365 Project - Day 358

"We never noticed the beauty because we were too busy trying to create it." Unknown

How does one see beauty? In an effort to create a more beautiful photo for today's contribution, I selected my idea of a perfect leaf and stretched out my arm so that I could focus in on the leaf, with the tree serving as a wonderful backdrop. Unfortunately, my arm was not quite long enough for my lens to acquire sharp focus. I continued to stretch and twist until I pulled a muscle in my back. I was in so much pain that I could not stand up straight. All in an attempt to create something that did not exist. I was both frustrated and broken.

As much as I could, I continued to walk around the garden to find something else to photograph given I still need a picture for today's project, but I was in tremendous pain. When processing the photo below, it dawned on me that I may have been trying too hard. And, that could be my lesson in this. Rather than stretch and twist to create something new, perhaps I needed to improve my ability to see the beauty that surrounded me. Appreciating the simplicity in that, would have saved me a lot of agony.

Too often we are running toward something more perfect and in doing so, we miss or take for granted that which exists around us. With a little more patience and a lot more intention, nature will inform us of the beauty in all things.

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Truth in Beauty

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." Vincent van Gogh

365 Project - Day 281

"Art is man's nature; nature is God's art." Philip James Bailey

Two days hiking in Acadia and I am weary. I am also in awe of the wonder of His beauty. This is nature at its best. I have watched my sons take multiple iPhone photos, heard them proclaim the beauty they see and declare they have been to no place more exquisite. In fact, one of my sons after hiking (and complaining loudly) for nearly 3 hours, noted that he could sit at the top of the mountain looking out toward the ocean for hours. Sounds like the strenuous hike was worthwhile!

The hike took a long time for several reasons: some due to the nature of the hike and some were my fault. The hike was up a rocky trail. This was my first time hiking since the incident of my broken leg and I was determined to take it easy. The funny thing was we saw a lot of hikers coming down (the easy way) while we were headed up. I also stopped many times to take photos. The path was beautiful; hard but full!

There are parallels we can draw in life, right? The journey almost always seems treacherous and we doubt, along the way, whether the outcome will have been worth the plight. Yet, inevitably, the destination exceeds our expectations. How much more might we enjoy the end, if we took more time to notice the beauty of the journey itself? We might also learn a few secrets from God about the truths of His plan, if we pause during the journey, rather than rush to the end. It is something to think about.

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Nature's Bounty

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." George Washington Carver.







EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
28mm
f3.2
1/30s

365 Project - Day 9

I'm not sure what I expected of Connecticut when we moved here from Texas more than 10 years ago, but as I've driven around for our photography club project the last few weeks, I've enjoyed the variety: tiny towns, big cities (yes, with skyscrapers), local vineyards, large and small farms, parks, sheep and chickens in abundance, dense forests and more. The assignment was rural landscape and I enjoyed every moment rambling through western CT. What I am most surprised by, however, is that so many people choose to live deep in the woods. Literally, a single home in 1/2 mile radius enveloped in trees. I couldn't do it - I would hear all kinds of crazy noises, all the time.

My club project was completed prior to the start of this blog, yet I still can't resist turning off the road at the next "farm" sign. I have passed this farm before, but have never seen a single black cow. And, yesterday there were so many! Just hanging out, with all the time in the world. Hmmm.

Tomorrow I go in for surgery to repair my broken leg ... that is weighing just a little heavy on my mind. All my best wishes to you and yours!

Today's photo: "Cow Time"

“Why is patience so important?"
"Because it makes us pay attention.”
― Paulo Coelho

365 Project - Day 6

The wind was crazy yesterday. I went out mid-afternoon for my 365 shoot and thought I would have a terrific opportunity to get a few pictures of leaves blowing in the wind. The sun was shining and it was what the British refer to as a "crisp" afternoon (which is cold in my vernacular). Since I cannot venture too far from home, I stepped off the porch into the garden. I took more photos of the Japanese Maple. The tree is huge and beautiful and I do feel somewhat obliged to photograph it daily. For something new, however, I shot photos of the leaves on the ground and this one of the shadows of the large oaks in our neighbor's yard, stretching into ours appeals to me. Perhaps because it resembles strong legs, which I am want of at the moment.

Since the leaves weren't blowing as much as I had hoped, I enlisted the assistance of my son, Brooks, to throw a few into the air after his attempts to run and shuffle through a pile of leaves left the pile virtually undisturbed. It did not seem a complicated task to me, but throwing worked slightly better. Just because it's such fun, I thought I would add his photo.

I know this project is to choose 1 each day and in the first week, I've already broken the rule twice, but so be it. It makes me joyful!

Enjoy and all my best wishes!

Today's Photos: "Autumn Strength 1 and 2"

“Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.” Napoleon

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

365 Project - Day 5

After laying in all day trying to rest my leg, it finally dawned on me that I needed to get up and get my shot for the day. It's not that I hadn't thought about it during the day. It's more that I didn't have the will. So after it had started getting dark and was raining, I finally gathered the strength and will to step out onto my front porch. As I ventured outdoors, my 17 year old yelled out to me, "Mom! What do you think you're doing? It's dark and raining outside!" To which I sheepishly responded, "Yep, I know, but I need to get my 365 shot in and I'll be careful, I promise." Wasn't that kind of him to worry about me?

The time was 7PMish and there was virtually no natural light available. I took advantage of the porch light. I used my 50mm f1.8 lens, affectionately referred to many as their "nifty fifty" and snapped away at the Japanese Maple at the edge of my doorway. I alternated between leaning on the frame of the house, the pillars on the porch, and on my crutches. This triad left me with a shaky set-up and minimal space to maneuver (like a 3ft square), but I managed. I'm learning to live within my means.

Cheers!

Today's Photo: "Japanese Maple at Twilight"

"The pain that you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming." Romans 8:18

365 Project - Day 3

Broken Leg !

Yesterday started out lovely. While my husband readied our boys for school, I noticed a dense fog outside. As soon as the boys were off, I began preparing to set out with my camera. I rushed to gather my equipment and dash out the door to capture a few cool pictures before the fog vanished. I debated a moment on whether I should go to a hilltop or a river valley. Finally deciding that if I hurried, I might make both. Grabbing all of my equipment in both hands and dashing out the door, I had no time to tie my shoes or stop to turn off the lights. For a moment, I thought my husband will be mad about the lights, and then just as quickly thought, "oh well, whatever, he'll get over it!" As that last thought crossed my mind, I turned, walked quickly down the first garage steps and then felt the most unnatural leg strain imaginable. I'm not sure whether I tripped on a shoe lace lace or fell on my karma.

I sat on the bottom step groaning for several minutes, not able to reach for my equipment; just praying that nothing, neither my equipment nor I was broken too badly. And, wondering whether I could still drive off to catch the waning mist. Wisely, I chose instead to pick up my camera, replacing the SD card and re-hinging battery doors that had popped open and with the slightest pain, I went out to my yard to capture my 365Project photos. I truly do lose all sense of time and space AND pain when I'm photographing. I walked around the yard until it became clear that something was wrong.

I broke my left fibula and the combination of bone and tissue damage is bad enough that I will have surgery next week. I should share that I have a relationship with stairs. To help clarify, when we came home and one of my children asked what happened, my husband said "guess" to which my son replied without breathing, "mom, you fell down the stairs!" Yes, it happens often, though it has been a while and usually, the result is not so painful. There was that time when I was home alone and leaving for a business trip. My driver was waiting outside and again I was rushing. I had my suitcase in one hand and a coffee cup in the other as I was rushing down the house stairs. I slipped and both the coffee cup and the suitcase landed upright, while I landed with a deafening thud on my bum. I sat for a moment, praying, "please Lord, let nothing be injured nor bruised nor broken. Let me get up and go as though this hasn't occurred and I will slow down." I was fine, but I believe now, I must slow down.

Today I offer a 2fer: "Be Still" - The first photo was taken during the first few minutes after my fall! The second was taken between the GP and orthopedic visits (my attempt to stay calm). Both are from my garden - because where else could I roam? Enjoy and best wishes! Happy Halloween!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

365 Project - Day 2

For today's photo, I am sharing a picture from my backyard. I love that it is of a bee's / hornet's nest (maybe you know the difference - I just know I wasn't going any closer to find the answer). Just in time for Halloween! I could have chosen to make the photo spookier, but I doubt anyone is anxious to nose up to it and touch it even with the bright autumn colors around. And, yes, the leaves really are that yellow deep in our woods. I even reduced the yellow saturation. Enjoy !

Today's Photo: "Buzz-free Zone"

"Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle." Benjamin Franklin

365 Project - Day 1

I have just gotten back into photography after a very long hiatus of 25ish years. Over the past several months, I've taken thousands of photos. Okay - true confessions - about 1/3rd of those are because my shutter release is set on CL, but in the spirit of one of my favorite books, Outliers, I'm well on my way to 10,000 ;-)

As I was reading Flipboard today, I came across a lightstalking.com article about the benefits of a daily photo project. I started a personal 365 Project a couple of days ago, but Dzvonko Petrovski was convincing about the importance of blogging to get feedback and, well, here I am putting my "craft" out there.

Yet the day is almost over - getting started is both challenging and exciting ...

Here we go ... Day 1 photo: About this pic - I paid $6 to enter into a children's petting zoo. I am not, however, a fan of pets and animals. So I did not take the food to feed the animals. This fellow and all the others were quite annoyed that I was not feeding them. They came charging toward me with hungry, anxious eyes, only to find that I was not offering grub. I was thrilled we had a fence between us and afraid this one would lunge across and eat my camera. Can't you see the exasperation in his eyes?

Today's Photo: "Feed me!"

"Lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at you." David Brinkley