My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Life isn’t something you leave home to do. It’s what you accomplish within the walls of your haven. That’s what allows you to greet the world with an open heart and reach out and embrace living in all its richness, variety, and staggering wonder.
Richard Wagamese, Embers
One way for me to greet the world with an open heart, then reach out and embrace living in all its richness, is setting aside time to put pen to paper in my journals. I find it a great way to begin the new day, as well as end the day, while staying in this present moment. Hope you had a good day and I hope you stagger in wonder tomorrow!!
Our friend, Earl, suggested in one of his comments on the posting of this image back on January 20th to maybe print and frame it. I rarely print my images. But after thinking about this I decided a canvas print would suffice for my needs. Plus, I have never made a canvas print of one of my images. So, I stepped out of my comfort zone and ordered this image and a second one on canvas.
In September I posted this image taken at the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. I chose this as the second image because it is darker and carries a different mood so I could see the difference between the two. Both canvas prints were made by Fine Art America. These are my first ever canvas prints. If I ever make more canvas prints I would like more details in the shadows and highlights. Earl, also mentioned using a floating frame which I really like but the cost was a bit more. Maybe next time.
“I don’t have a philosophy. I have a camera. I look into the camera and take pictures. My photographs are the tiniest part of what I see that could be photographed. They are fragments of endless possibilities.”
This is the side of a metal building someone has painted a mural on. It is massive in size and depicts a couple of hummingbirds that must be 10 feet tall. I am standing along the path leading to the bus stop and can’t step back any further. It was the abstract essence that called me when standing this close. Bright colors!
When shooting this image I needed to choose between exposing for the shadows or the highlights. I chose to expose for the highlights. By choosing to expose for the highlights, half the image is in the dark shadows, giving the image a feel of mystery. However, I was not expecting what I felt when seeing this image on my monitor. The shadows seemed to be the only thing I could focus on. It asks the questions: What is in the shadows?
Here’s one answer to that question. The arrow is pointing my heart towards the shadows. Within those shadows are life’s risks, the unknown, my doubts, fears, insecurities and my wounds.
For years I told myself, and believed, I was not good enough to be a photographer, or writer or whatever else I dreamed of pursuing. Always in those shadows were the desires and dreams to be more, a voice whispering in my soul.
We only venture into into the shadows when we listen to the inner voice, and with whatever courage and faith we have, discover what’s there. If you were to step into the shadows of this image you would find a recessed door to the back of a restaurant. For me the door symbolizes the opening to new opportunities, more doors.
Yes, walking into dark shadows can be frightening to me. It requires a risk and accepting all the many lessons to be learned. Lessons improve my craft, build confidence and encourage me to venture into even more shadows.
I just may have to go back and shoot this image to expose for the shadows. Could be another lesson.
We all have the dark, ignorant shadow inside us. I have worked endlessly to reveal it and heal it in me.
