Deep Life Reflections: Friday Five
Issue 65 - History Lessons
Welcome to Issue 65 of Deep Life Reflections, and a special welcome to new subscribers.
I'm writing to you from the Bavarian city of Munich, Germany, where I'm enjoying the European Football Championship (better known as Euro 24) with friends I've known for thirty years. As we travel around Germany over the next 12 days, we’re supporting our home country of Scotland as they play their three group matches. We’re hoping to witness a historic first—Scotland progressing past the first round. We start tonight against the home nation, Germany. We will need a little luck!
Munich, a city with nearly a thousand years of history, provides a rich backdrop for our journey. From medieval times to modern day, via its dark chapter as the birthplace of the Nazi Party in the early part of the twentieth century, the city is a testament to resilience, change, and progress, much like the themes I explore in my photography.
In Issue 58, I shared my passion for photography, handpicking five of my favourite photos. This week, I'd like to present another five photos from my collection, themed around history and impact. Each image captures an important lesson from history, echoing its influence even today.
As I wrote before, photography provides a gateway to deeper understanding. Photos freeze moments in time, allowing us to ponder and reflect on their significance.
So, join me as we explore this week’s visual Friday Five.
This week's featured image is from my trip to Berlin in 2016. I captured this photo just outside the Tiergarten early one freezing morning. Tiergarten is one of Berlin’s most famous and historic parks. This is one of my favourite photos.
1. ‘Lincoln’ - Washington D.C., United States
Captured in July 2014 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. It was a hot and sticky summer day, which ended in thunderstorms and torrential rain. The turbulent weather that day is symbolic of the frenzied conditions leaders must navigate. In a challenging and complex world, Lincoln’s character, integrity, and wisdom remain more important than ever, even one hundred and fifty years after his death.
2. ‘The Lost City of Petra’ - Petra, Jordan
Captured in April 2016, as we caught our first glimpse of the ancient city of Petra, nestled in Jordan. Founded over 2,000 years ago, Petra was ‘lost’ to the outside world for more than 500 years before being rediscovered by explorers. My mum and I shared this exploration, captivated by the same sense of discovery and awe as we made our way through the deep, winding canyon. Petra reflects the timeless human desire to explore and better understand our world.
3. ‘The Waltz King’ - Vienna, Austria
Captured in November 2015 in Vienna’s Stadtpark, one of the city’s oldest and most important parks. I was on an early morning run when I came across this striking statue of the famous classical composer Johann Strauss, known as ‘The Waltz King.’ I went back to get my camera. The statue is a powerful reminder of the significant influence music and art have in our lives, and how cultural contributions transcend time, inspiring and uplifting us. (Listen to The Blue Danube Waltz).
4. ‘Motherland’ - Kiev, Ukraine
Captured in May 2021. The imposing Motherland Monument is a sculpture that honours the strength and sacrifice of those who fought in the Second World War. It’s part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. I visited Kiev on a long spring weekend in May 2021, less than twelve months before the Russian invasion. There was little sign of the carnage to come. Statues and sculptures often represent the past, but sometimes return to life as dark real-time barometers of the cost of conflict and the importance of peace.
5. ‘Two Boys in Palawan’ - Palawan, Philippines
Captured in July 2019 in the small fishing village of El Nido, Palawan, in the Philippines. El Nido is famous for its white-sand beaches and clear, luxurious waters. One evening at dusk, I took a walk and saw these two young boys combing the beach. In our increasingly digital and ‘artificial’ world, there remains a deep connection between human beings and their physical environment. Water, land, and life are intricately linked. They keep us uniquely grounded and human.
Thanks for taking this visual journey with me today and for being part of the Deep Life Journey community. If you have any thoughts or reflections on the photographs featured in this issue, or if there’s a historical photograph of your own that you’d like to share, please leave a comment/share. Have a great weekend.
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