There's an unspoken beauty in things discarded and seemingly forgotten. If the building is abandoned and it looks like it hasn't been lived in for some time, I'm headed over there to capture it. I want to know about the paint, about the wood, how it leans and how the metal is rusting.
I see it and it's beautiful...at least to me.
At a good friend's wedding the other week, we were leaving the church and this little barn here was the only thing I noticed. I could've taken pictures of people - but it was the barn that caught my attention. It was perfect. The haze from the sun and the last of the summer things with wings flying around. Not that I didn't take photos of the people too, but I was waiting until we were inside for those moments.
So, I asked a girlfriend of mine to slow down the car while I snapped the photo. I had to get it. It was precious.
Please note: this was taken from the car. I had on heels. The grass was about five feet high. I promise had I been in flats and with pants on -- I would've been through the grass, snapping. I seriously considered heading over there but thought better of it - as I didn't want to have to fight snakes or furry creatures in grass that was too high.
That's the great things about photos. You never know when something you deem worthy of capturing may show up. I didn't even notice it on the way to the wedding but it was the first thing I saw upon leaving the church.
But how does this play out in daily life? Have you ever had a hard time seeing your own beauty when you're not exactly at your best? I've been challenged over the last year with taking photos of myself when I wasn't feeling at my prettiest. However, if nothing else has become apparent, it's how photographing the things that are forgotten and that no one else happens to love has made me challenge how I see myself.
While my concept of beauty is wide and vast - it's interesting how it doesn't often apply to self. And to admit a secret, I haven't photographed myself candidly with this camera. Well, I have but I haven't been happy with the photos - which is odd. So that's something I'm working on. I'm working on what and who I see and how I see her.
Today's play while writing this post: Never Catch Me by Flying Lotus (feat. Kendrick Lamar)