I was looking down working on a set of ice pond abstracts trying to figure out how to approach this subject with my camera. I was up early, the morning light was good and it wasn’t very cold. I searched for the design and compositional elements featuring close up conceptual images to come to me.
Nothing here, nothing there, I kept on walking around a five acre puddle laden parking lot. Head down, I scanned a dozen sheets of thin cracked ice. I felt frustrated. There had to be something worthwhile here.
Where was that Zen moment I needed? I know from experience if I am open, images will show themselves and allow my camera to capture their essence. Don’t rush this I thought. Breathe. Enjoy the space. The day is good.
I changed to a macro lens and did another turn around the lot looking deeper. Finally, some air bubbles beneath a delicate slip of ice caught my eye and while down on my knees I made a few exposures. A glance to the left and more possibilities appeared. Circles and lines with slight gradients of grey blue color began to stand out.
OK, this is better I thought. Keep up the observation.
Suddenly a piercing cry from the sky drew my attention. Looking up I saw two bald eagles. www.birdweb.org . They danced in the bright blue Montana sky playing tag on the wind. Circling each other, one flipped over and they locked talons, free falling several feet before they leveled off and continued their course south toward the Spanish Peaks and the Madison mountain range across the valley.
I stood with an adrenalin rush awed by the wild sight I had just witnessed. I felt humbled by the rare event. It had me mesmerized with a broad grin until they flew off in the distance their white heads and tails disappearing, blending into the snowcapped peaks on the horizon.
What an honor!
These few momentous seconds gave me my nature connection. In an instant I felt centered. The spirits had touched me.
Returning to my down to earth visual task of pond ice photographs the invigorating experience refocused my awareness. New images began to flow. Now, those air bubble circles, icy streaks and muddy textures joined in my viewfinder all on their own. I became the conduit that tripped the shutter.
A successful morning effort added several new images to my nature abstract collection. I left the parking lot feeling high.
Two days later I was contacted by an online gallery with an invitation to join their selective artist’s family, www.discoveredartists.com. They reviewed work from my web site and asked me to submit nature abstracts to market and feature on their site. My reward was complete.
The positive effects of being open and making an effort to pursue my art continues to drive my creativity and strengthen my beliefs.
Related posts of interest:
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/winter-hunt-on-peach-street/
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/no-fall-color-only-seed-pods-to-photograph/
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/seeing-with-a-beginners-mind/
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/water-speaking-water/
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/winter-windows/
https://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/river-shaman/
Photographs used in this post are copyrighted by Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography, 2010, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited without the written permission of Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography. My image catalog can be viewed at http://www.rangeofvisionphotos.com. You can contact me through this blog or through email at: wayne@rangeofvisionphotos.com
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