On the rainy morning of April 13, I awoke early with a mission to work on my featured photograph. It was likely the final rain of the season, and I wanted to capitalize on the gloomy day to process a moody image. As I delved into my work, a sudden realization dawned on me: “No one is coming.”
Although I was not sure what this realization meant with respect to my own life, the catalyst for it was my own photograph. The thought motivated me to reflect on my own expectations and how it relates to the culture I was brought up in.
This theme of waiting for “someone to come” resonates widely in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Here, the anticipation of a savior is deeply ingrained. The narrative speaks of awaiting redemption, envisioning a messiah or divine figure to bring salvation. This sentiment is particularly strong in Christianity, where the Second Coming of Christ is awaited, embodying hope for a future where justice prevails and those who deserve it will be saved.
This notion of salvation isn’t confined to religious contexts alone. In societal imagery, there are analogues of this expectation; for instance, I recently encountered a painting portraying Donald Trump astride a white horse, wielding a spade. This fusion of political and religious imagery underscores a pervasive cultural hope for deliverance through authority figures, even as evidence suggests otherwise.
However, what transpires when we confront the truth that “no one is coming”? Initially, it appears contradictory to the tradition Christians grow up in. Yet, delving deeper unveils a nuanced understanding.
Realizing “no one is coming” liberates us, redirecting focus from external saviors to internal transformation. It prompts responsibility and urges us to enact change rather than waiting for miracles.
This realization mirrors my personal journey. No one will alleviate my challenges or make decisions for me. No one will help me get up in the morning, sell my pictures, finish my projects and plan my retirement. I must reclaim agency in navigating widowhood, loneliness, aging, and uncertainty. It’s a reminder to reclaim some type of autonomy and to shape my own destiny.
The FEATURED IMAGE
The FEATURED IMAGE (f 6.3, 1/800s, ISO 200 @70mm), repeated below for convenience, was taken near Winters, CA, on March 3, 2024, during a storm. It was taken through the window of a car, which resulted in considerable visible dirt in the sky. I cleaned it as I could, and used Photoshop’s Gaussian Burr to soften the sky. I often use this filter as a means to direct the viewers eye in my images, although seldom to the extent that I have used in this photograph.
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Wall Art landscapes and miscellaneous
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It is all about the light 
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