This morning I was feeling sort of aimless, having gotten the kids out the door and finished my cuppa joe... I find that if I don't immediately get into my studio and get to work as soon as they leave, then I lose the motivation to do so. So this morning I watched a little news, (feeling such dread and helplessness over Rita) then tried to read my new (used) Eugene Peterson book, "Leap Over a Wall". I think I'm getting a cold and I really wanted to just take a nap but wouldn't allow myself the luxury... nothing was flowing. So of course, when I pulled up the "create post" screen for my blog - there was nothing to say.
That's when my brilliant idea came."Go take pictures."
Alrighty then. I grabbed my cameras and drove to Manito Park - my favorite getaway in my neighborhood.
There I wandered the gardens, taking shot after shot after shot. I love that I can compose a shot with my digital camera and then recompose it instantly to correct any problems.
I love putting on my photographer hat. It's then that I notice subtle nuances of light or contrast or shadow that normally escape me... I'm drawn to pattern and color, and I notice things like the fact that butterflies prefer yellow and purple
flowers over red and pink.I was treated to a gorgeous display of hue and intensity. From the palest greens to the brightest pinks. Brown, dry, crunchy seed pods stood next to delicate autumn crocus in the most feminine pastel purple. My toes got wet as I padded along freshly sprinkled grass paths (I still haven't put away the flip-flops yet) and the air was full of fragrance - pungent marigolds, sweet roses and wet dirt.
Because I really want to remember my own presence within my experiences, I had to
take a couple of self portraits. Usually I can hardly bear to look at them. Today I got one I liked - if only because of the intensity of the blue of my eyes... if only I'd had some lipstick on...
So that was my morning. I wandered with a purpose -
to capture the beauty of autumn, to stretch myself artistically and to get off the couch.
I think I succeeded.
Absolutely breathtaking. Thanks. My favorite is the stairs going into the garden(?)....my interpretation, of course....I am now singing in my head all the garden songs I know and asking God to meet with me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, Cathy. I like that I can finally put a (full) face to the co-conspirator of my cousin. Your park looks spectacular and I am jealous as I'll get out that we don't have anything like that here. We have the beach, but there really isn't much you can do with that after awhile (it's not like Pacific North West beaches).
ReplyDeleteGreat picture of you, Cath!! I love the photos. In my next life I'll be a photographer like you. Please don't look at my blog today. :-) By the way...your studio? I've seen that room. Just kidding. I think I'll start calling my office my studio also. It sounds like something exciting might happen there.
ReplyDeleteCorey - the path does indeed lead to a garden - I find myself being a huge fan of winding paths - I took many more "path" shots than I shared here. Give me a winding path with a stone bench and I'm a happy girl.
ReplyDeleteJenn - we have great parks here - it's one of my favorite things about living here - we can walk to three parks within 15 minutes... and they're just bee-yoo-tee-ful!
Min - I feel very artistic and can justify spending lots of time there when I call my "room" a studio. I decided to start calling it that when the kids would get confused when I called it my room and they didn't know if I was talking about my bedroom or my scrapbook room... studio is easier. Isn't it cool?
These photos are simply stunning. WOW! And your self portrait is beautiful. Catch lights! I am so impressed that you got them in your own self portrait. You are good!
ReplyDeleteVery nice pic of yourself!! I love the pink flowers pic. I so wish I could claim that one as my own. NOPE!
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