A solitary tree in the morning mist with rays of sunshine

by Henk Egbertzen

In the stillness before the day truly begins, he is already standing there. Alone in the misty landscape.

The morning mist hangs low over the land, soft and thick like breath on a cold morning. For a moment, the world is without boundaries, without sound. It is that golden hour when everything is still possible.

And then the light breaks through.

Not bright, not harsh. The sun’s rays find their way through the bare branches, casting golden streaks across the wet grass and causing the mist to hesitate for a moment. For a moment, everything is gold and grey at the same time. A serene scene of nature that you don’t often see, but one that stays with you.

I didn’t take this photo for the tree, but for that moment in between. That one moment when the night hasn’t quite gone and the day has already begun. When you don’t know whether you’re looking back or forward.

This solitary tree has stood there for years. It has weathered storms and dry summers, yet every morning it stands there once more. Not in spite of the mist, but right within it. It asks for no attention; it simply is. For me, that is the essence of a landscape of hope.

‘HOPE’ is not a photograph of a landscape. It is a reminder that light always returns, however thick the morning mist may sometimes be. A minimalist image for those seeking tranquillity on their wall.