Echoed Photo

Once again, I found myself walking down Cuba St. As a approached a cross walk, I noticed a blind man waiting by the curb. He was wearing an old brown leather jacket that looked as if it had kept him warm through many winters. The wrinkly fingers of his right hand wrapped naturally around his white and red cane. His thin, frizzy, white hair blew around in the cool fall breeze.   I decided to hang back a bit, so I could keep an eye out for him and make sure that he made it to the other side safely. After we both reached the other side of the street, I quickened my pace and proceeded to walk past him. As I passed him on his left side, I glanced over at his face and was completely taken back by what I saw. He was smiling at me. He had a smile, the likes of which I have never seen before. I immediately smiled back. I thought to myself, “that’s strange, perhaps he just has poor vision, but could still see me.” However after watching him encounter a small advertising sign in his path, I could tell that he was completely blind. I had to turn and look at him again. It wasn’t just the smile but the underlying peace that accompanied it.  I found a bench to sit on, so I could watch him walk by. He slowly  made his way towards me. He would occasionally encounter an obstacle,  and mindfully negotiate his way around it. He drew closer to me and even though I was sitting in silence, I could tell that he was quite aware of my presence. When he got to about eight feet from me his radiant face slowly turned in my direction. He made no expression other than holding that same beautiful smile. At this point my face almost hurt as my smile felt like it extended ear to ear. He continued on his way and I took a moment and found myself laughing out loud. It was a laugh from the deepest part of me. It was the laugh of a profound realization. Here I was surrounded by people, and the only person who could see me was a blind man. Or perhaps more accurately put, he was a person who had lost there vision, but had gained the ability to see.

DYNAMIC LIGHT

Standing on the forefront of the spiritual intersection.

To all the unknown and shapeless paths. The not yet realized and the simply unperceived. I ask, “uncloak and reveal”. May all hindrances liquefy and return to the depths of unconsciousness from which they came. Let stillness become the raw nerve that is now exposed to the elements, which guide this vessel. Unhook the four keys of your jailers ring and place them into the four locks that surround the cell of your past.

1st key: Fear of the unknown.
2nd key: Question of the unknown.
3rd key: Anticipation of the unknown.
4th key: Delusion of the unknown.
Simultaneously turn the keys and open to truly view the unknown.
Allow for the eyes of you soul to adjust, for the dynamic light of the unknown is bright.

What is the number one most over used word in photography? I will give you a hint. It’s completely vague, it is devoid of any true meaning (in photography), due to it’s over use, and it appears in 99.9 percent of all photographer bio’s, blogs and statements. It is of course, the word PASSION. Yes, photographers are certainly passionate about the word passion. It appears that there is no better word in the english language to convey the importance of photography, to an individual, than the word passion. The dictionary definition for passion is.
1. Strong and barely controllable emotion.
2. An intense desire or enthusiasm for something.
3. Intense sexual desire. (kinky)
So it is safe to say that we ether have A. roving gangs of emotionally unstable photographers roaming the streets. Or B. just a few to many of us have been reading each other bio’s and trying to work the word passion into our own favor.
The point of this blog isn’t really about the word passion. It is about thinking for yourself. Isn’t that what photography and art is really all about? Get creative, not only with your pictures, but with your thoughts. Or even better yet. Drop the thoughts all together and allow the being-ness of who you are, to flow though you and into your art.