Turn Your World Upside Down

take a moment to look at life through a droplet.

The laws of physics dictate that when water gathers on some surface, a combination of forces necessarily results in the formation of a droplet. The adhesive forces of water molecules cause them to cling to the surface; the cohesive forces of the water molecules cause them to cling to each other; surface tension accommodates competing forces by forming a curve; gravity gently tugs in opposition. The result is a gracefully curved little prism that will take any visible aspect of the world around it and reflect it in interesting ways.

It’s all science and math, you know, numbers and equations, but elegant, and poignant.

It’s early morning, when the light is still a gentle glow and no rays have yet pierced the forest boughs.

Dew droplets cling to shimmery pink poppy petals, a fragile resting place in a wild world. They cling to each other, as well, drawing snugly into little domed molecule communities. Gravity nudges them onward. Don’t be afraid…

Let go, join your neighbors, seek out the ways of the droplets that have gone before you, follow your ancestors on the paths to the groundwater, find comfort in that eternal cycle that supports all life on earth!

Science, math, life metaphor :)

Many droplet-days are gray days, rainy days, early mornings or late evenings, when the light is soft and the air is cool, because that’s when droplets gather. They are shimmery and lovely, and challenging to photograph.

But sometimes…

The first touch of morning sun melts frost into liquid prisms, and all that glorious light is there at the same time to help you capture the color and the reflection.

These droplets are the happy combination of frost on the curve of a windshield, lit by morning sun, blue sky above, forest branches waving overhead, combining to create what happens to be my favorite color palette, all ocean-y turquoise blues. They were gone within the hour.

These droplets are frozen in place, on the weathered charcoal-colored siding of our cabin.

The morning light has just reached them, too, scattering prism rainbows across their domed surfaces in all the shades of metallic shimmer. In another moment, they will melt, and gravity will stream them away, clearing the palette for winter’s next composition.

Droplets are a perfect combination of the practical and the lovely, so effortless that it somehow becomes mundane, though it certainly shouldn’t.

Take a moment this week, and let a droplet turn your world upside down!

shop custom prints from the Droplets collection

If you like what you see, visit my online gallery for custom-print wall art and decor, and bring some moments of connection home to your everyday life!

Know anyone else who enjoys nature, photography, connection, and stories?

This Substack is free! Join me behind-the-scenes each week as I share the stories behind my nature photography gallery, capturing moments of connection in nature and everyday life. Paid subscriptions are available if you’d like to sponsor my work - I’m so grateful for your support!

Enjoy bringing the outside in? Come visit us at Riven Joiner & the Homestead Store for hand-crafted, nature-inspired Artisan Soaps, Woodworking & Home Goods.

hand-crafted. from the homestead. original designs | natural materials | small batches