One Happy Accident

If you know me or read this blog, you know that I love to take photos. Wait- maybe I should rephrase that: I love to take digital photos.

I’m an instant gratification kinda girl.

I could kick myself that while studying art at Rice University that I didn’t at least take one measly photography class. Not one. Thinking back, I was somewhat afraid of the machinery and the dark rooms. I preferred big, blank canvasses and paint to little black boxes and photo paper…

My, my how things have changed.

Oh well, I really have no regrets. The classical art training has given me a 6th sense that allows me to instinctively frame and compose regular things into what others might consider art.  I call it dumb luck.

No, really… I know I’m creative but I don’t know how. I don’t try to be, it’s just who I am. But really, I have had no photography training beyond maybe reading the instruction manual that comes with my camera in the box. And that’s even stretching it… I hate those darned things!

No, I just point and shoot. A lot. I was recently told by a photography professor here at SHSU where I work, that I shouldn’t take zillions of photographs, but use my time instead to compose a few really good shots.

Sorry buddy- remember I have no formal training? This girl takes zillions of shots and throws out the bad ones. I don’t like to set up compositions and ‘fake’ it. I like happy accidents. I like the shock and awe of stumbling upon beauty and snapping it up; I don’t like to force or manipulate it more than just zooming in or out.

No… I don’t like to manipulate the situation. I just like to look at it. And sometimes I take a picture of it because I think I might want to look at something over an over again, until the end of time.

Like this morning.

You know, that Big Guy in the Sky? Now HE is creative. Wow, the sunrises lately coming up over the lake at the ranch would bring tears to your eyes. The morning fog mixed with the morning sunshine filtering through the silhouetted trees caught my attention and just made my heart sing this morning.

Then I saw this.

Isn’t this a beauty?

I am just the scribe. I just copied this by hitting the shutter and taking the photo that was screaming to be remembered forever. My 7 month old colt just taking his first early-morning staggering steps after a night slept on the ground.

The sunshine and the silhouette of the animal and the fence line, and even the lens flare in the shot were completely accidental. This one didn’t require several shots, either.

Just one.

One good one.

I love photography because it has taught me to see beauty in all things, and to marvel in the creativity of my Creator. It is a beautiful life if you take the time to look around!