Daring to Raise My Sights
This is not a typical image for me. I don’t look up often enough.
Usually, when I’m walking around looking for the next place to set up my tripod, I’m keeping my eyes down on the trail (or level, at best) so that I avoid taking a mis-step — stepping on (or in) something would be distressing, and tripping could be very costly considering the gear I’m carrying.
Yet, as I was in the midst of these enormous trees, it was hard to not look up now and then. The view was awe-inspiring. As suggested by the converging lines of the trunks, these trees are very straight and tall, standing relatively close to each other. Even the strong wide-angle perspective afforded by the 20mm focal length lens doesn’t quite do justice in conveying just how short and small you feel when wandering among these giants. To my delight, I found a partial canopy of dogwood just overhead. Ever since seeing an Ansel Adams image of the Merced River lined with dogwoods in bloom, I have wanted to see dogwoods in person. Although we were a little late in the season for the flowers, I finally got to see dogwoods above me and was taken by the color, shape, and texture of the leaves. The resulting image brings me many good feelings. In summary, I dared to look upward and was nicely rewarded (and didn’t trip!).
In some ways, photography reflects life. I have a tendency to “play it safe”, to keep my eyes on the trail — almost to the point of expending all available time and energy toward avoiding the bumps in the road — and I’m in not-quite-blissful ignorance of what sights I have missed by so doing. I’ve had several friends who dared to raise their sights and have achieved remarkable heights of success as actors, movie-makers, musicians, artists, scientists, researchers, educators, business moguls, and philanthropists. To a degree, I have been a little jealous of these friends — not necessarily of what they achieved, but that they achieved. I have been risk-averse — too afraid to fail. I still want to succeed more in changing the world. In order to do that, I’m having to dare to raise my sights more — higher and more often.
Recently, I’ve embarked on a new approach. Six months ago I started these two weekly blogs: “Photo of the Week”, and “Tip of the Week”; through doing these I have gained the reward of strengthened, broadened, and rekindled relationships with family and friends (some long lost). I’m going to new places and, as evidenced by this photograph, “seeing” more of such places. Last month I did something I loved doing as a kid, but hadn’t done for more than 20 years: go swimming. This week, I’m going to do something I’ve never done before: cut my hair to one-half inch length (a.k.a. a “buzz cut” or “crew cut”). These may seem like “baby steps” in absurd directions, but they are significant steps for me in a direction leading toward more fully savoring life and realizing my potentials. I’m becoming less obsessed about the trail and more engaged in looking up and enjoying the sights and experiences that the trail is leading me through and to.
Photo of the Week
2007.07.02
