Earth’s surface is more interesting and beautiful than anything else in the universe.  It is one of countless examples of God’s existence and presence and never ceases to attract our attention, admiration and respect. I set aside time in my life to stop and pay particular attention to the light because it materialises all the wonders of nature – the vast green forests, cascading waterfalls and crashing seas that have long inspired our artists. Nature’s diverse beauty has been celebrated by our poets and authors over the centuries in numerous volumes containing hundreds of thousands of words to adequately capture their essence.  Yet, nature’s beauty and very essence is so much easier, faster and more graphically captured on a photograph. Photography is a great media and skillful use of a camera enables an incomparable presentation that encompasses the entire spectre of colour, dimension and emotion. The photograph or print when viewed by us imprints on our brain what we have seen.  It is an excellent medium for the storage of information – a testament to human creativity and technological advancement. But the photograph has far greater significance than the mere storage of information.  The photo is a graphic depiction of history and a conveyor of human existence and accumulated wisdom that is second to no other form of communication.  It is a pictorial record, not only for us, but all future generations to rely upon for understanding and knowledge. Perhaps nothing exemplifies the power of the photograph more than the launching of the Golden Record in 1977 on the spacecraft Voyager 1 which carries through interstellar space a photographic record of carefully chosen images of Planet Earth and human existence. The chance of Voyager 1 encountering alien life is indeed small and in the event that the Golden Record in intercepted by some unknown intelligence there is the further probability  that our photographic images may not be comprehended. However, one thing is clear, the photograph is the clearest method known to us through which to send a message of hope, love and peace between two civilsations and their creators.