Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Summer Pictures

Summer Pictures



Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives. 


The Vacation
by Wendell Berry
Once there was a man who filmed his vacation.
He went flying down the river in his boat
with his video camera to his eye, making
a moving picture of the moving river
upon which his sleek boat moved swiftly
toward the end of his vacation.  He showed
his vacation to his camera, which pictured it, 
preserving it forever; the river, the trees, 
the sky, the light, the bow of his rushing boat
behind which he stood with his camera
preserving the vacation even as he was having it
so that after he had had it he would still
have it.  It would be there.  With a flick
of a switch, there it would be.  But he


  1. I've done the same thing, try to capture the beauty in Nature only to realize it isn't the same when viewed through a lens, at least not a cell phone :(. I too have had moments of joy with my horse that will forever be in my minds eye. I see her now, galloping up to me with a smile on her face! Thank you for this beautiful post.

  2. This is THE reason I don't take pics often. My husband used to have a camera in his hands at all times, and it nearly drove all of us coo-coo. Yes, we have plastic bins, tubs, albums of 1000's upon 1000's of photos that no one looks at. I have always believe you "live" the moment. It will be preserved in your memory as if you were seeing a photograph, but it will be your's alone and it will always be there anytime you think of it. Very well done, Pamela!!

  3. yes.
    to every single thing you said so beautifully here.

  4. If she would not find it cruel I would send the Wendell Berry to a friend this very minute before she can send me another video snippet of her weekend away.

  5. I love this Pamela... what a brilliant verse from Wendell Perry...
    I do hope all is well in your wonderful world... Happy Sunday... xv

  6. You are blessed to live near the ocean. I have always wanted to. I love Wordsworth. I think of his quotes often. I love the one, "to me the meanest [smallest] flower that blows give thoughts that do often lie to deep for tears".

  7. Were you on the road to Savannah ? How marvellous to read Wendell Berry - not a verse I'd seen before.

  8. Another phrase when on holidays is to look up, Such beauty can be found above eye level. Cheers Rosalie

  9. I have a few sets of photographs in my head like that Pamela. I love the poem at the end - so true.

  10. Pamela,
    This was written so beautifully. If anyone has an imagination like you, they should write.
    I have such memories deep inside my heart and mind. Thank you for this lovely post.
    I enjoyed every word. yvonne

  11. Pamela, I have often thought about this. The poem says it so well. All of this technology has taken us away from the pure enjoyment of experiences. So many times as I fumble to find my camera or phone, I ask myself this question. Technology has changed us. Well said! xx Sunday

  12. Pamela,
    Such beautiful words for thought. I try to go over pivotal memories, from time to time, in my mind out of fear of forgetting. That is the only reason I still cling to some photographs. But you're right, certain memories, a camera cannot capture. You always bring joy to my day with your words.

  13. Excellent post for us blogger-photographers, reminding us to live the moment. I left my DSLR camera at home when I went to my 25th college reunion so that I would interact more with people. I came home with a few mediocre iPhone photos and great memories from engaging. Photography is a job for me, and one I love, but it's still work.

  14. While I certainly agree about people missing the present moment with their eyes stuck to their smart phone, I do have a bit of a dissenting opinion. I'm not a photographer of any note, 'amateur' would be too generous a term for my abilities, and don't even have a DSLR camera, but an advanced 'point and shoot'. However, I find capturing small bits of Nature with the macro feature to fill me with wonder. It makes me focus (!) on the intricate beauty of the natural world that I might otherwise pass by. I have to be still and present to capture the bee with its head buried in a flower or emerging speckled with pollen. I'm awestruck by the beauty of pink lady's slippers on a mossy path and kneel down in a worshipful pose to savor the loveliness and try to catch the light outlining the delicate veins. Taking time to photograph a thing of beauty makes you not only appreciate it, but can make you feel one with it. Time slows down. I may later sigh that the picture did not do it justice, but sometimes I am rewarded when it all comes together to make a memorable shot. Then both the experience and the results make me happy.

  15. My favorite post. Thank you for sharing.... xo, N.G.

