There were times when I was at a loss for words, when the beauty and stillness made speaking an interruption to the incredible peace. As if by arrangement voices were hushed. The sky and the sea were one. There was a sense of reverence.
The play of the ever changing light was astonishing - like an art installation that constantly delights the eyes - changing mood in subtle steps.
I'll let these images speak for me - their voices are more powerful than mine.
The stillness is broken only by the morning songs of the birds. The crisp air smells of spring. The countryside slows my city brain, letting me stop, breathe and admire and reminds me to get in touch with nature more often to bring that sense of peace.
The daily shoot today was to photograph your camera so I decided to play with reflections. We have two panes of glass; Montreal gets cold, so the reflection was more distorted - a bit cubist. I boosted the exposure and saturation.
What story does the camera tell? So often our memories are variations on the truth. We each boost the moments that were important to us so that over time two people's memories of the same event are very different. As we photograph, the camera freezes certain memories. And sometimes the photograph becomes the memory with new stories created each time we revisit the photograph. Photographs can surprise us; we may have focused on one thing, but in viewing the picture see something else. A photograph can bring clarity; it can reveal; it can distort; it can be manipulated. Much like this photograph.
Windows can give a glimpse into people's lives. Today's reflection rendered this one opaque, giving viewers a rearvew mirror. Different cultures have different customs regarding window covering. Some intentionally leave windows uncovered as a sign of welcome. I like to close my blinds as darkness falls, especially in winter; to hibernate in the coziness of home.
Daily shoot: Find a pool, puddle, or other body of still water and make a photo of a reflected subject today (none available so glass will have to do)
On my way home from a many stop shopping trip I noticed this home with its Christmas lights. It seemed like the epitome of peace. When I uploaded the photo I saw all the reflected splotches dancing off my car windshield. They seemed to match my bleary eyes. I've come down with a cold. Aside from an evening of dozing cuddled up with my cats (always an excellent remedy for whatever ails you) and regular doses of ColdFX, I refuse to give in. So with wads of tissues filling my purse, I'll go out and finish the holiday preparations.
This year is coming to an end and I thought I would stop and reflect on the experience.
There have been days when it has been difficult to take photographs - those days when the monotony of every day life doesn't seem to provide opportunity for finding something unique. Like others, I would go scrambling around my house looking for something I had not yet shared and a story to go with it.
I found myself often, in Walter Mitty style, drifting off into stories as my eyes focused on an interesting sight (sights I might have overlooked in the past). Yet sometimes it was only as I sat poised to write that the story actually made itself clear to me. I have enjoyed the writing which has somewhat surprised me.
As the year went on I felt more and more comfortable trying on different genres of writing, from fact to fiction to poetry. I don't think I would have gone public with some of this writing in the past. The encouragement of my audience and the sense of having an audience made me more willing to share and dare to write in new ways. I thank all of you who made that possible.
I have built relationships with new virtual friends and feel both through your responses to my photographs and work and through reading and viewing your posts I have grown to know you and treasure what you bring to my day, visual feasts, surprises. Through your eyes I have learned new ways of seeing. Through your words I have savoured your use of language to express ideas and feelings and have had much food for thought. I never quite expected to care so much about people I have never met.
My life has been made richer by opening my eyes to see the unique in the ordinary, to look beyond the surface and by making each moment an adventure in seeing. I have found stories I thought I had forgotten and learned from what I saw as my interest was piqued to look for more information to share.
I have been thinking of my participation in 2010. Here are my thoughts - I will continue to photograph, though I don't think I'll pressure myself to do a daily photo. If the day is such that nothing presents itself, there will be no more 11:30 pm treasure hunts through my house. I will try to write at least once a week. I cannot give up this experience or the network of incredible people this has led me to.
And for now - as the days get shorter, my camera will always be handy -25 days to go.
The bakery bills itself as artisinal. They make many specialty breads, some with ancient grains like spelt and kamut. Pans of desserts sit in the window to entice people in and away from the more impersonal supermarket reflected in the window. Speed shopping - that is what we often do - everything in one place. I love to patronize the smaller specialty stores, the bakeries, fruit stores, fish stores - but the realities of life often make me opt for expediency. Today was a slower shopping day.
A solid rain, yesterday, has washed my car. Winter is hard on cars here, with filth splashed up, sometimes as a fine mist, other times in a heavy spray. Cars begin to take on a uniform colour as the salt-laden spray coats the exteriors. Spring rain does its outdoor spring cleaning, washing away the winter grime. Streets and sidewalks are losing the layer of sand left after months of sand-spreading in attempts at keeping them accident free. In the spring sunshine, my car shone, reflecting the overhead view. Change of seasons. As spring progresses these branches will be laden with leaves, shading the car, keeping it cooler as summer approaches.
