Long-Shots & Close-Ups: How Photography Changes My World View

I'm currently on the homestretch of a 15-day online photography course called "Everyday Magic" with Tammy Strobel of the blog Rowdy Kittens, and the course has been a daily confirmation of everything I believe in and love about photography: How it makes me so much more mindful of my surroundings; the pleasure in virtually stopping time with the click of a shutter button; how much expansive beauty, how much exquisite detail there is if I just open my eyes and really take notice. And of course, because you're here at Joyfully Green, I'd be remiss if I didn't add: How astoundingly amazing nature is.

I rediscovered that last point yesterday, as I headed out the door with my brand-new, super-cheap macro lens. The class assignment for the day was to capture some ultra-up-close shots, and at first glance, there didn't seem to be anything at all going on in my backyard. (Silly me!) Looked for spiders in the corners...nope, none today. Turned over a few leaves...nope, nothing there. Then--THEN!!!--as soon as I went over to the kids' sandbox and moved a shovel aside, a whole society sprang into action. Tiny little ants, each one no larger than the size of two pinheads, began a mad scramble, moving their larvae down into their hole to protect them from the giant who had just unceremoniously taken away their "roof." (Sorry, guys!) I was two inches away from them and it was extraordinary to watch them operate. I've seen many ants in my day, but I've never seen them this closely before. Those little dudes had their acts seriously together! Each of them knew its purpose and went about its business with an admirable steadfastness and truly cohesive teamwork. Of course, having gone through fourth grade science, I knew this about ants, but it's a whole other story actually witnessing it on a macro-lens level. I'm addicted to this special new thrill of discovering entirely hidden worlds residing in a sandbox, or between the blades of grass, or curled up on a twig. I can't wait to see what else I can uncover and discover!

As I said in Changing the Focus, when you make it a habit to walk around with a camera, you notice so much more. You appreciate more. Your idea of what makes a "good photo" changes, elevating the ordinary to the extraordinary. Whether it's with a macro lens, a fish-eye lens, a long-range or a wide-angle lens, all it takes to expand your world in new and unexpected directions is a twist and a click.

If you walk around with a camera, you start to change your perspective about what makes a good picture. You notice more. You appreciate more. Even the littlest things can hold your interest. And that can change your Big Picture about what's important to you and what you should be focusing on. T - See more at: http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2012/07/changing-the-focus.html#sthash.evrbYtJ6.dpuf

Remember how in the movie American Beauty, the teenager at the end is seeing the wonder and artfulness in a plastic bag dancing around in the wind? Well, from a green standpoint, I wouldn't say that I'd be particularly thrilled to see a plastic bag blowing around loose, but I could see the point: looking for the beauty in the everyday. If you walk around with a camera, you start to change your perspective about what makes a good picture. You notice more. You appreciate more. Even the littlest things can hold your interest. And that can change your Big Picture about what's important to you and what you should be focusing on. That's different for each person, but I'm betting--for most people, anyway--it will have nothing at all to do with Q-Tips. - See more at: http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2012/07/changing-the-focus.html#sthash.evrbYtJ6.dpuf

Just like in the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who!, I've come to realize that there are all of these little microsystems at work that I never noticed before, and all of these little details to see, if I only open my eyes and look for them.

For three seasons out of the year, I try to spend as many mealtimes as possible out on the porch, and if the weather isn't good, then I eat indoors with a view of the back yard. I've found that my children somehow argue less when they're outdoors. Once they're done eating, they find things to play with on the porch, or they go out into the back yard for a little exploring, or they want to play in the driveway with some chalk or their bikes.

Richard Louv, in his insightful book entitled Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, includes some key studies about how important it is to have a view of nature, to really engage with our environment, and how essential it is to be able to disconnect from technology on a regular basis--and that doesn't just pertain to children.

I wouldn't be honest if I said that I never check The Huffington Post anymore, or that I'm immune to reading tidbits about the TomKat divorce (because...just wow!), but I try to allot the time to it that it deserves. Minimal. There's a whole wide world out there, and I want to be more mindful about what I'm focusing on.

Remember how in the movie American Beauty, the teenager at the end is seeing the wonder and artfulness in a plastic bag dancing around in the wind? Well, from a green standpoint, I wouldn't say that I'd be particularly thrilled to see a plastic bag blowing around loose, but I could see the point: looking for the beauty in the everyday. If you walk around with a camera, you start to change your perspective about what makes a good picture. You notice more. You appreciate more. Even the littlest things can hold your interest. And that can change your Big Picture about what's important to you and what you should be focusing on. That's different for each person, but I'm betting--for most people, anyway--it will have nothing at all to do with Q-Tips.

- See more at: http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2012/07/changing-the-focus.html#sthash.evrbYtJ6.dpuf

Because I'm allergic to the idea of using stock photos for my blog (I humbly consider myself a photographer as well as a writer), I've taken many, many photos over the last year, and only a small portion of them have ended up on this blog (because I'm also a tough editor). The photograph in this post is probably my favorite photo ever (of the ones I've taken) because it illustrates two things I dearly love (my daughter and a forest) in a fairy-tale-ish landscape. As with the ants--actually, much more so, due to the fleeting nature of time--I'm so happy I captured this split-second moment.

Your turn: In the immortal words of Pat Benatar (I know, I know...I'm showing my age), "Hit me with your best shot!" Please link to your favorite photo in the Comments section below--the photo that fills you with beaming, giddy pride and makes all of your friends enviously say, "WOW! You took THAT?" If you're feeling a tad humble, submit one that simply makes you smile. (Fellow bloggers, this is your chance to plug your blog, so for goodness' sake, have at it!) If you are reading this post via email subscription, click on the title or go to www.JoyfullyGreen.com and you can leave a comment at the original post.

Reader's Note: See the sidebar on the main page for some truly spectacular photography books.

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