This week, Anne’s challenge is thought-provoking. She writes, “My challenge for you this week is to find how your photographs portray resilience. How do they speak to you?” You can read her entire challenge post here.

I started my search and found four photos I remembered might be examples. My first thought was of this Sycamore tree along a river in Arizona. It started growing almost horizontally from between an outcropping of rocks a few feet above ground level. Not only that but it’s found its way to the sun by bending around the ledge in the upper right corner of the image. Sycamore trees are long-lived, ranging from 200 to 400 years. That’s resilience.

Giant coastal redwood trees have a long life, many over 2,000 years old. In the 1930s, someone disrespected this beautiful tree by cutting a hole in the 2400-year-old giant to make it a tourist attraction. Creating the hole in the Chandelier Tree caused significant damage to the tree’s internal structure and weakened it considerably. Yet, this mighty redwood carries on. That’s resilience.

In 2012, we went hiking in Estrella Mountain Regional Park during our first January in Buckeye, Arizona. That trek, among others, cemented our love for hiking. We saw these two giant saguaros standing proudly at the trail’s edge as we walked the Rainbow Valley Trail. Despite their many brushes with the weather, animals, and people, leaving their exteriors worn, they lived 150 to 200 years, maybe longer. Unfortunately, by 2017, both had succumbed to nature’s final call, and their remains still lay where they fell to document their lives. That’s resilience.

On our African journey last October, we witnessed a crocodile enjoying lunch at the expense of an unlucky impala. Crocodiles have been around for eons. According to Google, the earliest crocodilian evolved around 95 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. Crocodiles predate the dinosaurs and are considered “living fossils” because they’ve survived major extinction events and maintained a similar body plan for millions of years. That’s resilience.

After independently finding four examples of resilience, I thought I’d try Artificial Intelligence (AI) to search my gallery. I thought AI might help me find other examples. One AI tool I use is Excire Search, an add-in to Adobe Lightroom Classic that provides keywords for photos the software analyzes. A search of my gallery using the term “resilience” generated four images for my consideration. I then became curious about why the Excire Search application chose these four images.

In keeping with the theme of using AI, I asked both Copilot and Gemini to comment on this photo regarding “resilience.” Gemini provided the most detailed response, but this paragraph summarizes the AI response. “This photo of a daylily, though showing its age with petals slightly wilting, still radiates resilience. Its vibrant orange color against the backdrop of the sky symbolizes the ability to endure and maintain beauty even as time passes.”

I captured a photo of a Desert Inkcap (Montagnea Arenaria) mushroom. This inedible mushroom is poisonous. I again asked Gemini why Excire Search might have flagged this image as reflecting resilience. Gemini’s response noted, “The mushroom’s dark cap suggests the process of decay, a natural part of life. Yet, the mushroom itself is still standing tall, showcasing its resilience in the face of this inevitable process... Mushrooms are often associated with transformation and change, as they emerge from the ground and quickly grow and decay. This image can symbolize the ability to adapt and thrive in the face of constant change and flux.“

Another image suggested by Excire Search was this macro of a prairie grass seed head covered with dew drops and a cobweb draped between it and another blade of grass. Gemini’s summary response to my question about relevance to resilience was, “Overall, the image of the plant with the cobweb delicately strung between its seed heads serves as a visual metaphor for resilience in the face of fragility, disruption, and the interconnectedness of all things. It reminds us that even the most delicate things can possess strength and the ability to endure, and that connection can be a source of resilience in the face of challenges.“

I photographed this plaque for a story about the movie, “Field of Dreams.” The film tells the story of Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer who hears a mysterious voice instructing him to build a baseball field in his cornfield. I believe this photo is the most enigmatic selection for the term “resilience” by the AI model in Excire Search. Did the AI model read the plaque? Did it assume that the plaque was made of metal that would endure due to its resilience? Only the software engineers might know that.

Gemini knows the plaque’s history and meaning. Again, I asked Gemini the question, “I asked another AI model to show me photos with a theme of resilience.” How would you describe this photo as an example of resilience?”

I was impressed by Gemini’s response, which I quote here.

“The plaque in the photo, dedicated to Denise Miareki Stillman, can be seen as a symbol of resilience. Here’s why:

“Resilience in the face of loss: The plaque commemorates Denise, who tragically passed away in 2018. It serves as a reminder of her life, her dreams, and her impact on the world. By keeping her memory alive, the plaque represents resilience in the face of loss and a commitment to honoring her legacy.

“Resilience in the face of adversity: Denise’s dream was to expand the Field of Dreams and create a youth sports complex. This was a challenging endeavor, but she pursued it with passion and determination. The plaque serves as a testament to her resilience in the face of adversity and her ability to overcome obstacles.

“Resilience in the face of time: The plaque is made of durable materials and is designed to withstand the elements and the passage of time. It symbolizes the enduring nature of Denise’s vision and the resilience of the human spirit to leave a lasting impact on the world.

“Overall, the plaque serves as a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of loss, adversity, and the passage of time. It honors the memory of Denise Miareki Stillman and her inspiring vision, encouraging others to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.”

OK, enough of my blathering on about AI. I’ve uploaded the images in 2K HD here to my Flickr site in case you want to pixel-peep or check out the exposure stats. Anne’s challenge was thought-provoking and allowed me to consider some of my images in a new light. When I struggled to find only four examples from my gallery of over 11,000 pictures processed for possible publication, I turned to AI to help me rediscover others with an eye toward the challenge Anne presented us this week.

The Lens-Artists Team is back on our weekly schedule. Anne started us off with this challenging topic. Next week, it’s Ritva’s turn. Be sure to follow her here to be notified when her challenge goes live at noon U.S. Eastern Standard Time. You can find the details here if you’d like to participate in the challenge responses but are unsure how to get started.

John Steiner