What Do You See?

I often hear photographers saying that they don’t find anything to photograph outside this time of year. With the cold and the barren landscape nothing appeals to them. Sometimes I feel that way too, but then I ask myself…

What do you see

when you look closely or when you widen your gaze? What beauty can you find in this seemingly barren landscape? Sometimes I simply stand still and look with soft eyes allowing the scene to soak into my very cells. Though I’m not very enthusiastic about going out in the cold initially, I find when I do go outside I’m always glad I did. And if I dress appropriately for the weather I stay warm and comfortable.

It has frequently been remarked, about my own writings, that I emphasize the notion of attention. This began simply enough: to see that the way the flicker flies is greatly different from the way the swallow plays in the golden air of summer. It was my pleasure to notice such things, it was a good first step. But later, watching M. when she was taking photographs, and watching her in the darkroom, and no less watching the intensity and openness with which she dealt with friends, and strangers too, taught me what real attention is about. Attention without feeling, I began to learn, is only a report. An openness — an empathy — was necessary if the attention was to matter.

    — Mary Oliver

Today I waited until the weather forecast predicted partly sunny skies before heading down to Medicine Lake to see what I could see. Although overcast skies can create lovely filtered light, an all gray sky is not very inviting or interesting when making landscape photographs. I was rewarded with beautiful light, patches of blue sky, and interesting clouds that became the focal point of the photograph.

When you go out for a walk try this: notice the light—the sky—a tracing of branches across the sky—the ground in front of you. What shapes and colors do you see? Can you find beauty hiding in the midst of the mundane world around you?

Just as I often resist going out for sunrise or sunset, I also resist going out in the cold gray landscape. But when I overcome my resistance I’m always glad I did. I find beauty in unexpected places. And I feel a sense of peace simply spending time in nature. Paying attention to the world around me this way teaches me to love the world each and every day.

Have you been outside today? What did you notice?

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.

― Mary Oliver

May you walk in beauty.