As I told Sofia, in the interesting post that she has published for this week’s Lensartists challenge, looking back is not an easy task. How far back do we go? What do we know about the past? Do we transcend our own history? Do we go back to childhood? Is what we remember true? Can we trust the story they tell us?…
I think there are too many difficult questions to answer. As I write these words, I still don’t know what form I’m going to give to my answer for this challenge… I will review my photographic archive, to see if it inspires me…
A Russian proverb says that “longing for the past is running after the wind”
Looking at the sky is looking at the past.
When we look at the celestial vault –stars, Moon or some planet– we are not seeing the present, but the light that emitted minutes, hours and even years ago when it comes to the most distant stars.
Past water does not move a mill
(Spanish proverb)
The past has its codes and customs.
(Socrates)
The past is past.
Throughout our lives we have had a multitude of experiences, both positive and negative. All of them are part of us, of our history, and have shaped the person we have become. But it is vitally important to know how to leave the past behind and enjoy the present.
Learning from the past is a valuable experience, even though our future is a blank sheet…
Posted as part of Lens-Artists: Looking Back
Anvica's gallery 
Well said and shown Ana – your approach to the challenge is spot-on. Loved your images as always, especially the last 2.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Tina 😘
LikeLike
Outstanding contribution. Beautiful images. I love you spoke of the sky and rivers. My favorer photo is of the umbrella on the path. Very nice post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, Donna 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing take on this challenge Ana! I love your narrative and philosophy. We are the sum total of all our experiences, and they help create our future. Love the colorful umbrella image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anne. It is true that experiences make us who we are. The woman with the umbrella is my dear friend Anabel, who is always happy to act as a model. Friends are also part of those experiences, so it’s better if they are good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your post, Ana. When I read your comment on mine, I thought you’re going to come up with something interesting and you so did. Great words with beautiful photos, all well picked. I’m so glad this is where you took us, thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pleasure! 😊
Your challenge was very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful take o, Ana. These photos tell stories of looking back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oops, take on…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Amy 😘
LikeLike
GREAT photos, thoughts, and PROVERBS. Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great job on pairing photos and thoughts.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Janet 😘
LikeLike
A canvas is a blank sheet. And look at those photos. The umbrella in the groove of trees speaks to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it’s one of my favorites!
LikeLike
Lovely photos to go with your search for the past
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful post, Ana and lovely thoughts. I especially love your last 2 images.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Patti 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this very much. The past is indeed past; draw on it for strength and warmth as appropriate, but do not try to live there still! Would you please tell us that Spanish proverb in Spanish?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Penny 😘
El proverbio: Agua pasada no mueve molino.
Espero haberlo traducido bien al inglés.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sirve bien, tu traducción. Es un desafio porque Uds pueden decir en dos palabras (aqua pasada) lo que necesita mas palabras en inglés. “Past water” gives the meaning because of the context of the rest of the saying and also your choice to use the time-reference “past” rather than the past tense of the verb “to pass” — but it is not idiomatic. We’d have to say something like “water that has already passed by.” Very clumsy. So your version is good: it is brief, and it makes sense. My own attempt, a little less literal, a more poetic with reference to past time, would be: “Yesterday’s water turns no wheels.” Es interesante,¿no? las posibilidades y los problemas de traducción.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yesterday’s water turns no wheels… Love it!!!
Thank you very much for your explanation. Although I know the English language, I can read, speak a little… for the blog I am very lazy and I usually use a translator. I try to review it before posting it, but I’m sure I’ll have a lot of errors or the language I use will be very “mechanical” on many occasions.
So I really appreciate the interest shown by all of you who visit the blog and I hope that, at least, my images leave me in a better place than my writing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you’re using a translation app, then it is very good, because I didn’t sense you were not writing those words yourself — there is nothing mechanical or “auto-fit” about the language or structure. I have a lot of respect for the craft and difficulty of translation, having done some myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Penny, you are very kind. 😘
LikeLike