Monday, November 08, 2010

Learning to See


Sunny Leaves
Originally uploaded by Iguanasan
Fall is here and winter is fast approaching and I have just realized that this has been the most phenomenal spring, summer, and fall for me in terms of making images. Arguably, I've created some of my best images ever in these past 8 months and I wonder if I can keep it up or will the soon to be dreary winter months send me backwards in my endeavors.

I believe I will continue and the reason why I think I will continue is that this year I am learning to see. No, I'm not talking about getting better glasses. What I'm talking about is learning to see the world around me for what's there waiting to be captured. Many, many times people walk by something and the reflected light shines on their retinas but they really don't see.

This image is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I took a short walk through the Old Burying Grounds in downtown Halifax on a cloudy afternoon this fall. As I was there the sun was peeking through the clouds here and there and my eyes picked up this leaf on the ground as it acted like a spotlight for anyone who saw it.

Most people would have walked by just another leaf on the ground. After taking thousands of shots I saw yet another image forming in my mind an immediately set to work to capture it. I had to lay on the ground in the cemetery - laying down in a cemetery can be dangerous, thank goodness, it's not an active cemetery - and wait for just the right break in the clouds to capture this one.

Learning to see has been my most valuable gift this year and I think it's something that is difficult to un-learn so I feel safe that this dreary winter may be enhanced by my new ability to see the images that I could not see last winter. Cheers and happy shooting! :)