Continental Riff

I'm Tyler, an always aspiring geologist, and this my (maybe-- definitely not as of about 3 months after starting it) daily blog about geology, hardcore and whatever. 

[continentalriff]

The air feels a little bit lighter... A little bit cleaner. It's a relief to know that things can still go the right way sometimes. Obviously, all is not suddenly right with the world, but the door is open and it's important to walk through it and keep trying to move things in the right direction. . . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #pmgridchallenge #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #enjoyillinois #illinois #evanston (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHTno-LJQvF/?igshid=130vbn1gq33ye

[continentalriff]

It's been important to remind myself that staring at something in anticipation of a particular moment is not always healthy. Like staring at the sun for instance waiting for something beautiful. . . . . . . . . . . . . #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #usaprimeshot #adventure #yourshotphotographer #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #landscapephotography #puremichigan #michigan #naturalmichigan #ourplanetdaily #muskegon #lighthouse #visitmuskegon #watchusgo #puremichiganders #puremitten #puremittigan #puremi #puremittenpride #puremichiganders #goldenhour #bestsunset #skyperfection #sunset_vision (at Muskegon, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHNtPkMpnnU/?igshid=50vgtmwwqv7e

[continentalriff]

Go vote today if you have not. Wear a mask. Getting messages from friends talking about their families and listening to the stories getting closer and closer to home. Voting and wearing a mask are two selfless acts that can protect the people around you. Both are painless. Do the right thing. . . . . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #pmgridchallenge #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #enjoyillinois #illinois #naturalillinois #ourplanetdaily #treephotography #vote2020 (at Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHIuUcEpcjr/?igshid=y6yv33emdua4

[continentalriff]

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. . . . . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #pmgridchallenge #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #puremichigan #michigan #naturalmichigan #ourplanetdaily #bridge (at Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG6hQ0JJZpf/?igshid=1l2eyh7z4ylzm

[continentalriff]

Rainy fall day mood. Featuring the beautiful @missmollyjay . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #stayandwander  #moodygrams #foliage #illinois #enjoyillinois #ourplanetdaily #evanston #illinois_shots #vote2020 #cozyvibes #homesweethome #stayathome (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu7r-aJeGP/?igshid=fxq6nagdycmm

[continentalriff]

Molly and I kicked off a mini-vacation by casting out votes earlier this week. Every one was wearing masks and everyone was cooperative and friendly. Everyone was pulling in the same direction. Go vote! . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #illinois #enjoyillinois #ourplanetdaily #evanston #illinois_shots #vote2020 (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGrE6lspc2m/?igshid=jycxmud3w2yf

[continentalriff]

Take care and be considerate to others when you leave the house to enjoy the season. . . . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #puremichigan #michigan #naturalmichigan #ourplanetdaily #water #stream #foggy #stephenking #cabininthewoods #mirror (at South Haven, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGgosusJ0gE/?igshid=1pvu79ghobmf9

[continentalriff]

Golden hour views in Michigan from the other week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #usaprimeshot #adventure #yourshotphotographer #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #landscapephotography #puremichigan #michigan #naturalmichigan #ourplanetdaily #muskegon #lighthouse #goldenhour #bestsunset #skyperfection #sunset_vision #beach #autumn (at Muskegon, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGXQwLhpg3k/?igshid=11xr8knjm0tfj

[continentalriff]

The most beautiful time of year approaches. Make it even more beautiful by voting early, safely, and voting to protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our society. . . . . . . . . . . . #autumn #fallcolors #fallfilter #pmgridchallenge #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams #foliage #landscapephotography #puremichigan #michigan #naturalmichigan #ourplanetdaily #muskegon (at Muskegon, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGvqPApEGT/?igshid=141fph3dcuc1u

[continentalriff]

Hopeful and beautiful things can come from things old and broken. Sometimes those old and broken things are buildings, sometimes they are institutions that build and benefit from systemic racism, white flight, redlining, and ignoring decades of alarm from climate scientists and people who've dedicated their lives to trying to prevent the next pandemic from infecting millions and kills hundreds of thousands. Electing Biden won't fix or change a lot of that, but it will still give us the opportunity to keep pushing down that path. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Figure out your feelings after the guy who isn't even pretending to not be a fascist isn't trying to remove all the rights of your friends and people in this world who aren't straight white men.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣. . . . #vote #abandoned #abandonedwisconsin #abandonedplaces #wisconsin #industry #urbex #decay #grime #sonyimages #sigmalens #fall #ivy #overgrown #foliage #fallfilter #lost #lostplaces #abandonedworld #landscapephotography #adventure #adventurephotography #outdoors #ipulledoverforthis (at Racine, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFdXC8rJlvH/?igshid=sfde8brylpmr

[continentalriff]

A random photo from the summer. Register to vote. . . . . . . . . #longexposure #longexposurephotography #agameoftones #gameoftones #evanston #artofchi #chi #amazing_longexpo #nightphotography #night #sonyimages #sigmalens #cityscape #lighttrails #cityphotography #insta_chicago #moodygrams #enjoyillinois #illinois #adventure #urbex #amazing_longexpo #abstractart #tron #art #train (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFFT6M4p10j/?igshid=wf3iym4yf2y5

[continentalriff]

Register to vote. Take a drive somewhere you're not used to going, somewhere away from where you and your friends live and agree on everything, and gain some perspective on how difficult things might be on November 3rd. There are no perfect candidates, there never will be. Vote the one in that won't torpedo the supreme court for the next decades and hold their feet to the fire for the next 4 years. ⠀ ⠀ ---⠀ ⠀ Social distance.⠀ ⠀ #silhouette #enjoymichigan #marquettemichigan #puremichigan #lakesuperior #stayandwander #earthfocus #visualsofearth #awesome_earthpix #natgeoyourshot #natgeo #usaprimeshot #nb_nature_brilliance #adventure #yourshotphotographer #tentree #ipulledoverforthis #moodygrams (at Marquette, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfUIoYJy5r/?igshid=t9lssg8v03ti

[continentalriff]

Have not had a true opportunity to try to see NEOWISE yet, so here's a photo of an abandoned Walnut Point Observatory in Southern Illinois. Abandoned and non-functional, but still observing the night sky. . . If you've gotten this far, please continue to support marginalized communities. Continue to pay attention to the threats to all of us coming from the top of the leadership in this country. They're very afraid of November. . . . . . #walnutpoint #abandonedplaces #abandonedillinois #rurex #ipulledoverforthis #stars #astrophotography #astronomy #starrynight #nightsky #fireflies #naturephotography #adventure #longexposure #longexposurephotography #milkyway #milkywaychasers #enjoyillinois #space #nightscaper #haunting #amazing_longexpo #lazyshutters #nightphotography #sonyimages #sigmaimages (at Walnut Point State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDAozCwph_1/?igshid=14j9ln1glquww

[continentalriff]

I am sitting in my apartment in Illinois, some 3 months after we were asked to stay home as much as possible to help keep each other safe. I think most of us know people who have been personally impacted by this crisis by now, either the death/illness of a loved one, or the financial toll and lack of support from our state and federal governments to support people who are hurting and lost. I think a lot of us understand the value of the sacrifices made to keep people safe.⠀ ⠀ Still then, as I watch the numbers spiral out of control in many states, it's impossible to ignore how many people do not understand the value of that sacrifice, and how many lack the empathy and compassion for their fellow people. ⠀ ⠀ In the same time period, we've had the inequality of our neighbors put in front of our faces again and I think we've seen a demonstration of the same lack of empathy and compassion from a lot of the same faces. Within the communities of color, especially in Black communities, COVID has dealt a disproportionate amount of damage. No doubt a symptom of a lot of the same systematic racism and prejudice that infects a lot of the structures of our society. ⠀ ⠀ Take a moment today, tomorrow, and defer to those who have it worse. Listen to people whose choices you take away when you don't wear a mask, or make a needless run to the store today. Think of other people before yourself. ⠀ ⠀ Continue to donate money. Register to vote and find candidates that will support the marginalized people in your communities.⠀ ⠀ ---⠀ ⠀ I spent a night taking photos in one of the darker areas of the state a few weeks ago. I set a camera in one spot for 20 minutes or so and let the fireflies mirror the stars in the sky. Thank you for allowing me the time to clutter your timeline.⠀ ⠀ #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #illinois #galena #covid #ipulledoverforthis #stars #astrophotography #astronomy #starrynight #nightsky #fireflies #nature #naturephotography #adventure #longexposure #longexposurephotography #milkyway #milkywaychasers #enjoyillinois #space #nightscaper #haunting #amazing_longexpo #lazyshutters #nightphotography #sonyimages #sigmaimages (at Galena, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCOfaxvJllb/?igshid=1l4t3qmg2yntm

[continentalriff]

I assumed within a few minutes of arriving in this town, I would be able to find some sort of racist or prejudice gesture broadcast proudly. I had a feeling this would be the case, because I grew up in a small town just like this one. ⠀ ⠀ Small towns are full of tradition. They are by their nature, insular, and inward looking. Things are difficult, and by and large, the outside world doesn't care. Ignorance and fear finds its way in and stays there. The ideas that are born from ignorance and fear are a tradition in their own. Your family and neighbors are not infallible. It's not always possible to leave that small town, but you can leave those ideas and values behind. You can fight back against those ideas the same way they were taught to you. ⠀ ⠀ We've all seen a million different metaphors and analogies for what a dog whistle "all lives matter" and "blue lives matter" are. You don't need this explained to you again, but your family might. Your friends might still. ⠀ ⠀ Don't let it slide. Don't lose focus. Black people are still being murdered in the streets by police while the media's focus turns away to new topics. Donate your money, your mindshare, and your attention. Help. ⠀ ⠀ The prompt for this week (I'm several behind now) was "Tradition" with open interpretation.⠀ ⠀ #clondon52w22 #clondon52 #tradition #rural #iowa #midwest #sonyimages #sigmaimages #ia #blm ⠀ (at Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBbxKRapws5/?igshid=1huty40izbz39

[continentalriff]

" The paper says the whole world is on fire. But this street is quiet... " I hope as things start to feel a little less raw, we don't forget the way the last week has felt. The anger may fade, and so might your shame, but the determination to fix things should not fall from your conscious. Continue to provide support and messaging in the ways that you can. Continue to support businesses owned and operated by people of color. Continue to donate, and keep these issues front of mind when you vote in November and every opportunity after that. The establishments that are in power in this country want you to feel satiated and content again so that they can continue business as normal. Our attention span is one of the largest threats to equality and justice in this country. -- This is my submission for #clondon52w21. This photo challenge is a selfish endeavor. It's solely about myself and my goals. This hasn't been the time for me to focus on me, and I shouldn't be trying to make myself the center of attention. The world outside is much more important. This prompt was "Your Neighborhood". . . . . . . . #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #clondon52 #evanston #chicago #illinois #artofchi #sonyimages #sigmaimages #bw (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJwLfjJiQy/?igshid=5jzwo2faak7m

[continentalriff]

Birds at home in their natural environment. . . . . . . . . #galena #galenacountry #exploreillinois #theamericancollective #illinois_shots #midwestphotography #illinois #enjoyillinois #sonyimages #sigmalens #birds (at Galena, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAlCVZGp0_e/?igshid=1riuirxmvk2m5