Saturday, August 19, 2006

Atmospheric magic, redux


If you've been following along on my blog, it's been an intense week of work, media coverage and deep topical discussion. So I thought I'd slow things down over the weekend by getting back to the things I do when life gets quiet. In other words, it's time for a picture. Or two. Or...

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to witness some really neat clouds in the evening sky. (I wrote about it here.) I took some additional images at that time, and thought I'd share another one of my favorites.

When I look at pictures like this, I think of all the magic-looking scenes that kind of happen in the background without anyone paying attention. There's no way to capture them all, of course. We have lives, and we're often too busy keeping them in the air to be able to rush outside at a moment's notice to snap whatever it is that merits our attention.

The photographer's lament is that so many scenes are relegated to oblivion because of this. But every once in a while, we are indeed in the right place at the right time. And we've got the time to appreciate the experience - and to share it with those who matter.

So today I'm sharing. If you read this, you matter. I hope this inspires you to think about the folks in your respective circles who matter, and to wonder what kinds of glimpses into your lives you'd like to share with them.

Your turn: So...what will you share?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good morning Carmi. Michele didn't send me; I came on my own. I love the photo. It reminded me of a conversation with Sweet Girl yesterday. We were driving along and she saw smoke in the distance. "Look, Mom", she said. "It's smoke. It will go up into the sky and become a cloud". "Is that what happens?" I asked. "Yes," replied my little sage, "It goes up and turns white and becomes the clouds. I know about that because I am an expert on clouds." I just smiled and saved the discussion on evaperation and atmospheric pressure for another day. For now, I'll just think that everytime I grill, I am making a cloud.


And that's what I am sharing with you today, Carmi, because you matter!

Carli N. Wendell said...

Wow. . . that's heavy for a Sunday morning. . . especialy a Sunday morning where my plan for the day is to eat Cheerios and see Snakes on a Plane. . . for the second time.

I guess I would want people to know that even though I am a cranky introvert, that I think my friends are the greatest people on earth, and that sometimes, I'll think of one tiny, silly thing that they've said, and I'll think about how wonderful it is to have such great conversationalists in my life.

Anonymous said...

Here from Micheles,
Beautiful picture, we see beauty every day like that here in sw Virgina where I live & I try always to at least appreciate it while I'm looking at it(cell phone is my only digital camera & it just doesn't cut it)
That's what I'd like to think I'm giving my kids as a legacy, the abillity to let natural beauty take you out of yourself & away from your everyday, mundane cares.

Unknown said...

Geesh, you ask hard questions. I'm a very private person for a blogger, and most of what I share with my close circle of friends isn't what is really going on inside, but more surface things. I have a hard time letting people in on what's really bothering me, or what I'm really feeling. I think this is because in my childhood, feelings were NEVER discussed, and they were frowned upon, and even after years of therapy, I still haven't gotten over that.

But the photo you posted reminded me of those gorgeous shots of the sky in Calgary that Ang Lee filmed in Brokeback Mountain.

Here from you know who.

Ms Mac said...

I'd like to share the view from my kitchen window tonight as I was cooking dinner....

kenju said...

I'm sharing the details of my lastest trip to NYC, Carmi. And since you matter very much, I hope you'll come and read that post, and offer one of your succinct and often beautiful comments. I came on my own as well.

srp said...

Here from Michele this time.
Judy just got back from New York. I got back a couple of weeks ago and still haven't formulated everything I saw and felt into something coherent.

But, Friday I took my only child back to college. A new dorm, new room, new year.... she is growing up even more, will be legal next spring and a senior next year. IT IS TOO FAST!!! So I have to share how much I love that girl and how proud I am of the person she is becoming right before my eyes.

RennyBA said...

Hello, Michele sent me and I'm so very glad because this is a great blog and what wonderful post! You write about things that matters in life, about sharing.
So what I will share with you today is some pics from the Nordic Nature inspired of your pic of today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rennyba/sets/72057594105242627/show/
Have a great week ahead:-)

Anonymous said...

I believe I'll call my sister and wish her a happy birthday, she matters for certain. Michele says hi Carmi.

Anonymous said...

Hi Carmi,
from Michele's meet and greet. Lovely photo..it does make me wonder how many magnificent photos have just gone by the wayside over the many years since the camera was invented.
My share for this post is that I am much more resilient than most people might believe.

bluesphee said...

Hi there,

Here via...you know the drill.

Enjoyed the post and wanted to share a link to my brother's blog, Photography of the Mark. He takes amazing photos and I think they will be right up your alley (and obviously many others!). You can check them out here:

http://milwaukeemark2.blogspot.com/

Moon said...

In light of my job..I will share how I am made to realize everyday how lucky I am and most of us are for being born *normal* in a mainstream sense of the word.

One of my borders...was born blind, epileptic and mentally handicapped. He was abandoned at the hospital. Now at 41 yrs old , he has the mental level of a baby ..I bath, shave, dress and feed him. He really has little enjoyment out of life except that he loves chocolate. So I make sure he gets some everyday. I guess I am sharing this because I am so thankful that my child is healthy..my family and friends are healthy and I am healthy...and I am reminded of that fact every single day. My client is on this earth to give a person like me a job of caring for him. It is sad but I can console myself with his lot in life in knowing that he does not miss what he does not know but also that he is safe here with us. Atleast that is positive in the life that is his.

Karen said...

That reminds me of the story of the person that walks along the beach and keeps throwing starfish back in the ocean. Someone asks them why they do that since there are so many and the person replies that it matters to each one that he throws back in the ocean.

You always have such an clever way of looking at the smallest things. Well said, Carmi! Hope you're having a great day with the family.

Anonymous said...

Carmi, you have the most incredible way of looking at things, and of making us look at things as well. Thanks for making us think, and for making us matter.

Just last evening I shared a little bit of nature with my daughter. We were home alone when I noticed the sunset was casting a particularly pink haze -- so much that the light from behind the blinds and curtains rendered all of the windows pink -- and I stopped what I was doing, grabbed my daughter, who was deep in her own activites, and I took her outdoors. We just stood there, silently taking in the beauty of that sunset and all that it touched.

utenzi said...

Michele sent me north to see you, Carmi.

One of the hardest things to do in photography is to convey the feeling of majesty in a scene. Oh, some locations naturally push the concept. Huge mountains looming over level plains, for example. But we're often in locations where it's the subtle colors or even smells that create such a strong existential feeling--and it's lost on the camera. My biggest regret when taking pictures is that it's so difficult to convey the totality of the location I'm shooting. Perhaps that's why I deal so much in macro mode. That way there's no disappointment 'cause it's all in the picture.

Sarah Jane said...

argh there is a baby crying beside me and im being told off for reading your blog rather than my sister's screen play, so I will have to return later. Ive been dying to watch the videos you've posted. Seems like you are becoming famous Monsieur Carmi.

Do you by any chance suffer from low pressure headaches? Kingston is killing me. I actually miss the grey clouds of london - they don't hurt my head in the same way as the kingston low pressure clouds.

Michelle's the culprit for my repeat returns. Sorry for the lack of focus!

Anonymous said...

What a great image....
Carmi


Over from the other Michele's

Princess said...

Wow, your photos are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photo, Carmi. I shared a very enjoyable day with a girlfriend yesterday. Something I don't do as often as I should.