"Everywhere we look the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes."
- Van Gogh
"Sometimes the most beautiful things are in front of our eyes and we don't even notice, because we're either too busy or too afraid to take a closer look."
- Katja Michael
I shoved a plastic grocery sack in my pocket on the way out
the door. I had my big girl camera in
hand and was determined to use it, no matter what the sky was threatening.
I was headed to the trail in search of evidence spring had indeed arrived. My expectations were low, the dreary day didn't seem good for photography.
The kick start of dirt bikes pierced the silence. As a whining motor came closer behind me I
knew who it was without looking. My
husband sped past and informed me of raindrops.
Moments later my daughter drove down the trail,
carefully navigating around me.
I shot. They rode. Everyone smiled.
Luckily, the trees sheltered us from the light rain until it eventually tapered off.
Luckily, the trees sheltered us from the light rain until it eventually tapered off.
But I wasn't thrilled with the images I was taking. The cloudy
skies weren't shedding any light on the new leaves. The raindrops didn't reach the ground, no
puddles for reflections, no fall colors...my usual fall backs were gone.
I was wishing I was someplace more picturesque, maybe a
sunny beach, a field of tulips or lavender...
The buzz of a dirt bike passing me brought my attention back
to the trail.
I realized I was looking for
something out of the ordinary to make a good picture, an easy picture. But good pictures are created, not taken. It was my job to make a good
picture out of what was in front of me. To shift my
thinking and see pictures can be created no matter what the day looks
like, because each day has beautiful qualities to witness.
I had to look closer.
I had to look closer.
I set my camera lens to macro.
I noticed tiny flowers, details on the underside of leaves, the texture of tree bark and a little bee excited to find a flower. The cloudy day, with its diffused light, was perfect for taking close ups.
I noticed tiny flowers, details on the underside of leaves, the texture of tree bark and a little bee excited to find a flower. The cloudy day, with its diffused light, was perfect for taking close ups.
The trail is short. I
walked it several times, searching for little things I may have missed. The bikes came by often, one fast, one slow. We enjoyed our time on the trail.
What a beautiful day it was. :)
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a beautiful day!
Michelle
Here Here, a good lesson in slowing down and enjoying yourself. My favorite kind of walk where ever it is. Just Being I call it. Loved all the images and especially the underside of the leaf and the honeysuckle, reminded me of where I grew up in VA. Have a wonderful day Michelle.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with what you had. Gorgeous shots of the everyday. :)
ReplyDeleteMacro shots are my favorites...because they reveal the beauty that we sometimes bypass in a normal glance, or shot. Beautiful captures...I love the first one, with distance out of focus, and the side of the tree and lots of light behind the leaves. Happy you enjoyed your time with camera and family.
ReplyDeleteSaid often have the same delimma. I look for a great shot and miss the opportunity to see what is right in front of me. Great pictures of all the little things.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Michelle. :) Happy shooting, no matter the weather!
ReplyDeleteSo nice you had a beautiful day, Michelle !
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures ... and the wonderful details you've captured !
Have a nice week,
Sylvia
This was beautiful Michelle. And great photographs. We are always looking for the extraordinary, but we grow the most as creatives when we take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Well done.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, to compliment lovely words, and sentiment...
ReplyDeleteSlow down... Look for the things, which "hide", all around us.... We miss so much beauty, if we don't whisk away, our preconceived notions..
Gentle hugs,
Tessa
Oh, if only we take a closer look, we can see the lovely things all around us. And you saw much beauty on the trail even if it was only the leaves on the trees, the bark, and the tiny flowers. The bee picture is so pretty; it's hard to get a close-up of the bees, they buzz around too quickly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Birthday wishes, Michelle. It means so much to me. I went to the Zoo with my kids, which I will post tomorrow. Those silly animals.
~Sheri
These are beautiful Michelle. That first one.....(big puffy heart!) I do this exercise when I wish I'm in a more picturesque place. You start walking...set a timer for a minute or two and stop...You have to shoot something in that spot. It's such a fun thing to do because it really gets to "see" things differently. You'll be pleasantly surprised! xo
ReplyDeleteI recognize my thinking here, Michelle, first being disappointed by the lack of extraordinary, marvelous and breath-taking sights on my walk, then trying to look closer and with more attention at the ordinary. There is always something to discover! I especially like the little leaves growing at the side of the tree trunk… It's good that you enjoyed the trail despite all the imperfection. :)
ReplyDelete