"Look
for beauty where it is not supposed to be found."
- Claes Oldenburg
- Claes Oldenburg
"Unexpected
intrusions of beauty. This is what life
is."
- Saul Bellow
- Saul Bellow
I missed it.
Driving down the gravel drive my heart sank.
The sunflowers were finished...kaput...their heads hanging low. Only a few small sunflowers, the 'second wave' I was told, were sparsely popping up here and there. Definitely not the field of yellow I was expecting.
The sunflowers were finished...kaput...their heads hanging low. Only a few small sunflowers, the 'second wave' I was told, were sparsely popping up here and there. Definitely not the field of yellow I was expecting.
The same field bloomed later last year, in the beginning of
October, and were tall with an abundance of large bright sunflowers. This year the field's sunflowers bloomed early and their stalks were short, only about chest
high.
Spotting a few small sunflowers in the distance made it
clear which way I wanted to walk, the middle of the field. The short sunflower stalks made it easier to follow the
neatly planted rows to my destination, their heavy heads hitting my hips as I
passed.
After taking a few pictures, I looked around. I was so focused on getting a sunflower
picture I didn't notice all the critters in the field with me.
The grasshoppers were holding their breath hoping I would
pass without seeing them...they were wrong.
I interrupted a bee while he was working, he buzzed angrily
at me then went back to his business.
There were plenty of other flying and crawling critters too. I kept my eye out for slithering critters...but thankfully
never saw any.
The sunflower field was way past its prime, but the field
was still alive and humming with activity...and beauty. It was just up to me not to miss it.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a great day!
Michelle
Isn't this so true? That I think is the main reason I photograph is to see things I might have missed but I know I still miss a lot. Also one of the reasons I love macro I almost jump with joy when I load my images into my computer and see something I hadn't noticed when I took the image. Love all the yellow and I can see the grasshopper holding his breath. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a way of noticing and focusing in on the small details of your picture. I've read that photographers can find a picture anywhere if they look hard enough. I use the excuse that I've photographed the same thing for years. But you make me see that there are details that I need to look out for.
ReplyDeleteJust think if the field had been full of flowers you would have probably missed those beautiful creatures....I love your attitude of seeing the beautiful even if it's not what you thought it would be in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe trip was definitely not wasted, you just found unexpected things. Everything was earlier and less this year, except the hydrangeas here.
ReplyDeleteYou may have missed a huge field of yellow flowers, but what you did see and capture is amazing. I love the lightness of your photos!
ReplyDeleteGlad you noticed those critters, Michelle, you've captured the details so nicely !
ReplyDeleteReally love the one with the sunflower and the angry bee ! :-)
Have a great weekend,
Sylvia
And that's life isn't it? Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees as my mother liked to say. I'm glad you found and appreciated the gifts that were there. Your photos show a magical world within a world.
ReplyDeleteIt's all in attitude Michelle...You got some great shots out of this and I don't think you missed anything!
ReplyDelete