The major rivers of the Midwest—the Illinois; the Mississippi; the Rock; the Green; etc.—all played a role in the history of the area but, generally speaking, none of them are in-your-face gorgeous. Sometimes the weather will lend a helping hand. Snow works wonders on occasion. Fog can help too. Here's a recent f'rinstance taken early one recent morning:
Tom Robbins: Islands in the Fog
Rock River in Ogle County of Illinois viewed from a bluff of Castle Rock State Park.
Tom,
Rob called this "romantic" but for me, it's different. I find this work more contemplative and reflective. It sets a mood for reconsideration of everything!
BTW, I do appreciate, (your once again noted), affinity for "rust". The bush at the right, to me, is just that! It's not as bold as a "burning bush" of Biblical stories, but still a bold element that gets our attention as a free-form abstract and hence assignable symbol of something we wish to contrast the mystery of the place with. It's surprising to me that such a clearly rendered scene can be successfully used by our brains to represent and muse on diverse themes in a mental exploration and a relaxed period of just allowing for imagination and underlying thoughts to take over.
This is a unique and satisfying photograph that I'd not get tired of ever as on each visit, the elements of the picture can be reassigned to different attributes the viewer is currently balancing out!
This would work printed about 4ft x 10ft and to me would approach, in a significant way, our experiences of the paintings by Monet of
Water Lilies as a tool for relaxation and mediation. Of course, we'd have to pay 100 million dollars for the Monet but we would get lilies of exceptional beauty thrown in with the same mood of tranquility and reflection.
Your picture, plus a fountain with floating water lily plants would get close to the total magic experience of the Monet paintings, but without the need to rob 2 dozen banks!
Asher