Who's Got the Moves??

    We recently moved, which influenced my decision to produce this piece.  It has been an overwhelming job to relocate!  We have lived here a few weeks, yet still can't find some things, and have boxes to unpack and possessions to rearrange.

    While a college student, I took a course: Human Geography.  The theme of the class was that people move for two reasons: 1 To go to a better place, such as those who traveled west in search of gold in California. Or  2  To get away from a bad place, such as the immigrants who came from Ireland during the potato famine.  Today, we see the horrible situation in Ukraine with  citizens fleeing towns and homes they love because they are escaping death and destruction.  My husband and I came to our new place because it provides greater security. He has severe disabilities, and our new environment makes life easier for both of us.

    I no longer have as much housekeeping to do, and even though we willingly came, part of me is sad.  This move has made a huge difference in our lives!

    I think there are more photos being produced  these days than at any prior time.  I suspect many folks are recording important happenings--special occasions, a beautiful sunset, or gardens in bloom.  Others may have a more artistic approach, such as those who are good at abstracts. Money can be made if the photographer is talented and good at marketing.  How many folks go click, click, click simply because it is fun?

     A person who does a lot of picture taking does so in order to make an impression on the viewer.  I want the people who look at my photos to feel something, to be moved by my work, to think differently after looking at the photos than they may have, prior to viewing them.  The simplest developments can have a big impact.

    Did you know that movement is a primary ability of living things?  We know animals and humans are able to move. 

Amusement parks offer exciting thrills for those seeking such experiences.

When we sit, do we sit still?  We cross ankles and legs, tap our feet or fingers, fold arms, twist hair, scratch or rub hands.  The furniture companies are well aware of this.

Hence the high sales for rocking chairs and recliners.  My husband has a lift chair which gives him a jump start to get on his feet.

    There are many things around us that move, but which we do not usually think of as doing so. For example: do plants move?  They are rooted in place, no?  In deed, they are not stationary!  Anyone who has had to pay to replace sidewalk put askew by tree roots are aware of this. 

 

 Do you see how plants bend toward light?

Or unfurl leaves to absorb the sunshine?  

    Some surprisingly avoid   obstacles  that may block their   growth.

All  life needs water. 

It is a key component for life on any planet. 

Water surely moves. 

It can be relaxing, peaceful, refreshing, cooling, or a tempest 

of destruction! 

 

Surely rocks don't move! Or do they?  If you are familiar with the Myth of Sisyphus you know of his futile work, even when he COULD move a rock. That rock moved with assistance from a person, but there are rocks that are put in motion other ways. Have you heard of a landslide?  How much destruction is caused by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? 

Driving down some highways, you may see the yellow signs warning drivers to be on the lookout for falling rocks.

Engineers are aware that buildings move. If sky scrapers did not have some "give" to them, they'd never withstand the high winds or subtle movement of the ground beneath them.

    Photographers? When we push the shutter, we want the result to influence the person who takes the time to look at it.

    What moves you?  Are you motivated by fear? These days of Covid, war and economic challenges are reasons to be afraid.  How does that affect our thinking and behavior?

    What do you think about when you see a new born, be it human or animal?  Can you find beauty every day, even in some small way?  Photography is an instrument which facilitates that.  It helps us see the world differently, to reframe our thinking.  Perhaps it helps us to be less fearful and more focused on good.

Get those pictures out there. Get moving! and move others by your work.

Frozen in Time

In the neighborhood, this year, we are having winter. And I DO MEAN winter!!  Previous years have been exceptionally mild, with minimal quantities of snow.  This year,  we had a 10-inch snowfall and lately the temperature struggles to get above freezing.  I was able to capture this picture one morning, and the ice cycles encased the greenery like it was trying to preserve it for all time! 

Our city once had a thriving glass industry.  One can visit the museum and see glassware being made. Most of it is blown glass that requires a lot of hands-on work and skill.  Paperweights are on view and available for purchase.  The glass surrounds an object, such as a flower or butterfly making them look like they are living inside of the clear glass orb.   The pine needles in the picture remind of just that kind of thing.

Why do most people take photos?  People who developed film used to say they could predict the age of a child by the number or pictures they were producing. The younger the child, the more momentous moments were recorded. 

 I have a granddaughter and can't seem to take enough shots of her.  She is already 14 months old, and has changed so much since birth!  Her parents are ever at the ready with those cell phones so as not to miss the exciting things she does, the new things she does, and how adorable she is. (I'm not too biased, am I?)     

 Think about other events when a lot of pictures are usually taken.  Weddings, graduations, parties, vacations.  I know some people have even taken pictures at  funerals.   

This picture is of our first beagle, Hershey, much loved, sorely missed, and gone a while, but her paw prints remain in our hearts. I am sad and miss her, but when I look at the images of her, I smile. As I reviewed photos to include this time, I noticed how many of my family and friends have passed away. I have a snapshot of my great grandmother, even though I never met her.  I am so glad that I have photos of loved ones, now gone. Most of the time, they bring good memories to mind.

 Some folks are busy with their cameras when they spot wildlife, or a vivid sunset.  We want to capture the minute to help our memories, and perhaps to relive it.  

I have a dear friend who  tells me, "That was a memory maker."  She has a good point.  The new shirt gets worn out, the candy is gone, the bouquet fades, the money seems to evaporate. True, our memories get clouded, but we are far more likely to recall happenings if they are documented with graphics.  Why is the cliche, "a picture is worth a thousand words," so true? 

 A magazine article written about gift suggestions recommended giving someone an experience rather than "a thing."  We build memories together.  We once took our son and daughter-in-love on a cruise. Unfortunately, she was sick much of the time, but we had many happy, and memorable moments.

What would the news media be without photography?   It is possible to watch history being made,  in real time.  Documentation is invaluable in some situations.  We survey the damage after the storm and shoot for our records, to demonstrate the impact of the tragedy.

 Can you imagine how our faith might be impacted if there were portraits of Jesus? or a video of Moses on Mt. Siani.  Why have so many paintings and movies been created depicting religious themes?  

How have body cams and cell phones changed crime investigations?

Working with a camera can be artistic as some in our photo club share unusual views, colors, shapes, textures.....

I have had exquisite experiences which I wished would never end. The best I can do is to return to the venue, although places often do not impress us like they do on that initial visit.  But I can review the images captured for all time, and remember.

What the Lord says:

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Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.  See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you. Isaiah 45:15-16