Every now and then, quotes just seem to catch on and you see or hear them everywhere, like—“We Don´t Remember Days...We Remember Moments!” (author unknown) I think this is apropos to my new life in the South. The problem seems to be, remembering just that in the rush of everyday life. How “life” can get in the way of living or as one photographer remarked on her website a few years back (paraphrased)—“the busyness of the business seemed to take over the business...”—in other words, the fun was gone, the purpose was gone.

Over that last few years it seemed I was on this committee or community project or art project or show or remodeling a home. I rarely picked up the camera, the relaxing drives or jaunts became rushed sessions—that is a major NO for anyone in this business. That's why, when things calm down from the cross-country move it will be time to take a deep calm breath and go for it once more. However, I always have images in my back pocket that I can pull out. Actually it is good to review the ol’ portfolio now and again, maybe by now I will go WOW or ARGHHH—what was I thinking!

One thing that I have done over the last 6 months is to watch and listen to my surroundings. This is a good doctrine in photography, in any art, in life—remember moments. Never be in a rush to go on a day trip or a vacation and shoot shoot shoot. I know there are many “photographers” out there that go go go, and shoot shoot shoot. With the advent of the digital camera, they can delete delete delete too. However, that is not what photography is about; photography is about the nanosecond of time you are in, capturing it forever—remembering the moment.

My day starts as a rush with the dogs, and then as I press the button for the coffee the aroma kick starts the senses. Next, I look out the kitchen window into the side yard and beyond the lane where the woods start...looking for the cardinals. They are there like a bright welcoming smile everyday. Until this morning, there were usually only one or two males and several females—much like a harem—however today we lost count of the males in view. It is an intense colorful awakening to a new day—a moment to remember.

After that, I always look to the field next to the woods, to see what kind of ground cover fog there is or up to the skies for the cloud formations and a visual weather check. Lately, I have been watching daylight slowly creep in—beams of sunlight play a light melody against the trees as the sun gets higher and higher in the sky—it is a vivid show of colors, changing every day.

Later, outside, I subconsciously listen for the wind to rush thru the huge southern red cedars on the edge of the property; I always stop and take note of that ethereal sound. The song triggers an immediate reaction to take in a deep breath. Is it moist, dry or pungent as it was yesterday—a soft spicy scent was in the air.

Can you remember the smells and sounds, the light and shadows in your daily life, or on that day trip or vacation? Before you take that first shot, walk around for a while. See what has changed in the light from just a few minutes or hours ago—is it a harsh midday light with no tones, a soft sunrise or a vivid ending to the day light. Light has an affect on everything, even if it is not directly in its line. Inside, you can do the same thing. Pick a room and watch the light as it changes thru the day, as it lands on subjects, the different shadows it casts on different objects can be very abstract.

Take notes, mental or otherwise of all that is around you. Then take photos, because if you have taken the time to use all of your senses before you take the photograph, then you will truly remember the day and the moment. And sometimes, just sometimes, you have to just stop and take it all in, We Remember the Moments.

Two new photos show the affect of light and at the same time the absence of it, Remember the Moments I and II—the difference being the filter used.

Till next month

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