Photography by nature is spiritual considering, it comes from the darkness to show the light.
Kevin Russo
I was told the other day by someone that they no longer look my sunrise images. However, I’ve come to know that the beginning of a new day offers a unique sunrise, there is no other like it, and if I’m present to it then it’s another opportunity to live one more day. So for me a sunrise is a sacred moment, where we move from darkness to light. In a Mary Oliver poem called The Swan she writes, Of course the path to heaven doesn’t lie in flat miles. It’s in the imagination with which you perceive this world, and the gestures with which you honor it. My presence and the photographs I capture is my act of receiving this morning’s predawn sky and is my gesture to honor the world. I will probably keep doing that to my last breath.
7 Comments
Faye White
Why would someone say such a thing? Seriously. I hope you told them their opinion matters very little.
Gorgeous sunrise, keep them coming!
Monte Stevens
I was not bothered by her comment because I can be the same way with other photographers or painters who create almost similar images. I also am aware that we are so inundated with images that our attention span is minimal and we quickly want to move on the next image. The thrust of my post is expressing my reason for being there and taking images. I enjoy them!
Tom Dills
Sheesh, I can only hope that person was joking, or perhaps envious, otherwise he/she sounds like a troubled soul. I suppose not everyone is open to life’s gifts or can appreciate the feeling of quiet contemplation that comes with experiencing the earth in the early morning. I feel bad for that person, and consider my vote in favor of keeping those sunrises coming!
Monte Stevens
For some of us the images are just not the same as being there. I don’t feel bad for them because for some their interest is in other things of nature such as gardening, oil paintings rather than watercolors, science fiction books or romance novels. I hold nothing against her and in fact liked her honesty. I now wish I hadn’t even mentioned it in my post. The focus of my post is the sacred moments of sunrises.
Tom Dills
Without the context it was too easy to misconstrue and overreact to her comment. Sorry about that.
Yes, depending on perspective there can be a certain amount of “sameness” to a sunrise every day. You and I (and others of course!) can see a photograph and imagine the moment for the photographer. For us it can be magical or spiritual, while for others it can be monotonous.
I hope you are having a good week!
Mark
“My presence and the photographs I capture is my act of receiving this morning’s predawn sky and is my gesture to honor the world.”
I really like the sentiment expressed in this statement Monte. And remarks such as you received are perhaps more indicative of the opportunity for the growth for the individual, to be more open to receiving.
Monte Stevens
Well said Mark! I make the assumption you also live by that idea of honoring the world we live in. Hope you have a wonderful day!