Gallery: raising hopes
God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us – in the dreariest and most dreaded moments – can see a possibility of hope.
Maya Angelou
Images of a sunrise as the sun reappears over the horizon, a seedling sprouting from barren soil, or a rainbow stretching across the sky are often used to symbolise hope. They represent new beginnings, growth, and the promise of better days ahead.
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
Dalai Lama
Hope means different things to different people at different times. When we are struggling, the hope for a better future keeps us going. And we all hold out hope for a better world, perhaps especially at the moment.
But in our day to day lives, smaller hopes also play a significant role, as some of my chosen photos for this week’s Lens Artists challenge, set by Patti, will show. Hoping for better weather, hoping to spot wildlife on safari, hoping your team will score …
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.
Emily Dickinson
A gallery of hope
Hoping for peace to return …
A sign in Damascus, Syria, in 1996
Hoping our prayers will be answered …
At the Lama Temple in Beijing, China
Hoping for sunshine after the rain …
A rainy day in Kamikochi National Park, Japan – and the following morning
Hoping for a brighter dawn
Early morning in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Hoping that spring will return …
Snowdrops in Westerham, Kent, England
Hoping that the crops we plant will grow and flourish …
Transplanting rice seedlings near Halong Bay, Vietnam
Hoping to rebuild for a better future …
Earthquake damage in Durbar Square, Kathmandu , Nepal
Hoping that we can make a difference …
Feeding an orphaned elephant at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust , Nairobi, Kenya
Hoping for a happy new year (somewhat unfortunately in this instance) …
Sign above a road in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hoping for a good catch …
Sorting fishing nets on a beach near Salalah, Oman
Hoping for a sale …
Basket-seller in Cartagena, Colombia
Hoping for a win …
Newcastle United fans at Feyenoord, Netherlands
[by the way, we did get the win!]
Hoping to see a tiger …
Tiger in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
… or a rhino
A distant rhino in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
In the end, we’re all just hoping to find the way!
Sign in the River North district of Chicago
55 Comments
Annie Berger
I liked this uplifting post, Sarah, showing people all over the world seeking out hope. A great representation of people and their dreams – we are all the same, aren’t we!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Annie 😊 Yes, we’re all pretty much the same, and travel helps teach us that.
equinoxio21
Hope is becoming more like an endangered species. No Daphne Sheldrick to nurture it?
Sarah Wilkie
Their daughter Angela has taken over along with her husband so the Trust is in good hands I believe
equinoxio21
I have her book. Bought it when we we moved to Kenya. If I recall her daughter was raised with baby rhinos and all sorts of animals… Only the Brits can do that…
Sheldrick, the husband, was game warden at Tsavo.
Found the book on my “African” shelves. Daphne’s two daughters (who’re about my age, not too young) are called Angela and Jill. There are fantastic photos of them as small “watoto” (kids) with the huge animals Daphne Sheldrick rescued… So the Trust is certainly in good hands.
Same goes with Saba Douglas-Hamilton and elephants.
Sheldrick’s book’s original title in English (mine’s in “Frog”) is: The orphans of Tsavo. Wonderful if it’s still in print or Kindle…
Sarah Wilkie
I will have to look for it – thanks
Leya
A thoughtful – and hopeful post, Sarah. Love the elephant and the tiger, the Okavango and Chitwan…So much to hope for. But we must do more, each one of us.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ann-Christine – yes, there’s always more we can do 🤗
photobyjohnbo
I love your animal portraits, probably my favorite is the baby elephant. So much hope in your post, Sarah! My favorite landscape image is of the Okavango Delta. I love the painterly feel of the reflection of the sky in the water.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 😀 It’s always great to hear which shots stand out for people. The okavango was marvellous for landscape photography!
Monkey's Tale
Such a variety of hope. Great collection. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie, I’m happy you liked this 😀
margaret21
Lots of signss of hope here, both tangible and less so.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret ☺️
Rose
You chose such beautiful words to accompany your post and photos. So lovely and inspiring!❤️
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Rose 😊 I’m so glad you found this inspiring!
Wind Kisses
So many to love Sarah The tiger, the baby elephant and the rice field photos were favorites. And while not funny at the time, the Happy New Year 2020 does bring a little smile now.. Great read, and yes, always hope.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Donna 😊 Yes, you do sort-of have to smile at that New Year sign. It’s odd to think that when I took the photo I had no thought other than interest that the city marked the new year in this way.
grandmisadventures
This is a very beautiful and moving collection about hope and the power it gives
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 😊
rkrontheroad
This is a moving collection, each a special moment. The one of the sign in Syria really tugs at the heart.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Ruth 😊 I know just what you mean about the Syrian one – we loved Damascus and the other places we went and it was awful to watch what happened a few years later, especially to Palmyra.
wetanddustyroads
You portray the word ‘hope’ beautifully in all your photos. It’s amazing for how many things one can actually hope for, isn’t it? I enjoyed your photos – especially the two taken in Kamikochi National Park. Let’s hope for a better day, better tomorrow … better future perhaps?
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 Yes, the more I thought about this, the more ‘hopes’ I came up with!
pattimoed
Your collection is wonderful and so are your thoughtful ideas about hope. You’ve paired them beautifully! I love that we’re all spreading some hope around this week!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Patti 😊 It’s a brilliant choice of theme – as you say, it’s given us all the opportunity to focus on hope!
Sofia Alves
Brilliant post, Sarah. Loved all your photos, so perfectly matched with your titles.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sofia 😊
thehungrytravellers.blog
There’s always hope, so it is said. Hope springs eternal. It’s the hope that kills you, say football fans when relegation is finally confirmed. Anyway, Sarah, we hope to see you in June 😁
Sarah Wilkie
Ah yes, that’s something to hope for certainly! But I know that ‘hope that kills you’ saying so well – as Newcastle fans we’ve said it far too often!
bushboy
Lovely Sarah. I guess the bloke feeding the elephant is trying not or isn’t supposed to engage with that adorable baby. I would find it so hard not to.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Brian 🙂 But no, the keepers at the SHeldrick Trust develop strong bonds with their young charges, even sleeping in the stalls at night if they need regular care. It must be tough when they have to say goodbye. The elephants are all released into protected but open reserves as soon as they are old enough, but sadly there are always more needing care to follow in their footsteps.
bushboy
I could do that. I would care for a baby elephant so well. I guess he had that “Oh no, not feed time……again!!” look 😂
It is a sad situation where people have no regard for the wonderful animals who try to live among us.
Sarah Wilkie
I think he’s just focusing on the task and trying to block out the crowd of visitors watching him! People are only allowed to visit for this one hour feeding slot each day, so that the elephants don’t get too accustomed to having lots of people around them. The keepers are different – I think their charges see them as honorary elephants!
Anna
We all need hope in this day and age… your post has started off my day in a positive light. Lets hope it’s a good day! 🥰
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anna – yes, we all hope for a good day, don’t we?!
Tina Schell
Loved this one from start to finish Sarah. So creative! every image is wonderful and ties perfectly to your captions and quotes. One of my favorites of all your excellent posts.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thanks so much Tina 😊 This comment has made my day!!
janet
You answered the challenge beautifully, Sarah. These were all excellent but I really liked the one of the person with the umbrella and the tiger shot. Feeding the baby elephant was cute.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Janet 😊 The ‘person with the umbrella’ is my husband!
restlessjo
Such a diverse world, isn’t it? Japan looks like bliss.
Sarah Wilkie
Kamikochi was stunning, despite the poor weather (we only saw those blue skies on the morning we were leaving) and I loved the rest of Japan too 😀
restlessjo
🤗🩷
Teresa
Some wonderful things to be hopeful for.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, lots to be hopeful for indeed – thanks Teresa 🙂
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Great gallery! Hope shines through (though as you say 2020 was a bit optimistic).
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anabel 🙂 Despite the fact that Covid was already making its presence felt when I took that photo in HCMC (late February 2020), I didn’t see the irony at the time!
Anne Sandler
Great post Sarah. Inspirational and beautiful.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne, I really appreciate that 😀
Egídio
Sarah, these are such beautiful photos! I loved the inspirational messages you shared with each one of them. Great post!
Sarah Wilkie
Aw thank you, I’m so glad you liked it 😊
Alli Templeton
Some wonderfully uplifting and heartwarming photos here, Sarah, and at a time, as you say, that we all need some hope to hang onto. Love all the animal shots, of course, but I’m sure I’m not the only one whose favourite is that utterly adorable baby elephant enjoying it’s feed. Bless it. He (or she) is enough to give anyone a true glimmer of hope. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Alli 😊 The work done by the Sheldrick Trust is inspirational!
Sue
Marvellous and very varied set of hopes, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sue 🙂