6.4.14

DAY 519

I think I am in love

Going outside with my camera in hand is part of my practice which is not only about photography or creativity, but about my inner work. It´s not a daily activity, my inner work is rather eclectic, so I alternate this and that (including indoors photography), but I try to do it on regular basis. Even so, there are always bad days, when I feel like doing nothing, or I am not inclined to be sociable, or the weather is terrible or I have no much time. When this happens I end up going to the park next to my house, as a result, most of my outdoors photos are taken there.

I have been going there for nearly three years, so I have become familiar with it. I know how it is conceived and when a tree is about to blooming. I know the changes I can expect every season and notice the gardeners´ effort. I feel sad when I see that something is not working well or some areas neglected... and angry when I feel that some persons don´t respect it. Somehow I have learnt to breathe with it and with the creatures that live there and we have struck up a sort of friendship.

There are areas there which I can stop visiting: the rose garden or the herbs garden. Even when they seem to be devastated from time to time, I always find something beautiful to capture. And there are areas that I often forget that exist as the flower clock or the little pond in the middle of the park.

However, along the last two months, every time I go to the park, I feel driven to visit that pond. It´s not a beautiful pond and it is not too big. It´s not too organized, either and the aquatic plants seem to be growing there by chance. The water is not limpid at all, indeed, it´s a bit muddy... but it´s appealing anyway, so there I go.

I stop next to its edge and observe the light and the reflections, smell the aroma that is damp and a bit fermented, hear the frog´s croak and click once and again.

Visitors come and go after a quick look but I stay there, going over its perimeter slowly. I take time to appreciate the shades of light; the green palette o how the water seems to be bottomless in some place or glossy as a mirror in others. And I take pleasure in the almost imperceptible adrift of the leaves.

After this time going there regularly, at least twice a week, I still am not clear about the reason why I am doing that, but I have started to consider going there along a whole year and document this process. If I would have to put forward a hypothesis, I would 
say  this lake in its smallness could be a metaphor of something bigger that I want to apprehend: the cosmos, life, my mind?... I am not sure and I don´t even mind very much right now. 

Right now I only want to keep enjoying this and the feeling that I am starting something...

So, of course, this had to be my Photo-Heart Connection of March



PS: you can read the first post of what I think will be a bigger project here 

9 comments:

Miriam said...

It is strange, since I began to take my camera everywhere with me I am drawn to the same place time and time again. I would go to your pond everyday, I think it is so beautiful. A really lovely PHC.

Kat Sloma said...

Oh my goodness, that green! I can see why you would stop here. There is something that soothes the soul in water. The green and the reflections ever changing in the light would only add to its draw, I would think. How lucky you are to have this close by. I look forward to seeing this more, over time. Thank you for sharing in the Photo-Heart Connection.

Ginny said...

Such a lovely post and photo. It was such a peaceful piece to read.

Unknown said...

First of all, Zena do you live in paradise :)? Secondly you described those magical places with so much love and so beautifully that I could visit them with my heart and mind too. Once again thank you for beautiful outer and inner Zena's world.

gina said...

Lovely capture of one of your favorite places, Zena! I think a yearly project of photography there would be very enlightening. Your post really resonated with me, as I had a favorite park near my former home, which I visited regularly for over 20 years. I knew when the trees would blossom and when the roses looked their best. It, too, had a pond with ducks and lots of aquatic plants.....there is something so soothing about water. Anyway, I do miss that park and revisit it whenever I go back to my old home town.

Anyes said...

Such a calm and peaceful place Zena. Do you believe it looks similar to my computer wallpaper; the one I chose because it makes me feel so much at peace.

Beautiful capture

morning prayer blog said...

It sounds like you and that pond have a lot in common. It's a wonderful meditative practice you've set up for yourself.

Prairie Jill said...

What a beautiful place! I can see why it is connected to your heart.

Jeanne said...

Beautiful shot, and I think that maybe it is like life... you have to really see it and experience it to have the full appreciation of what is there!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...