Today I took Jaxon to the local dog park for a play date.  His play date was an Australian Sheppard named Zoey.  She is in his training class and they get along quite well.  Zoey likes to run and catch her Frisbee.  Jaxon likes to run and catch Zoey.  It worked well to tire him out.  With Jaxon primed for a rest, I could wander away from the homestead for a couple of hours.

I took a drive to a wildlife preserve armed with a camera.  I have been learning more about photography and find it fascinating.  At first, I considered it another experiment.  What I am learning is that it is more like a science project mixed with art class. 

Advanced science and art, for sure!

I applaud the photographers of the world, and admire their work.  I respect their efforts even more now that I have committed to keeping my finger off of the “auto program” setting.

During my walk today, I wanted to shoot some landscape photos and test the boundaries of the camera.  I found myself at a bit of a loss.  There was plenty to see, as the wildlife area is rich with natural beauty.  There are meadows, bogs and marshes, ponds, and dark, wooded areas with hemlocks and ferns.  I picked one trail to explore, feeling it had a variety of options. 

I was not disappointed. 

I find that during most of my days I learn something.  Today, not only did I learn about the capabilities of the camera…

I learned more about me.

I struggled with finding something in the vast open landscape that I felt was photo-worthy.  I had a hard time taking it all in.  I was walking the trail, looking at the vastness of it, trying to find my picture. 

Then I saw a bee land on some goldenrod.  I stood there for a few minutes, trying to find him in just the right position, get focused, and capture the image.

I started walking again, and wandered into a stand of hemlock trees.  As I looked up, down, and around, I noticed how big the trees were.  Old trees.  There were dead trees lying on the forest floor.  I saw a white caterpillar crawling along a moss-covered log.  I stopped, knelt down, and went to work trying to take a portrait of that wee creature.

The rest of my walk continued with the same pattern.  I found myself gravitating towards the small details rather than the bigger picture. 

Details.

I learned that the details interested me on the walk today.  I saw small veins on single leaves.  I saw mushrooms sprouting up from the decaying wood.  I looked into holes in trees created by woodpeckers. 

When I focused on the details, my mind was at rest, captured by the wonder of that very moment… that image.

After the walk, I spent sometime pondering my images, reviewing them with my photo coach, aka my “Friend in Low Places.”  He too is a detail person.  I shared with him the shots that were disappointing, and worked on figuring out the science of how to improve them.

Details.

The walk today was inexpensive therapy.  My mind is less busy, and I am feeling peaceful.  Focusing on those details allowed me to engage my brain in that small corner of the world and immerse myself there. 

I think Jaxon and I will both sleep well tonight!