Mono no aware

[Johnny Chien]

Mono no aware - a Japanese term for the awareness of impermanence or transience of things, and both a transient gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing as well as a longer, deeper gentle sadness about this state being the reality of life.

I took a picture of this plant at Eureka Dunes in November.

In such a desolate place, to see a single plant not only green, but thriving with flowers brings me great joy. I was back in the Eureka Dunes this weekend to photograph the same plant under different light, and looking forward to doing this as I hiked up the dunes. The dune field is vast, and honestly, I wasn't expecting to see this plant again, but I marked the location on GPS from last time.

What I found gave me great sadness that I wanted to cry.

Maybe I was just naive to still find a green plant? Would I feel different if this was just a blade of grass or ephemeral poppy that just flowers in the spring? I don't know, but seeing the body of this dried up plant brought me a lot of emotions of the fragility of life, and that we are all here just temporarily.
Have you had a Mono no aware moment while out photographing? I would like to hear your story

 

[AlanLichty]

You did well to get back out into the dunes and find that same specimen again. Hopefully that full bloom you spotted the first time was sufficient for the plant to disperse seeds before the elements took their tool. Life is very fragile out in the deserts.

I do have a similar set of images of a particular old snag in the Hoh Rainforest that I used to revisit every time I went back there and shot it across all seasons. Very elegant with heavy moss dangling off of the old branches. Then I paid yet another visit a few years back but nature finally took its toll and the snag had fallen into the abyss of the rainforest floor. I don't have the images with me on the road right now so my story will have to suffice.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Nice image, the first one at least. I also have such and experience with a tree at the Snake River Overlook. My first trip in 2006 I think had a nice aspen in full fall color, but it died soon after.

 

[JimFox]

A very compelling story and photos Johnny. I can feel for you with your emotions on finding this plant and it’s ultimate demise.

 

[Jeffrey]

The cycle of life. Nature. Reality.

 

[Leslie Hunter]

These are great!