Rhododendron Dreams
Rhododendron Dreams
shot a lot of photos of the enormous, 20 ft high,
Rhododendron bush in full bloom
the passion I have for those unexpected and succulent images. My methods have chanced though.
Two years ago, I sold my 35 mm cameras and all the attachments I had treasured and used so much over the years. Now, I just take out my GE1040 digital camera and I approach my subject, point and shoot. It is always a big surprise when I finally get to see what I captured. It is very strange
I am writing about these things, this morning, to say that it is another
way to capture subject matter and images for poetry! There is no separation
for me bet wen fine art and poetry. My process is the same for creating both,
though the instruments and methods are different. It is the tools and the
adaptations of tools that enable me to continue to do the things I have always loved to do – write poetry and make art.
When I begin to think about my subject and how I will create a poem from this image, I begin to remember my physical contact with it, too. It is only partly a visual image. My other senses are there as well. I use them all when I begin to create the photograph or the poem. It all begins with awareness of the moment – fully aware of it all. It is a kind of awakening from a deep sleep – it happens slowly, in layers.
Here is my own process:
First, become aware of the physical aspects of your subject. It has a living presence. It is a tangible thing.Pay attention to the smell of it. It breathes, moves, shifts, changes, lives, and dies.
I touched the dripping wet leaves as I moved through the trees along the path. My feet were cold and became wet because the dew was heavy on the grass. My clothing started to cling to my torso because water spots dropped on me.
I breathed in the early morning cool air and noticed that the day seems subdued and hazy. But my body was throbbing with energy and excitement as I walked, parting the branches along the way. It all felt so good, so right.My physical contact with my subjects and everything that surrounds me, and
my subject, will come into my photograph. I will be trying to capture the livingness of this day, through this one particular photograph. If I am very aware of it all, I will have a good photo today! If I am really dedicated to my pursuit of this image and this moment in time in my own life, I will even
have a poem eventually.
Finally, inside the house in the solitude of my office where the clock ticks
on the wall behind me, I begin the additional work that will take the images from the morning’s experiences. I will take them from the camera, blow them up through the computer photo program, and then begin to crop, select, and edit my photos. For the poem that might come forth from this morning’s work with the camera and the photo editing, I will begin to record some words about my subject. I will write a blog about today’s adventure in the early morning. I will post some photos on my Facebook Page for my friends around the world to enjoy. I will even write a short message to my friends on the Writer’s List this morning. And, I will probably begin the work of turning these images into a poem.
I will consider all aspects of it. My blossoms have center stage, they are
stars, each of them, on a plant I had plunged into the soil about 43 years ago. It was a very small plant in a little plastic container at that time. As the years have passed it has grown into the magnificent blooming waterfall-type of wall – bursting forth with magnificent flowers that I saw
this morning.
Maybe you would like to take a walk today and see what you find blooming in your world! Go ahead. You might be surprised at what is out there.