Perfect Light

I awoke today to overcast skies. Though they may have looked dreary and dull to you, for me they looked like

for flower and nature photography. I hurried up, made a reservation for entry at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, grabbed both cameras (just in case) and a second lens for my Olympus camera, and headed out.

When I arrived at the Arboretum I found that it was indeed, perfect light. The clouds acted like a big softbox in the sky, softening the light and eliminating hot spots and shadows. The air was humid but cool and there was a soft breeze blowing. The breeze made some of my flower shots difficult and required patience to find just the right moment to click the shutter.

The late summer flowers are still beautiful and the dahlias have just come into their glory days. And the light at the waterfalls was also beautiful. I was impressed with Olympus camera’s in camera stability feature as I hand-held long exposures to get the smooth flowing water look in my photos.

I love these waterfalls!

What a beautiful way to spend my morning. About the time I returned home the sun came out. I congratulated myself on my timing. I get to enjoy the sunshine this afternoon but also found a way to embrace the cloudy morning.

Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled—
to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.
I want to believe I am looking

into the white fire of a great mystery.
I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—
that the light is everything—that it is more than the sum
of each flawed blossom rising and falling. And I do.
― Mary Oliver, House of Light

How are you on this beautiful late August day? Wishing you perfect light today and always.

May you walk in beauty.