Once again a photographic metaphor, beauty beyond, darkness near. The foreground is actually quite well kept and fairly nice, however if you only focus on the distant and classically defined beauty you may miss the wonderfulness all around you.

AKA, cool photo man, you ought to say something insightful about it.... dude.

This is what I think of when someone mentions a Lake. Boating (the cleat), Water (Lake...), Fun (Shoreline), and Beauty (The whole scene). I personally love this photo because it is to me, a scene of serenity.

It could also be seen as a visual metaphor, safety is nearby, but to go to the light and the shore beyond, you can't be tied off to the dock.