It seems I spend a large part of my life unlearning things these days. Things I thought I knew. Things I was nearly certain of.
I was pretty sure there was nothing new worth photographing on the Canal Path. After all, I’ve walked that path hundreds of times, in all seasons, taking pictures all along the way. I’ve looked down at the murky water of the canal and deemed it unworthy of picture-taking. But a new book gave me reason to reconsider.
I recently bought the beautiful photo book, Just When I Thought I Had You by Sal Taylor Kydd. The book is exquisite in its insight into the world of motherhood and the sojourn we have with our children. I was drawn to Sal’s photo, Ferns Under Water. In the picture, the ferns float gently below the water surface, contrasting with the shadow of trees on the surface of the water. She managed to capture this simple interplay of light and texture along the surface of the water, above and below, with elegance and reverence. Sal’s photo got me thinking. Perhaps the rules I’ve learned are holding me back.
I walked the path today with new insight. It didn’t matter at all if the pictures were “good.” It only mattered that I was rooted in this place and willing to see all of the beauty.