And I Was Completely Sober
That is a great post title. It really is. I could go anywhere after that.
But I have something in mind and I promise I am sober as a judge as I tell my tale. (Then again, I know quite a few judges who like a little splash in the coffee mug.)
Yesterday afternoon, during the joy of a holiday from work, I went outside to take some photos. My photography club is back in full swing and this month’s theme is black & white or contrast. I had already taken one photo that I really love and was looking for my second. We get two entries each month.
Lacking any good ideas, I went outside to see what I could see, snapping here and there and everywhere to find something.
My skills in black and white photography aren’t that good (I like color), so I was shooting lots of different things so I could learn and enhance my ability.
About an hour into my backyard photowalk I remembered that around the corner is a magnolia tree in full bloom. I think the unseasonably warm California winter has confused the poor tree.
I headed over to take a look and found it still blooming, so I snapped and snapped lots of photos. I set up shots. I fiddled with my camera. I enjoyed the late afternoon golden light.
And then as I looked at these flowers through my viewfinder, I realized something…….
Some of the magnolia blossoms have faces.
Below I present my evidence.
This was the first face I saw. I thought it was just a one off:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
But wait, there was another. Less obvious, but definitely a face:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
And another. This one I thought looked scary at first. The more I looked, the more it seemed to be laughing with leafy arms spread wide open:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
And another, this one more cranky:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
Then this one, with a little bit of a surprised rounded O face:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
I call this one the Picasso as it takes a little to see it and the face is a bit askew:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
Then I noticed that Laughy and Cranky seemed to be having a little party together:
Photo © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014
Everywhere I looked, there were little magnolia faces looking back at me. Grumpy ones and happy ones and wilty ones and crazy ones. Little sweet smelling blossom faces everywhere my eyes fell.
I giggled with the joy of it all, reveling in the ridiculously silly ways of Mother Nature.
Then a couple pushing a stroller walked by. They looked at me from the sides of eyes, wondering at the crazy wild haired lady laughing with the tree.
Their toddler girl said to me, “Look! I have a Hello Kitty on my pocket!”
I replied, “You sure do!”
That toddler understands. She gets me. To a child with a Hello Kitty on her pocket, the lady laughing with the tree is just fine. Quite normal. To be expected.
I’m so glad someone understands.
Meanwhile, I’ll never look at a magnolia tree in quite the same way again.
_________________
(side note: I believe the most definitive magnolia photo I have ever seen was taken by my friend and fellow New Mexican, Avelino Maestas. I knew whatever photo I would take of the magnolia blossoms would pale in comparison to the photo I used as my phone’s wallpaper for well over a year. Salud, Avelino!)
All photos © Copyright Karen Fayeth, 2014 and subject to the Creative Commons license in the right column of this page. Taken with a Canon G10 and touched up a bit in Photoshop.
