One Picture/One Paragraph

I’m never quite sure what to make of a picture like this one. I know what drew me in: the delicate flower buds and blossoms woven among the architecture of the branches. But how do you take a picture that focuses on the buds and blossoms while still tracing the curl and swirl of the branches? After all, the background and foreground are present on the same plane of paper. Is this even a picture worth taking? Wouldn’t it be better to use a telephoto lens and isolate the flowers? But, in doing so, would I lose the messiness of nature? Even in a botanical garden, nature cannot be totally tamed. This photo was taken with my medium format Mamiya 645 and Kodak Portra film. I tried converting it to black and white. I tried cropping. I thought about deleting it altogether. In the end, I just accepted that I love what I love. And let it be as it is.

A beautiful expression by our new poet laureate, Ada Limon. On poetry.

“It has the possibility to show us rage, to connect with our fear, to celebrate joy, to make room for the whole spectrum of human emotions,” she said. “Great poetry is the place where we come to get the strength to heal, to become whole again and to then recommit to the world.”

I wonder if the same might be said of great photography?

I know. I’ve taken a lot of pictures of boats lately. And the Potomac River. And my hometown. But it’s a good place to practice, and I love the views. These photographs were taken with the camera that my husband calls my “spy camera” because it is both small and quiet. Very discreet. The Olympus 35RC, my very first roll of film with a rangefinder camera. Falling in love with these tones.

When I’m looking for something new to watch on television, I often search the category hidden gems. When I travel, I always look for places off the beaten path. When I open my heart to friends, I am drawn to people who wear their heart on their sleeve, those who have known suffering and use their pain to extend compassion to everyone else. The best things in life are often not the easiest. The difficult way is often the short cut. All those times I tried to outwork or out run my feelings really just prolonged the healing process. And now here I am, reveling in my own humanity and holding space for each person I encounter.

What a joy to wander around Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in the winter months. Tucked away among old neighborhoods in the lovely city of Richmond, Virginia, this place is truly a hidden gem. On this visit, there was a bonsai exhibit in the conservatory. I was using my Mamiya 645 medium format camera, and several people stopped to ask about the camera and film photography. Oh, can you still buy film? Where do you get film developed? I am an enthusiastic teacher, willing to share what I know so the conversations were lively and enjoyable. The artist pruning the bonsai tree for the exhibit was kind to let me take a picture of his precise work. I was a little nervous about having to focus quickly, but I’m happy with the result. He is part of another hidden gem, Gardens Unlimited in Ladysmith, Virginia, as I learned from our conversation. I’ve lived near Ladysmith for most of my life and have never heard of his nursery. Now I can’t wait to visit. Joy is meant to be shared.