Finding the beauty in ordinary things
When did I become a flower lady? Flowers and weeds seem to have replaced the rust and abandoned building photography I’d been so excited about just a couple of summers ago. But, with so much beauty all around me, I can’t help but stop and capture it when I’m out on my photo walks.
These little suckers won’t sit still long enough to get a decent photo! Even when they are perched on a petal, it’s still really difficult to get a good photo. When I tried to get closer, they were off before my camera even had a chance to focus. Any suggestions on how to conquer the bees?
And yes, I realize it isn’t Monday, but yesterday was a holiday. So, today feels like a Monday. Kind of.
My request for a macro lens was granted, if only for a few days thanks to Jen, of Jen Martin Studios (go check out her website, she’s really good!!), who saw my blog post.
I learned that macro photography requires a steady hand, great lighting, and quick shutter speed. My objective was to get more of the detail on the flower I posted last week. However, since it seems to be really windy here all of the time, it was hard to get a shot that didn’t turn out blurry. This one was my best attempt.
This is as close to the flower as I could get with my 18-200 mm before it refused to focus. So, I guess I now save my pennies and get a good macro lens. And a flash. The list goes on. It’s times like this I get a little upset about the money spent on my return trip to Ireland, but then I have to shake it off. All things in time…Patience has never been a virtue of mine.
I need a calm blue ocean. I need to find a quiet place where the “function of x” is irrelevant and algebra is frowned upon. Surely that Utopia exists?
Driving home last night, I tried to find the silver lining in actually (gasp) having to study. I remember last year how I spent hours and hours capturing ordinary, even ugly things with my camera in an attempt to find their beauty. As I browsed through old photos after class, I re-discovered this flower growing from a cracked foundation. I had a moment of peace as I realized, beauty can grow out of ugly things.
Math is an ugly, cracked foundation in my brain. I didn’t pay attention when I was younger and didn’t have the best teachers, and as a result I never nailed the basics. But, out of seemingly nothing, I’m sure something incredible can blossom as new neural connections form. I’m stretching a little here, but maybe as I look for what’s beautiful in the formulas and patterns, it will look less ugly to me.
Jolene's Life in Focus 