Reflection

Week 32

Reflection
August 8, 2011

Funny thing about a reflection. It is what it is. Your reflection is a representation of what you are. Assuming the reflective surface is smooth and highly... well, reflective...  (such as a mirror or undisturbed water as shown above), what you see is what you get. We can't really control our reflection in such an environment. In order to change it, we have to distort that means for reflecting by disturbing, covering, or otherwise altering the surface or the light coming to it.

I think we do this in our lives. We spend considerable time and energy trying to manipulate the image that is cast out about ourselves. While there certainly can be value in choosing your proximity to reflectors (people, places or activities), it seems energy would be best used changing our form... who we are... so that reflection follows. Perhaps a subtle change, but one that can make a significant difference in how we go about our lives.



Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 70-200 2.8L lens, 1/400sec @f2.8, ISO 200

Celebration

Week 31

Celebration

August 5, 2011

Over the last year I've witnessed and photographed quite a few celebrations. Beautiful weddings (like the one this last week where the image above was created), touching anniversaries, landmark birthdays... even a circus-like tribute to commercial success.

I've heard it said that the primary reason for people coming together for celebration is a social one. Pick an occasion and use it as a reason to party. Others would say that remembering an important event together or marking an achievement is worthy of collective public acknowledgement that these are and were good things, and is more socially conscious than social.  While these motivations differ widely, I'd say a mixture of both is closer to true, and sometimes for the same people. I believe we are built with an attraction to joy, both to the joy inside of us and that which is seen in and expressed by others. Celebrations are one big joy-engine, with the fuel of earnest participation stoking the fires, and that is compelling to us.

Celebration can happen with the birth of a new life or in honoring one that has ended. Reasons for celebration are as varied as our life experiences, and I would urge you: don't let them pass. Celebrate people. Celebrate their landmarks and successes, share in their joy, and share your own joy when others are willing to celebrate with you. Celebrate because the occasion or achievement is worth it, and celebrate because it's just plain fun. Celebrate safely... but with abandon and as often as you can.


Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens,  1/2000 sec @f2.8, ISO 800