When you go walking about around town or in your local park what do you see? Do you see things like the people around you, children playing, or the flowers in bloom? Or maybe like some out there it maybe we just want to get from Point A to Point B. Sometimes it is necessary to stay focused on the activity at hand, but I think that there are also some out there that use this as an excuse, to not see what is going on around them. So they don't have to get involved or maybe even care.
For me I like to try and make a habit of finding things that most others would just walk by or even walk on and not even notice. This is an exercise that surprises me every time I do it. I just never know what I'm going to find. Take for example the shot to the left here. A fallen poppy (this photo is called "Left Behind") on the ground somewhere around town. It's not only fallen off of someones jacket, but it has also be trampled on in the hustle and bustle of the day. I then find myself asking questions like: What does this tell me about the society in which I live? What does this tell me about how, in this case, we think about all of those soldiers that have fought and still currently do fight for our freedoms that we so easily take for granted? So just from this one instance I found myself in a bunch of questions and even sometimes a story of life.
Similarly, when I was taking photos at some of the weddings I attended last year, I found myself taking a few photos of some of the decorations around the whole event. You know those things that help capture the magic of the day, but don't really give them a second thought as to who took the time to see to those little details or even maybe lovingly crafted them so that the couples day could be even more memorable. Here are a couple of examples:
These are all examples of different artists work. And all should be remembered and not just taken for granted.So I challenge you the next time you go to an event or just go out for a walk to take the time to look around you and truly see what is there and to be thankful that we have artists in the world. As well as so many others that work behind the scenes of our everyday lives so that we can enjoy all that life has to offer.
One final person that works behind the scenes of us all that I would like to give tribute to, as He is the one who gave me, my gift of expression in these photographs. He is the ultimate in creativity of everything around us.
Here is an example of His mighty work.... Let's not take Him for granted too."I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2
