guided by the light – new growth on the blue spruce still in my sunroom – capturing the progress toward Spring on camera
Today I’m taking a little liberty with the term, “Winter Storm Watch”……….
Ok, so you may not find this as amazing as I do, but just as I snapped the photo of the new chive shoots on my kitchen windowsill last week, today I got another actual photo of the “process” of Spring arriving. I think this is magic, ok? And so, I’m in love with my camera and intrigued with the concept of “the brain lens”……..
Yesterday I yammered on about applying to the Master’s in Food Studies/Culture program at NYU. But, perhaps I should go to photography school instead/in addition? Often I find myself wondering what I am actually really best suited to, as I’m spending a lot of my so-called “mid-life” time trying to better listen to my inner self and energy impulses. Sometimes it’s to run into the kitchen and bake a cake, sometimes it’s to shoot pictures of great beauty (well in my eyes, anyway) – which send happiness impulses to my brain. (if you read my post yesterday you’ll know I’m trying to learn how to engage in happiness impulses).
When I consider and work on writing books, which I do a lot, I find myself more naturally suited to composing shorter pieces, my span of attention being firmly caught in adolescent-stage. I go from one subject and task to another multitudes of times during my days. Sometimes I soothe myself by thinking this is just multi-tasking, yet I know I am lacking in the stay-on-task-discipline department. For instance, yesterday during the snowstorm, I decided to watch the movie, Capote, because I had never seen it before and I wanted to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning performance. This is when the idea of not having much self-discipline came into my head (not that it hasn’t before). As I watched Capote type away writing “In Cold Blood”, it occurred to me that if I had to work on a typewriter and paper and edit and edit a million times like he did, I wouldn’t have done anything. That level of discipline required would have been enough to deter me……… Anyway…..
Today, I’m already trying to accomplish some things. But, every time I look out the window I have the urge to pick up my camera and run around capturing images as they “click” in my brain before I actually take them. So, I find myself asking myself, “is there such a thing as a brain lens?” Does your brain work in images created there before one actually connects with them? Ok, so you don’t think about these things, but I do….. I don’t know why but I feel this all the time when I get the impulse to take a picture.
When thinking about going to photography school, I often go into reverse – because I don’t want to think that I’d be instructed on how to take a picture effectively – because I associate this with the loss of the strong impulse behind the actual doing of it. This is a very strong energy that I get. Maybe all photographers get this and I just don’t know it. I assume this must be true, but then again, I know there are some photographers that go through a great deal of preparation and forethought when taking pictures. I am more attuned to the impulse-picture-taking thing.
The beauty outside on days such as this is alluring, isn’t it? While I “b” and moan on an ongoing basis about Winter, days like yesterday and today do give me much inspiration. (there’s that word again). So, as much as I struggle to say this, there actually IS something redeeming about this time of year…….. and I’m actually going to acknowledge it. I find it extremely interesting (hate that word) how much visuals stimulate my brain – especially natural beauty and the things which God creates outside on every single day. It’s really amazing and reaffirming to me all the time. Of course, I get similar feelings when I take pics of foods too – like something that magically has risen beautifully in the oven, but you already know that.
Today, I got into the mode quickly and easily. Here are a few shots from yesterday and early this morning that I thought were beautiful:
yesterday, during the snow and subtle sky changes:
Red Barn in Snow: (added later)
today:
colors and shadows:
Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I thought you’d might enjoy these. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? At least, I’ve got some of today down on paper. I am so thankful for my beautiful back yard!
Once again, isn’t God the most amazing artist?