Wednesday, around noon. I was at the western end of the state where I live. Taking photographs of a beautiful city, of a valley full of buildings and human beings who, for the most part, ignore how precious it can be to be surrounded by the nature that has fallen to us. On one side, the mountain slopes; on the other side, the sea. To the north, concrete, which is a symbol of civilization. And I have decided to capture everything using nothing more than a pair of sneakers, lots of Incubus music, and walking under the sun of a winter that is coming to an end.
And yes, there I am. Among the brush. Walking and covering part of those hills that are part of the horizon of my city. I saw this idea in a YouTube video set in Los Angeles, which, saving the economic and cinematic distances, San Diego, my city in Venezuela, is quite similar to the Californian city. Seeing how the influence of human beings has dominated spaces that for eons belonged to Mother Nature is, at the very least, an invitation to think and reflect.
We firmly believe that we are the most capable species, the pinnacle of evolution itself. And the truth is that, in practical terms, we are a small speck of dust in time, nothing more. I am not ashamed nor do I hide the fact that I am privileged to have been born, grown up, and lived in the stage of Humanity where antibiotics, condoms, and photographic cameras exist. It could have been much more challenging. However, in Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, or with the Incas, I do not think it was too different. We all admire what nature has allowed us to conquer.
It does not matter the things you believe make us different. When you reach a high point, whatever it may be; mountain, elevator, terrace, balcony, etc., we all look at the horizon in a reflective way. We admire our infinite smallness. Perhaps we are not aware of it, but I consider that it is indeed so. And I am grateful that on this occasion, I can feel my thoughts thanks to the influence of Incubus. A band that is perfect for creating experimental atmospheres and that helps with that feeling of adrenaline and admiration.
The weather of a day of walking changes. It begins with some fog, faint, then the rays of the sun warm everything; cloudy again and the sun “hides” to threaten rain. In my opinion, these are paths that we do not usually pay the attention they deserve. I insist, the rhythm of our obligations and the stress of meeting our needs deprive us of witnessing this; our union, our bond with what is beautiful, what is truly enormous and what will remain there once we are gone from this existence; the immensity of nature.
