This blog posting is a little different. I’m sharing a new name for my photo Blog – Reflections From Nature.
This photo, which I took on December 29th hiking in to Carman Lake, made me think of what its like to step into new territory. Or to step into a new year with its unknown events, obstacles, opportunities, joys and unexpected edges for growth. A bit like Terra Icognita. One can see the way in the foreground, but as the eye moves to the distance or background, the path is elusive, no longer visible. This reminds me of one of Rumi’s quotes:
“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears”.
~ Rumi
I’ve just reviewed my Blog postings for the past year. I recalled that I set out a year and a half ago on this venture in order to improve my photo taking. [see blog #1, July 13, 2015] I chose a place close to my heart – the Gatineau Park, aka ‘the Gats’ – because I thought having a passion about an area would draw me in to work at it. And like this photo, while I could see the foreground, I wasn’t able to anticipate what would appear as I walked on the way.
I started out with the goals to see better, to improve my skills and ultimately to create photos that were more intimate and meaningful to the viewer. Maybe I’ve been doing that, and if so I’m pleased. What I noticed is that they’ve morphed into being more akin to reflections on my ordinary and extraordinary moments in the nature of the Gatineau Park, with the ordinary often becoming extraordinary simply by my noticing.
This past calendar year I visited the Gats more than 130 times and yet never felt I’d had enough. I’m not going to analyze time spent driving or gas consumed, but one of the closer entry points for my activities is Kingsmere, 30 km from my home, and one of the furthest is the Lac Philippe entrance, about 60 km. At the beginning I only took photos on planned photo shoots on my own so I could focus better. I soon discovered that just wasn’t working for me as there was such a huge part of the park not captured in my photos. Now I use whatever photo gear suits my activity, be it my mobile phone, my pocket camera or my favourite Canon camera along with tripod and take photos every time I’m out – be it hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, kayaking or times when I dedicate my outing to exploring with my camera. What I have learned is that I’m foremost an outdoor enthusiast that happens to have a passion about trying to capture the beauty in photographs. My photo gear needs to meet me where I’m at. I get that I’ll always experience a tension between wanting to zoom in closer and capture more and not wanting to be hindered by carrying heavy gear.
Harry Nowell, one of my photography mentors says that the most important ingredient for good photo taking is – being there. Nothing can replace being there. Being there when the light is perfect, being there when the moose appears, or the loon or the deer or the bear. So this summer I camped out at Taylor Lake and Lac Philippe just to be there for the magical times of dawn and dusk. So, yes, I do wish I lived closer.
Another critical ingredient for good photo taking is presence. Being present to what nature is offering in the moment. Another of my wise teachers was my dear beloved Golden Retriever, Kody, who accompanied me for the past 12 ½ years on my outdoor ventures. Kody died this past September so its been a growing edge for me to venture out on my own without his grounding presence. He was the teacher on how to become present to it all as he sat beside me, nose in the air taking it all in. He slowed me down.
And slowing down is what I need. All my life I’ve been attracted to going fast to get somewhere. How fast can I do a round trip out to McKinstry or the Fire Tower, or a loop around Brown and Carman Lakes? The past 1 ½ years has been a different journey, one of allowing the body the joy of moving while also befriending the satisfaction of slowing down sufficiently to become present.
So for the coming year I’ll continue photo postings of my reflections emerging from my experiences in nature. I’m calling it Reflections From Nature. And as Rumi says, the way will appear as I walk on the way.
