DAY 124

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Woodland Paths

CROOKED, TWISTED—AND WE LIKE THEM THAT WAY

We’ve all heard the expression, “follow the path of least resistance.” In the natural world, people have been following the path of least resistance for thousands of years. Rather than go directly through a marsh or over a mountain, they follow the most convenient route. That’s why a woodland path meanders along, following the contours of the land instead of brazenly traversing a straight line. The path of least resistance also creates, in the eyes of some, a beauty that a more direct route lacks.

Photo © Bill Diller.

Photographing such a scene calls for a wide depth of field, so the camera should be mounted on a sturdy tripod, and set to the highest number f/stop. After the shutter is snapped, the mystery created by following the path of least resistance is preserved. —WTD