Since the pandemic took hold over the world, I have strolled much around wooded areas, along canals and river banks. I visited Potsdam, close to Berlin, where the river Havel flows.

In February 2022, I took most of the images in this area. The sky moved me with its blue-grey hues, mirrored on the surface of the Havel. The mood was melancholic and full of yearnings. Even now, the pandemic confronts us daily. It’s hard to find a place where there are no remnants of illness. Nature stimulates and enables one to take each moment with mindfulness.

Seeing the stump of a large felled tree with its amazing life-rings reminded me that nothing lasts forever. Wild white crocuses were flowering nearby; it was a delightful space. They energised and prompted me to think we will come through this trying time.

The seasons will continue to change. In its cycle, mankind will etch steps; a pattern to be treasured.