The focus of this week’s Picture to Ponder is “Play” and the permission we do, or don’t, give ourselves to “freely” play. The photographs themselves are a result of my following through on taking a photo of whatever catches my eye.
This week’s feature is one rose, not artificial, in a glass vase on a bathroom counter. It was behind faucets, in a conference center Ladies’ room. At first glance, I was particularly intrigued with the colors on the edges of the petals.
With the convenience of my iPhone readily available I was able to take pictures in that small space. One rose, two views, and the FX Effects in the Photo Studio app for the iPhone are accountable for four of the five images below. I’ll speak to the “freedom” aspect of this experience in the Queries section.
Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos with Queries –
(“Explosion” Effect in Photo Studio)
At first glance, is everything usually a blur for you, orÂ
do you usually see things clearly?
What if you intensify the experience? Does it become richer?
Does the focus change, when you subtly shift your viewpoint or perspective?
What happens if you pay attention to one specific area, enlarging and intensifying it even further?
Self-Reflecting Queries –
I obviously shifted format this week with queries directly going with the individual photographs.
And, in the introduction today, I mentioned “freedom to play.” Certainly today’s images are almost all a result of playing. The ultimate irony, for me, is that for the first few years of Picture to Ponder, I was very rigid about my publishing the featured photos exactly as they were downloaded from the camera.
I refused to use photo-editing programs for anything other than resizing and perhaps cropping. Adjusting or manipulating anything else was a “no-no” insofar as my own work. And, I would often write about this, righteously acknowledging my sticking to my self-imposed, rigid rules.
Over the years, I started relaxing more, opening up to what I saw other far more experienced photographers, whom I respected, were doing. In fact, it was seeing on Facebook how Dewitt Jones, former National Geographic photographer, now keynote speaker, was using his iPhone camera and apps had me ultimately invest in my iPhone. I love it!
I now invite you to look into your life. Are there areas where you are being, or have been, particularly rigid? with yourself? with others? Are there any areas where you are being particularly righteous?
If “yes”, and so choose, how could you loosen up? Where might you bring in “play” or a “playful” attitude? What might be available for you if you did?
I invite you to test it out to find the answers.
As always, have fun, and please share in the COMMENTS below your experience with these photos and what comes up for you.
An Added Note: Thanks so much to Heidi Richard Mooney for identifying this as a Cezanne Rose.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Sheila,
PtP is extraordinary. I see what you did. I get what you wrote. Yet my gut reaction went even further. I appreciate the visual and the mental parts that you showed. And the feeling you created is even greater than the sum of the parts.
The first one has an ethereal feel to it. They all lift my spirits and make my heart flip with flutter feelings. Thank you so much for listening to your heart and training your eye.
Joyfully,
Marifran
How beautiful, Marifran. Thank you for touching my heart with your appreciation and letting me know you saw and felt so much here, in both the words and the images.
BE-YOU-Ta-FULL Sheila…Thanks ~Amer
Thanks so much, Amer. I love your BE-YOU-Ta-FULL! “Be You” is certainly what I’m all about!
I loved how the questions after each picture offered a different perspective from which to view the picture. Another great picture
Thanks for the feedback and acknowledgment, Gina-Dianne. Although I am open to the writing flow, not knowing specifically what I will be writing, when I start each issue, or post, I will keep in mind your input here. It is valuable to me.