Today’s photographs focus on light and shadows, our interpretations of them and the differences, if any, a slight shift in perspective makes. The only story behind these is that the photographs were the ones that popped out, requesting being featured today. Should you need more, I invite you to make up a story about them up and share on the blog, if you wish.
On a recent walk in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, following my “rule” of photographing anything that catches the eye, I used my iPhone camera to capture this dead frond dropped from a palm tree.
Then I zoomed in on it with the camera, settling on two very slightly different, views.
Though only a shift up of a few inches, less than a foot, the feeling emanating from each differs. [click to continue…]
On the run, so a quick message this week. I was leaving Wakodahatchee Wetlands at dusk, recently, and from the distance noticed an interesting image in the rear window of the guard’s jeep parked in the lot. Coming closer, I saw it was a reflection of the outside environment rather than something in the jeep itself. When I noticed the imagery in motion as I walked, I grabbed my iPhone camera to video it. Thus, today’s photos.
Switching conversations for a moment, this is the same parking lot from which I photographed the “Caged Sunset” a couple of years ago. Those photos and queries make up one of the featured essays in the current issue of Buddha Chick Life. Included amongst the 11 other postings is a link for a podcast by SARK and a section on THE POWER OF SILENCE from Sara Avant Stover’s Book, The Way of the Happy Women: Living the Best Year of Your Life. There is also the opportunity to be the winner of a giveaway for the book. See Buddha Chick Life for it all.
The top photo is obviously reflections in the window of the side front. Though that’s not what grabbed my attention, it’s a more interesting photo than those I got on my camera of the rear window.
The lower photo is a screen shot of the first view in the video. Looking at the side rear window you can see the above-noted image.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today I invite you to look around you and find an object or scene that seems static. Then move passed it and around it if you can. Notice what shifts. Lights? Shadows? Shapes? Are you bringing new eyes to it?
Then, is there a situation in your life where you feel stuck? If so, I invite to look at that also, again, from different angles.
Some of the motion in the window image above came from its reflecting the leaves moving to the whispers of the wind as I stood still. Other movement in the “scene” was a result of the shifting of my camera and my body.
Back to your situation – Can you see any spaces for movement, perhaps from outside of it and you?
As always, have fun, and please share in the COMMENTS below what comes up for you.
Wild irises became the focus for my camera and me this past week. I woke last Friday remembering that this must be wild iris time at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. They bloom from the last week or two in February through mid-March.
Last year I totally missed them, even though I must have walked right past them several times. I thus set the time to go Wakodahatchee walking at the end of the day with the specific intention of looking for the irises. (See below today’s Queries for links to prior year posts and photos.)
Today’s Photos -
Below is the original photo from which the “bird” in a mailing earlier this week was taken. I’m including others with which I’ve also had fun this week.
I was still reeling from the wisdom and generosity of sharing that Dewitt Jones treated us all to in my interview with him on Tuesday night when really moving responses started coming in.
Long-time subscriber, and now dear friend, Linda Gipson wrote a beautiful tribute to the powerful response she had to him. I was so moved, I called and asked if I could use her as “guest writer” for today’s issue. I said I would feature one or two of her most favorite sunset photos today, as a tribute to her. Were I to eliminate anything she wrote, I would be depriving you, so I will start here and complete on the blog.
Linda Braun Gipson, a Registered Massage Therapist, in Houston, Texas wrote [my bolding]:
“The first thing Dewitt Jones said that grabbed me was that he tries to approach each subject with “no agenda”. This is exactly what I tell prospective clients when they ask what kind of massage I do. Many are looking for a simple answer, like “Swedish”, which they think tells them something… it doesn’t. Some people get it… most don’t. But I got it last night… this guy speaks my language!
When he went on to discuss “the connection” being the most important aspect of photography… he had me wrapped up and sold. Again, I’ve always told my students that first, you connect with the body. [For full post - Today's Photos and Queries and more of what Linda wrote - [click to continue…]
Today’s issue of Picture to Ponder brings my wishes for us all to have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, with the riches of love and joy and fulfillment of whatever intentions you may be setting for 2011.
There is also a mixture of seemingly disparate photos and a photo/drawing. Not exactly sure why these choices, I decided to simply go with what showed up for me as I prepared this issue.
These two garlic segments evidently have some special meaning for me. I think this is the third time I am featuring them in Picture to Ponder. Perhaps there is meaning for one of more of you. (If you missed the earlier posts you can catch them by scrolling down the page that comes up for “Garlic” in the search here on this blog)
For the next 5 photos and the Self-Reflecting Queries click on [click to continue…]
Responding to comments Marifran Korb made on my last post, I thought I’d post the videos. The one above mirrors the first photo in the latter post. The one below is from further back.
Interestingly, the first time I responded to the scenes, the water motion had me feel quite calm and relaxed and wishing I had my camera. The second time, when I returned, I had a similar response. I intentionally videoed zooming in and again further back, intending that I would have a couple of videos I could use for meditation and relaxation. [click to continue…]
If you have been following Picture to Ponder for a while, you’ve undoubtedly realized that I consider my camera as one of my best friends. It and/or its predecessors have joined me and my family in celebrations and on trips;
1- it has shared in the joys and some of the sorrows in my life;
2- over a period of many years our similar yet different views with our cameras opened some exciting conversations with my beloved husband Sam and me;
3-and, many times its served as a form of meditation AND definitely a stress-reliever.
I make it a practice to ALWAYS have a camera with me and as you know, I encourage you to do the same as you develop the practice of photographing ANYTHING that catches your eye.
Other’s cameras and mine also serve as conversation openers, thus connectors, when out among other people. Today, as I was walking on the boardwalk at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, I pointed out the reflections below to a woman who had paused to ask what I was photographing.
Through and From The Lens -Transforming the “I Can’t”s / “You Can’t”s to “I Can”s -
Using Your Camera to assist you in making the difference
Sheila Reflected Twice in a Camera lens
I have just relaunched my Through and From the Lens Photo / Seeing course with the first session in January. The name does not make sense to most people, so why would I use it? Mainly because I have yet to come up with another name that describes the course.
It is in the looking “through” the lens of, in this case, the camera and seeing what comes “from” it that gives us a new understanding of happenings in our lives. For the most part how we see and interpret what’s going on comes from past-based, often limiting, conversations. Many of them exist in our head, often running the decisions we make, or, perhaps more importantly, don’t make. [click to continue…]
With this issue of Picture to Ponder, I wish Happy Holidays to those who still have celebrations up coming.
I would expect you, like I, have a long to-do list and may also be inundated with the wide range of emails offering holiday and year-end specials. I am thus being VERY BRIEF.
Yesterday I was working on the bonus gift I’m preparing for Allison Maslin’s BLAST OFF book launch in January. It’s a REFLECTIONS PDF slide show with Queries from Picture to Ponder.
One photo I’ve included is below, that of reeds reflecting sunlight in Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It popped out at me when I was selecting photos for the bonus and again today.
To me, in addition to the light, it’s also exuding warmth. So, I offer it to you now, wishing you light and warmth, wherever you are, during this season.
Should it be a challenging time for you, I invite you to pause, close your eyes and do some deep breathing.
Self Reflecting Queries -
Where in your life is there light and warmth? Who are the people past and present who have contributed that to you? Is there a way for you to express your gratitude?
Do remember to acknowledge yourself. In the gratitude there is light.
Earlier this week, when I put together the mailing on Nature Art Gifts, I stated that I would follow up with the story on ease and synchronicity. It’s really a simple story. Yet the “weight” of writing “the right thing,” and the other “stories” I’ve been creating during this week, have resulted in a huge delay. I am now sending this issue of Picture to Ponder out now, simply because I said I would.
First story – Once I decided to create the one-stop-shopping page, I needed a header with an expressive picture. I went to the folder that has the almost 1,500 plus photos used in Picture to Ponder during the past five years and the Feral Parrot, featured 3 1/2 years ago, seemed to open itself out of nowhere. He seemed to be representing inquiry and appreciation. So I went with the photo, extending the background to fill the desired space for the banner.
Next, I decide I wanted to use a different font and I clicked on the first one that caught my eye. Never used by me before, it was perfect!
The bottom line – a simple story of what can happen when we let go of needing to know how something is going to look.
Further “stories” that occupied my week revolved in large part around my 70th birthday being on Thursday. I had been making the number mean, I am “old” despite my looking younger and feeling a lot younger than my internal, past-based conversations of what “70″ is/would be.
Then because I was open, as a result of the morning walk discussed below, I could hear who I am reflected by coach Sue Stebbins in a teleclass call yesterday. I was able to accept and start owning that my experience, creativity and youthfulness are all strengths with which I can position myself.
Also, underlying my earlier expectations of what my day was going to be like was the fact that Sam is no longer here to celebrate this milestone. I was certain I was going to be “tearing-up” throughout the day. When I woke up in the morning, I decided a shift in routine might help; so I went a morning walk at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Today’s Photos constitute the story of the walk that did result in a dramatic energy shift, setting up a great celebratory day.
Shortly into my walk at Wakodahatchee, I noticed remnants of raindrops hanging down from the boardwalk railing. “Oh, my tears,” thought I. So I pulled the camera out of my bag and started photographing.
Further along my walk it started drizzling and the camera went back into the bag. Once under a covered area on the boardwalk I got under my umbrella, took the camera out and used the movie setting to record the “tears” creating ripples in the water. Listen closely and you can hear the sounds of birds.
It stopped raining and I continued my walk, going right passed something that caught my eye on one of the boards underneath. Then I heard my inner voice, “Stop. Go back. Whenever something catches their eyes, you teach people to pause and photograph it.” So the camera came out again and I turned around.
I took several photos along the board, getting particularly excited with the one above that looks like a soaring bird with neck stuck way out.
Going to the other side of the plank, the same image now looks like a snake coming at me. Or, perhaps it’s a turtle swimming toward us.
Yesterday’s photographing ended with my pointing out the images in the wood knots to a passing couple. They immediately saw what I saw and more and proceeded to tell me that there is a “lion” that can’t me missed on the boardwalk in a section of Green Cay Wetlands. I was assured that it is quite obvious.
Though I’ve walked at Green Cay countless times, I have not seen the lion. It’s now on my list to seek out, once the weather clears.
I am grateful that I live so close to these wonderful Nature walks and in the weather to enjoy them year round. I am also grateful to my family and friends. Having set it up with my walk to be such, it turned out to be a great day of celebrating going into my 8th decade!!
Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today’s issue is really a demonstration of “limiting beliefs” and choices that can be made to stay in negative spaces or create shifts beyond.
As you know, I use my camera and encourage you to do the same. If you have not seen, or read it for a while, you can find “7 Tips for Getting Out of a Funk” on eZine Articles.
I invite you to find, and make note of, the tools you use to get unstuck. Are there situations now around which you are “spinning” negative stories? Things you are reluctant to do? Or face? If so, I invite you to find the actions that will create shifts for you.
Holidays are very difficult for many of us. Should you be in that situation, I wish you an easy, happy way to make a change in that state for you.
As always, have fun with this. Stories can be lots of fun, especially when we create happy endings.
The “bird” coming in for a landing and more wild irises 
Linda Braun Gipson, a Registered Massage Therapist, in Houston, Texas wrote [my bolding]:
