Quote of the day: “This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” ― Alan Wilson Watts

Perfection in imperfection

Permission to Play!

I went out with my camera this morning with no specific goals other than to make photos of something that interested me. I love taking time to play with no specific goal in mind. I think I learn more when I’m playing.

One of my favorite places to photograph is the Norenberg Gardens by Lake Minnetonka. This morning as I headed out to play with my camera I thought about stopping by and seeing it before going exploring elsewhere for photos.

Orbs of light – unfocused shot of sunlight on the lake

When I arrived I thought “Hmmm… not the best light, not a lot of fall color, hardly any flowers left — I probably won’t find anything I want to photograph here today.”

Then I started wandering with my camera and tripod. And I started wondering about playing with the bright light and blue skies, the raindrops on the leaves that still had not evaporated, the highlights of the sun on the lake. Before I knew it I was happily playing with color, light, focus (or out-of-focus) and all thoughts of it not being great light were gone.

Backlit leaves with raindrops

Seeing ordinary beauty in flawed leaves, ripples in the water, backlit plants, and a solitary empty beer bottle beside a bench.

Enjoy the results of my play today!

Fall Color

Gold leaves – blue sky

Lake Minnetonka Bokeh

Softness

Oak tree

Golden grass

Unfocused shot of tree

Bird bath in the garden

Another unfocused tree shot

Beer bottle by garden bench

Gorgeous succulent with rain drops

Bench with beer bottle

Grape leaves against arbor

Clear lake water, ripples, and a few fall leaves