Through the looking glass

I marveled tonight at what pleasure my little point-and-shoot gives me.

Since I've had it, everything seems illuminated, framed differently. I see composition all around and beauty in the strangest places.
My little electronic companion is doing something wondrous for me -- the visual version of what I heard Mary Oliver say when someone asked her how to become a poet.
Her response: "Cultivate astonishment, and then write about it."

I cannot see myself as a photographer or a poet, but I do believe the act of taking photos is helping me cultivate astonishment.
Yesterday and today, stripes of all kinds requested my presence.
Like these:
 . . . A traffic light post by my morning bus stop . . .


 . . . base of a street lamp . . . 



. . . sewer grate . . . 



. . . empty seats on the 6E bus . . . 


. . . milkweed in Mr. B's pollinator garden . . .



 And last, for Pyzahn of Prattle . . . from the Flatlands, who helped me add some sparkle to my life . . .
Light show



A light show, courtesy of Mother Nature and Blingee



May we all find what peace we can in beauty, even as our world is spinning with sorrow . . .

Comments

Julie B. said…
Love the photos!! (Especially the one of the lamp post, I think it's because of the colors)
Unknown said…
Fantastic photos of stripes! Absolutely LOVE the first one of the light post with the fab screw!!
Pyzahn said…
Yes indeedy. You are having some wonderful digital fun. I share your enthusiasm. And the stripes show such a creative eye.

BUT....that Blingee light show. Yowza. Everyone needs a little sparkle in their life!

p.s. also LOVE the MN bouquet.
Rudee said…
I was seeing a linear progression until I got to the bling. Love. It.
ellen abbott said…
Great photos. I've had my little point and shoot for about two years and my son just showed me the macro feature the other day. Oh boy. I feel a post coming on.
Joy Tilton said…
The ability to see the beauty in the everyday is the eye of the artist. A good camera brings everything to our attention, I never realized that until recently. Have a good weekend!
joy c.
Grace Albaugh said…
You have been busy with your camera. What great shots. Isn't it fun to just see things through the lens/digital screen?

Beautiful post!
Linda B said…
Love the traffic post photo. How many people pass it by without seeing those stripes and eye popping yellow and red rust and the bonus nail placement? And I absolutely love the sewer grate with the diagonal contrast (with rust again). What's in the water/air over there. Never seen it look more lovely. I'd say you've got a photographer's eye!
♥ Boomer ♥ said…
Oh, I love this!!!!!!!! It's so happy! You build our awareness...make us think and enjoy and notice what we overlook. Be sweet and have yourself a wonderful weekend of noticing.
Erin Davis said…
These pictures hold such beauty. And yes, you ARE a poet...these images are definitely poetry.
Joanna said…
What an eye you have for color and design Kathleen. I also love the one of the traffic light post. Beautiful. They are all beautiful.
Kathleen said…
Julie: I love green, too. So calming.

Jane: Yay! You're back--you were so missed! I've been snapping shots of rust and screws like crazy. Does that say something about me or my whereabouts?! Ha!

Pyzahn: I could be very dangerous with that sparkle feature. Thanks for the inspiration and education. Very very fun! Yay! You noticed the bouquet ! There's more to come!

Rudee: That wasn't exactly a gentle transition, was it!?! Ha!

Ellen: Ha! My 11 year old niece showed me how to zoom in to look closer at photos on the screen. What would we do without those younguns!>!>

Joy: Isn't that amazing. I suppose painters are like that, too. I wonder if carrying a brush around helps them "see" the beauty! ~;^D

Grace: It's so much fun, I lost track of time and I ran out of battery power today! Doh! I still haven't learned all the little screen symbols yet. I'm sure they make sense but they aren't exactly intuitive to me!

Linda B: You just made my day! I think I'm going gaga over rust -- it just makes the most fascinating patterns. What's in the air/water? Age, I think! Our house was built in 1915; I suppose the fixtures around here aren't much younger! I love the diagonal sewer grate, too. Ah, stripes. Stripes of the world, beware! My camera and I are on a stripe safari!

bfs-Mimi: I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings! Thanks for your sweet comment!

Erin: Thank you so much. I love the idea of the images as poetry!
Alex the Girl said…
Those were some really great shots. I especially liked the sewer grates. Don't ask, I haven't a clue. It was just a really good shot. That, and the milkweed. You know, I've never seen milkweed before, and I've been really curious about its looks. Don't ask me why I didn't just google the image.

Looking forward to more!
Unknown said…
Hello Kathleen,

That sewer grate is attracting lots of attention isn't it! I love the colour contrast too. And the yellow against the green on the traffic light is good too. Most of us just walk past these things!
~ ennui ~ said…
Erin, you are so right.

Beautiful images Kathleen....
love the traffic light post- rich colors and beautiful composition. Love this ♥
Kathleen said…
Alex: I hear you on the sewer grate. It's inexplicable, but I love it too. Thanks for you ever-delightful comments!

Derrick: Isn't it amazing what beauty awaits our awakening. I've spent far to long asleep, I'm afraid. But not anymore. I have a feeling I'll be shooting a silly amount of rust for a while. It's just so intriguing!

~ennui~: Thank you so much. It honors me that you would say so, given how much I love the images on your blog!
Unknown said…
These are gorgeous, I especially love the rust on the traffic light. -e

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