There is an endless tunnel of wonder. It requires looking up, down, and taking some time to be deliberate in your intention to appreciate what is around you. There is busy, but there is also beauty. Last week, I picked up my camera and these are some of the images that appeared on my personal lens.
I love how the water ripples through the rocks. The bending of light creates mini-reflections of some of the rocks and this picture on repeated glances could almost double as a painting. The mystery is in the curves, textures, and jagged edges.
Trees are fascinating and are one of my personal obsessions. Roots are universal. We all carry our beginnings in subtle ways and I believe they impact our subsequent decisions. I like how the tree is reflected in the water, but it’s image is imperfect. Pink petals surround the branches in the water, while the tree itself is bare. The splash of color offers a brief flicker of whatever you may need — hope, love, faith, or comfort.
I caught this shot at the right moment. The bird flapped its wings, looking at its path. As I took the picture, I felt overwhelmed at my luck witnessing this creature’s commencement of its day. There is a magical quality about this abundance in the middle of the desert. The beauty is hard to miss.
My final shot is one that is understated, but revealing. We all possess our point of reference to guide us through life. How our perceptions are framed and what we actually believe to be our truth will vary from person to person. But the chance is there, for all of us, to navigate what is in the center, as well as the terrain that appears outside of it.
All these flickers of wonder. So much beauty.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Beautiful photographs. I love your reference to the last one.
Thanks, Susan. I am especially excited about your compliment because I am often inspired by your stunning photographs.
Beautiful photographs Rudri 🙂 I love the one with the bird in it – he seems so triumphant lol Have a great one Rudri! -Iva
That’s an apt description, Iva. I love how you used to describe him as triumphant.
Gorgeous, Rudri!
Thanks, Luanne. Glad you liked the images.
lovely thoughts and photographs!
Thanks, Ayala. I appreciate your kind words.
These are beautiful! I often wish I had better photography skills (or just a camera close at hand) to capture the brief glimpses of beauty that I see in nature.
There are so many times I want to capture an image that really grabs my attention, but I am not quick enough to retrieve my camera. The photography in this post was purposeful, but I am so grateful that I got a glimpse of some real images of beauty.
Not only are the images you captured lovely, but your reflections encourage us to pause and appreciate.
Thanks, Wolf. I love how walking away from writing into another creative pursuit provides a way for more inspiration.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Tiffany. Appreciate the encouragement.
I can imagine what a peaceful experience it was to do this exercise – both the journey in taking the photos and the reflections during your writing. I picked up photography a year ago, and I’d like to do more with it. Thanks for this inspiring and calming post.
I highly recommend taking pictures as a way of relaxation. It allowed me to be more present.