Branches don’t just grow on trees. They can also “extend from, or enter into a main body or source”. And on rainy days the branches I prefer to look at are in atlases or photo books.
There is an undeniable beauty to the way rivers drape themselves over land. Sometimes like fine webs and deltas, sometimes as duelling snake, as in this beautiful picture by Yann Arthus Bertrand of a glacier tongue in Kyrgyzstan. I have been dreamily perusing atlases since I was very little, but discovering Betrand’s work in the early 90s made me appreciate the magic of this globe of minerals we dwell on even more. He kindly lets you download his stunning collection of aerial photography for personal use on his website, so do check it out: http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org/
Glacier tongue near the Khan Tengri peak, Sary-Jaz Mountains, Ysyk-Köl region, Kyrgyzstan (42°10' N - 80°00'E), Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Today, focus on these earthly branches from above. If you’re not on a plane or climbing mountains then open up those old atlases and look for river deltas, glaciers, tributaries. Or go online and lose yourself in the work of aerial photographers. My Modern Met has a great selection here.
Enjoy your bird’s eye view of the earth today and do Share your river- and other branches on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #kramerseye.