Focal points

I have always loved looking at the world through the lens of my camera, but I never really thought too much about why.

Once I thought it was just so I could share these odd moments with friends and family, but today I think I realized some other reasons.

Looking for pictures gives me a reason, as if I needed one, to be more aware of my surroundings. And narrowing down what moves me about a particular scene can be an enlightening experience. Topping that off by trying to capture that feeling with my lens,  gives me an even greater appreciation for the moment.

It is looking at a vast panorama and distilling it down to one focal point that expresses the essence of it for me. Whatever that essence is -- which can be another enlightening moment.

Beauty exists in the most surprising places.

For me it is often in the contrasting spaces of light and dark, shadows and dazzling brilliance.

I love shadows. They highlight some awfully fascinating places.