Blog

Pond Life

As we move into April I’m seeing more and more Pond Life appearing and emerging in the pond behind our house. For the past week we’ve had visitations of wood ducks in the pond in the early morning. Most mornings there are a pair and trio of wood ducks (two males, one female) cruising around the pond checking out the neighborhood. So far, the wood ducks only stay for an hour or less before they fly somewhere else. As the weather warms I’m hoping they will stay longer and that a pair will claim the nest box across the pond. Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Teaching and Learning

Recently I’ve been thinking about how much I am learning about photography (and about life) because I am teaching a photography class. Each week I think about and search for ideas that will challenge and interest my students. At the same time I usually discover that I am challenged and interested in whatever topics I discover and decide to share in class. The more I think about Teaching and Learning the more I realize that learning never stops. Sharing what I’ve learned is more than reciting facts and ideas about photography. It’s about revealing who I am as a person Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

What Remains

It’s an ordinary day in my very ordinary life—no excitements. There is no place I need to go, nothing that I must do. I find myself basking in the light of this ordinary day and finding things to love about What Remains as I let go any shoulds, woulds, or coulds, simply basking in what is. I began this ordinary day by finishing the last few pages of the third book in a series of books that my daughter and granddaughter both read and then shared with me. As I read the first book in the series, I realized that Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Noticing

The more I make photographs, especially of flowers over a series of days, I believe that making photographs is a kind of Noticing all kinds of things. There are textures, shapes, and colors. And my mind perceives grace, beauty, softness, and more. The longer I work with the same bunch of flowers, the more I experience, appreciate, and see. It is as if seeing the true essence of something takes time, patience, openness, and a willingness to simply be present. As any photographer will testify, noticing is a skill that can be trained. The more time we commit to looking, Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Make a Joyful Noise

The sun is shining and the snow that fell for several days is beginning to melt despite the cold temperatures outside. The angle of the sun this time of year has power! I had a recurrence of vertigo last night. Every once in a while my balance goes wonky so I’m moving carefully today. But despite this little setback I am determined to Make a Joyful Noise on this bright beautiful day. The ranunculus flowers that I bought last week are still beautiful though some of the flowers are beginning to wilt a bit around the edges. For days I Read more…

By Marilyn, ago