I stand by the river and I know that it has been here yesterday and will be here tomorrow and that therefore, since I am part of its pattern today, I also belong to all its yesterdays and will be a part of all its tomorrows. This is a kind of earthly immortality, a kinship with rivers and hills and rocks, with all things and all creatures that have ever lived or ever will live or have their being on the earth. It is my assurance of an orderly continuity in the great design of the universe. — Virginia Eifert

Nature laughs at human design

Those of you who have been kind enough to follow the Quotidian Hudson through the year are aware that there is one shot I have returned to over and over throughout 2011, never managing to capture what I see in my mind.  (It’s not the vision I had). As my year of blogging ends I had to go back and try again. (No matter, try again, fail again, fail better).  I did not capture what I see but did, as has frequently happened, come up with a shot that pleased me a bit.  I am showing two versions of it. One straight from the camera and one manipulated in Lightroom. I would love your thoughts as to which you prefer and whether this is even a good shot.

Self-Portrait 1

Self Portrait 2

I hope everyone has a glorious New Year’s Eve.

As to the headline on the post? What can I say, I am an American of a certain age…(lyric by garcia, hunter, lesh, weir)