Five minutes. That’s the rule. Five minutes for free-writing, whatever comes into your head, whatever the prompt elicits. And it’s crazy fun. Come on over to the Gypsy Mama’s website – though she goes by Lisa-Jo Baker nowadays – and see for yourselves:
Somedays, I think I look at life like this – just a little bit cock-eyed and slightly out of focus.
Today’s prompt: FOCUS
GO:
For me, photography has become a kind of sacramental act. I have a camera with me at all times and frequently annoy my family by poking it in their faces at the most inopportune moments.
Mostly, however, I use my camera to notice things.
To pay attention.
To look more closely,
see the details,
the angle of the light,
the wonder of a baby’s laugh,
the cobweb, backlit by morning sunshine,
the power of a breaking wave.
The camera becomes an extension of my eyes, allowing me to slow down a bit – forcing me to slow down a bit, encouraging me to savor, sift, concentrate, focus.
Looking through the lens requires me to double check and see if things are lining up straight or are slightly askew. Focusing that lens means taking the time to choose where to look first.
To see this family playing in the water, I had to disarm the auto-focus on the camera because
it wanted to see the bushes clearly. I did not. I get to choose what I see most clearly.
it wanted to see the bushes clearly. I did not. I get to choose what I see most clearly.
There are lessons here, lessons beyond the extended ocular sensitivity that my camera provides. Because focus is important in all of life . . . choosing where I’m going to look first.
Will I look at the Truth or the lie?
Will I look at the Good or the not-so-good?
Will I look at and for the spark of the Spirit in each person I encounter during the day, or will I forget, and allow myself to be distracted, to intentionally turn away?
Today, I choose to look,
to look with intention, commitment, focus.
Maybe tomorrow, too?
STOP
About one minute over – pictures, captions and formatting added later.
🙂 I like the idea of choosing what to look at first…on what to focus on first 🙂 great job…
Thanks for stopping by Anne and for leaving such kind words.
A beautiful reason to let that camera poke into the lives of unsuspecting family members. I’ve been struggling with the idea of how much I use a camera lately (which is not much since our only camera recently found itself floating down the river), but this brought up some good points.
How SAD!! My cameras (I have 2 – an SLR and a small point and shoot that fits in a pocket) are like appendages. Yes, there are times to put the away (or never take them out), but most of the time having them truly does help me see better. I think because I have to slow down a bit to use them!
Good points – using a camera does help me focus, too. When I started my blog I didn’t think I would even use photos – but they turned out to be one of the most fun, surprising parts of writing a blog. And your applications to how we see life – yes!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Maureen! And yes, the photos often turn out to be the most fun part of blogging. I often begin with photos and then see what those pictures prompt me to write…