the sense of "forlorn and lonely"...blessed solitude is very different. If y'ever get to South Dakota, spend some solitude in the North Cave Hills of Harding County, in the Northwest-most corner of the state.

Dave

North Cave Hills Sunrise

(Download)

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

It occurs to me, Linda, that when possible, it may help to explain why I chose a revised version of the haiku over the originally considered version. In this case, as I mentioned, a colleague admitted to being disquieted by the "angular"components of the poem...referring to the changes of direction...left, then right" in the original. Considering that the impact of the image is the singularly enhanced perspective from as close as possible to as far as possible...with no veering....no change in direction....straight ahead as far as you can go.... Adelante ...it didn't take me long to realize that mention of changes in direction were antithetical to the impact of the image...hence the re-wording which I immediately preferred and why it was the version posted in the haiga.
Please understand, this is not meant to be argumentative, just explicative of my reasoning for the change reflected in the final version.

Chacun á son goût!

Thank you, again, for your comments.

Dave

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I have a soft spot for SD. This summer I had a chance to drive from Auburn Ca. to New Jersey. I made the drive with my 21 year old son who had basically never been out west. We drove through Northern Nevada, Idaho into Wyoming and then over to Mr. Rushmore. From there we had to make get back to New Jersey in a bit of a hurry because he had to go back to work. I really enjoyed SD. Must be because I was born in Fargo ND. Looking forward to getting back out there some day soon when I have more time to explore.