by Judy
We've all heard the saying, "stop and smell the roses." We've either had it said to us, or we've said it to someone else. We all know what it means. But do we really take the time to slow down and appreciate what is around us? I think for those of us here at FOL - and for those of you who follow us - who are reading this right now - yes, I do believe we all have a handle on this! And I was thinking of all of you this past weekend as I went on a photo walk in an arboretum near my home.
The arboretum has a beautiful pond in the Chinese Friendship Garden. It's quite a stroll to get to it, down several winding pathways, through a wooded area, and down a big hill. It's definitely one of the most visited areas of the arboretum, and I always make sure to make my way down to it when I visit. As I was slowly strolling, stopping to take photos along the way, I had many people rushing by me on their way to the pond. As I stood with my camera, surveying my surroundings, I watched the people for awhile. And that's when I thought of all of you. I knew that none of my sisters here at FOL would just be walking by all of this beauty without even looking at it. And I knew that all of you who visit us here every week, with your beautiful blogs and flickr streams and creative projects, would be stopping right beside me to enjoy the views.
You would have noticed the brightly colored berries in the dappled sunshine...
and the "soft fuzzy things" blowing gently in the breeze. And you definitely would have noticed all of the warm bokeh behind those "soft fuzzy things."
You all would have been as delighted as I was in discovering this delicate bird bath, hidden on a side path near a rustic wooden bench.
And I think you would have gasped too when you saw the bright red leaves draping down the soft grey colored bark.
I know you would have noticed all of the tiny pine cones, with their wonderful texture, and the way the sunshine and shadows played up that texture.
Oh, and the joy you would have felt after rounding the corner to see the field of wild flowers! You would have been on your knees in the wet grass right beside me - trying to capture all of their beauty.
And I know that when you finally made it to the pond, you would have stopped in your tracks just as I did. The golden reflections in the mid morning sun were breathtaking.
Yes, I really did think of all of you this weekend. And it made me smile thinking that we truly know what it means to "stop and smell the roses."
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14 comments:
You are so right Judy, we would have been right beside you in that field. Something that I have focused on lately is when I walk down a path to walk back the exact same way. It is amazing what you will see when you come through an area from the opposite direction.
Oh, how I wish it would have been possible for all of us, collaborators and readers alike, to travel to that arboretum together. Wouldn't that be marvelous? In the meantime, I'll just keep looking at all your wonderful photos ... and say 'thanks' for sharing!
I do believe I'd taken pretty much the same photographs as you because I do stop and smell the roses. In fact-when people talk about a certain "style" of photography-mine is all about the small stuff that makes up the big picture! Thank you for a beautiful post.
You are so right! We photographers tend to "see" so much more because we are always looking for it. I went on a walk with a non-photographer awhile back and she said, "You see beauty in things I would never stop to look at." Life flies by so fast and if we're always rushing, we miss so much. Your photos are amazingly beautiful and I think would be inspiration enough for even non-photographers to stop and smell the roses. There's so much beauty there if we just stop and look for it. It is always so much fun to go on photo walks with other photographers because they understand your need to take it slow and savor everything you see (as well as take a photo of it, of course!) You KNOW we would have all loved to have been on this walk with you!
Yup, right there with you. It's funny, my hubby is starting to stop and smell just a bit now.
You had me feeling like I was right there with you. Your beautiful images and lovely words really put me there. You are blessed to have such a lovely place nearby. Not only for the photo opportunities, but for the meditative qualities also. Lovely.
Yes, I so agree with you, I am right there with you and all of our sisters and followers noticing and smelling the roses along the way. I think God has blessed us with this added gift of noticing when we all became photographers. Thank you, Judy for such a thoughtful post. My knees are wet, leaning down on the grass with you.
You know us so well, Judy! We'd all be on the ground in the wet grass with you! Such a lovely post and beautiful captures!
What a wonderful post this is, and yes, you are right! All of us who love our cameras and our blogs, and blog friends would have noticed these lovely little details One of the things that i so love about this! Looks as if this is a wonderful place to go for a photo walk!
we are kindred spirits here at FOL...with eyes to see the beauty in nature. thank you for taking us along on your adventure via your beautiful photos.
I've been having a hard time being patient as my go to birding trail has been closed all summer....I usually (almost always) go by myself because I am stopped more than I am walking and my hubby get a little impatient. Oh, that tree with the leaves and the blue-gray is stunning!
You are so right! We all could have meandered together to the lake and all seen such beautiful and even different things to photography.I used to be one of those people hurriing through to get to the end, but not any more! Sometimes I never reach the end!
Beautiful photos. I would have been right there with you.
oh judy, these are gorgeous photos, but that pond is stunning!
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