Day Sixty; Footnotes on Documenting the Moment

That’s one good thing about the creative type, we are usually very good about documenting things in some form or fashion. I’ve always said that I have no—well, very few– secrets. If I tell it, then no one could ever blackmail me. I have made my mistakes, but I own up to them. There is also the fact I don’t do illegal. If I were to break the law and get arrested, I would look like the lion at the circus, pacing back and forth and back and forth and..well, you get the idea. So, to keep my freedom to hike and explore, I don’t do illegal. I may do stupid, just not illegal.

Back when I was still doing the editorial columns for the local newspaper, I did a weekly column on my cancer battle.  When my husband died, people on social media were right there with me as I struggled to get his earthly body home from out of state where he died. Then I lost my job and everyone got to follow along with how I handled that. One adventure and journey are another.

Since I have been finding so many incredible folks to read and follow here in the blogosphere, I have noticed that many are sharing their various journeys. I applaud their strength and ability to share. Some of the journeys have been and are difficult and painful. We struggle with very real battles. I think though, that we find strength, comfort and empowerment in the numbers of supporters we find.

 I was in a conversation early about photography. I am at best an amateur even as I work toward being better. Still, I seek to capture a photographic subject in the ways that makes me feel something when I look at the photo. They may very well be a documentary, but they are more.

I have seen many black and white shots by several different photographers and the stark beauty in some of them has taken my breath. I have read poetry shared, some of the words making me think, others making me feel. When the words of a poet brings about an emotional response over the intellectual one, I remember that one longer. But that’s me.I have noticed, there are highly intelligent folks on the blog site. The information I have seen shared so far has already taught me much. I have learned, I have been encouraged, and I have been inspired.

But back to the conversation on photography. In the discussion, I had made a comment on photographing the emerging plant life, but because it kept looking like rain, I had refrained from going out. I also mentioned how I knew the cloud cover would produce more even lighting. In the end, I grabbed the camera, pulled my jacket on and out the back door I went. The difficulty in some of these plants, is that they are very low to the ground. The very wet, from all the rains ground.  If I want- and I did- a level shot, that meant getting down on the ground, at least on one knee. Which I did.

I walked all the way around the house, attempting to capture what I found as I went. When I got around to the far side of the yard, I took more of the daffodil. Making my way back around the house I went into where my protected from Molly flower area is. Molly eats plants, seems she forgets she not an herbivore.

By the time I got back in the house I was shivering from the cold of the dampness outside. but, I think I got a few decent captures.What about you? What do you love to document and how do you do it best?

Not sure what this is, but a section of my yard is covered with it.

I’m pretty sure I know what flower will come from this but not positive.

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