I posted this image in a discussion about paying attention to detail, and one of the participants said that he had wondered why I posted this yellow flower… until he noticed the insect blending in so well. Now every time I look at this picture, I think of that.
There are reasons every day why paying better attention to things is helpful, and photography is one way I use to train myself to do just that. I learn a lot from looking at the pictures of others, and also by simply listening to people. What are they telling me that I can learn from? We think a lot about teachable moments, but lately I have been more interested in “learnable” moments. Small things that can turn into a real stepping stone if I let them.
With this in mind I took a few hours yesterday to walk around with a good lens and take pictures of things I often overlook. Songbirds, insects, hard-to-find and hard-to-photograph objects that require time and patience. I got a few decent shots and many not so good ones, and in the end there was one image that summarizes how much more I have to learn.
I loved this huge root in the water, the tree growing out of it, the reeds in front of it… and only when I looked at the picture on my computer screen did I notice the bright red vermilion flycatcher sitting on the top left stalk.
More to learn, which means that I have a good reason to set aside another afternoon to find things to photograph. Something to look forward to 🙂
Orley's Travels 