Saturday, January 26, 2019

Beginnings

So, here we are at (almost) the end of the first month of the year. Truly, time does seem to go by faster as I age.

Since I retired many years ago, January has always been a month of unsettled feelings for me. I usually do some "purging", clearing out and organizing....maybe a way to calm my mind some.

Because in January, my mind fills with possibilities. Maybe my subconscious is trying to me something, I don't know. But my mind gets so filled with things I want to do that I find it difficult to sleep at night.

During the month, I dreamed obsessively about vegetable gardening, building a deeper pond so I can over winter our fish without transferring them into our garage, painting, writing, hand stitching, and reading and researching all of the above. Perhaps I'll blog more about those things in the coming days.

But let's start with the first day of January. The last day of December, and the first day of January were not good ones for me for reasons that I won't go into here. I was struggling emotionally and needed to clear my head. On New Year's Day, I bundled up (it was a very cold and cloudy day) and picked up my camera and went into our postage stamp backyard.

Closing my eyes, I focused on breathing. Breath in deep, exhale slowly. In, out. Repeat.

Eventually my mind calmed a bit and I became aware of the sound. Really, the lack of sound. We live in town on a busy street but there was no traffic. A few birds sang in the forest behind us, but otherwise it was quiet.

I opened my eyes and looked. It was still cold and cloudy but I just stood and looked around. The clouds were moving quickly and for a brief moment there was a break in the clouds and the sun shone through.

I raised my camera and pressed the shutter three times. A few days later, I worked with the images. A few days after that I wrote the verse.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Journey

Journey from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Journey
life is
a journey
each path
a gift for us
to choose
challenging
changing
defining
our lives

I photographed some maple buds without seeing a little ant in the picture until I looked at the image on my computer.
Then the story in my mind became about the ant and his journey.
The final image is quite a departure from the original photo with a very painterly feel, telling a story about my own journey with photography.

Journey is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".



Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Awakening

Awakening from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Awakening
awakened
discontentment
disappears
the world
is alive
with colour

A simple image of spring blossoms and colour, coming alive after a time of dormancy.
Life renewed.
Winter, February and March in particular, are difficult months for me. This past winter was especially difficult for many reasons.
A walk in early spring had me noticing the buds on the trees.
I took a quick image with my phone and then worked with it to try to create a painterly image filled with hope.

Awakening is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".   

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Simplicity

Simplicity from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Simplicity
longing for
the feelings
of youth
my world filled
with wonder
and love for
the simple things

Sometimes I go through periods where I find it difficult find inspiration. I am fairly certain this happens to many, if not all, creative people.
Early in the year was one of those times for me. I started looking at work online by various painters. One painting caught me eye because it was simply just a few brush strokes. I'm sure a lot of work went into it, and I was intrigued by how much I was attracted to that image with just a few lines.
That day I picked a few wildflowers when I was out dog walking. The next morning I noticed the light coming through the blinds while I was pouring my cereal.
Breakfast plans stopped and I gathered my camera and three wildflowers to set up a very simple image.
I had no intention of copying the painting I saw online, but am happy that I used it as inspiration to create my own version of "Simplicity".

Simplicity is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Messenger

Messenger from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Messenger
behold
the messenger
herald
of hope
redeemer
of spirit
life
renewed



Every day I walk the same route along the LaHave River. Sometimes I have one dog with me, sometimes I have two.
They have learned to wait patiently if something catches my eye that I have to record with a camera.
When walking my dogs, I satisfy myself with my phone or a point and shoot.
This Scarlet Tanager definitely caught my eye. His scarlet red stood out like a beacon on the monochrome day. It was my first ever sighting of one so I had to stop and take a picture.
And the dogs waited patiently.

Messenger is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Rainy Day Blues

Rainy Day Blues from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Rainy Day Blues
my time will come
when skies will clear
endless opportunities
poised to take flight

I have already revealed that I'm not a fan of abstracts. I used to prefer my images to be sharp and distinctly clear.
I find that I now enjoy images that make me stop and take time to look and appreciate. What is the image all about?
Maybe it's just a poor focusing job. Maybe it's intentional.
The longer I live, the more I realize that life is not a clearly laid out path. Sometimes things remain a mystery, and maybe that's a good thing.

Rainy Day Blues is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Friday, January 11, 2019

Something To Crow About

Something To Crow About from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Something To Crow About
victory
tastes sweet
but is seldom
a solitary
achievement

Crow watching can become addictive and the wonders never cease. I watched these three crows for several minutes late one afternoon and this is the first image from a series of photographs I took.
The images tell a story of a jubilant crow with a berry. Silhouetted in the sky and lifting his head in triumph, he tossed the berry up and down repeatedly, only to lose his grip and helplessly watched the berry as it fell.
Timing is everything, and the crow below snatched the berry from mid air.
Perhaps a lesson for us to be poised to take advantage of our opportunities as they arise.
Something To Crow About is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Discombobulated

Discombobulated from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Discombobulated
no longer
on solid ground
perspective
has shifted
what was up
is now down

Moving into town has meant a change in my bird watching. Gone are the grosbeaks, snow buntings, and red tailed hawks of our country property. We have a few songbirds but the overwhelming bird population consists of crows.
When we first moved to town, I despaired of the lack of variety. But time has allowed me to appreciate the crows and all their antics.
This particular crow landed on a branch that immediately bent under his weight.
Wouldn't it be nice to be as adaptable as this crow when our world is turned upside down?
Discombobulated is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Convergence

Convergence from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Convergence
every step we take
every path we walk
every choice we make
converges
defining
our purpose
in life



There are times when ideas are scattered and nothing seems to flow.
But then there are times when everything comes together and is just right.
What seemed to be random converges, and things become what they were meant to be.
Convergence is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Deviation

Deviation from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Deviation
heart pounding
fear rising
questioning
the strength
of my wings



One of my favourite pass times is taking a drive with my husband and dogs, traveling with my camera to see what we can find. Often my husband questions what I want to stop and take photographs of.
On this day we were traveling along the Bay of Fundy. The sky was overcast and the light was terrible. But my heart sang when I spotted telephone wires filled with starlings.
I took several photographs, some long shots showing the wires filled with hundreds of birds, and some close ups with just a few birds.
In this image, I like the fact that only one bird shows signs of movement.
I did capture some lovely photos of fishing sheds and abandoned buildings but this was one of my favourites from the day,.




Deviation is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Monday, January 7, 2019

Receiving Lines

Receiving Lines from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Receiving Lines
the horizon is filled
with opportunity
if our receiving lines
are open


We moved into town after living in the country for many years and I wondered about how my photographic opportunities would change.
But I learned that there are moments to capture wherever you are if you open your mind to possibilities.
Early one January morning, I was standing at my kitchen window drinking a much needed coffee.
The sky was an amazing combination of alternating lines of blues and pinks, which echoed the power lines that ran down the street.
So many opportunities, so many paths we could choose to follow. Who knows what the future will bring?
Receiving Lines is from a series I created in 2018 called Differentiation. To view the complete series of images and verse, click on this link and then click "Preview".

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Rhythm of Life

Rhythm of Life from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Rhythm of Life
heartfelt actions
of kindness
tiny ripples
grow and
expand
weaving ribbons
of joy
through the rhythm
of life


Saturday, January 5, 2019

I Had A Dream

I Had A Dream from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
I Had A Dream


I reach for the light
but the stars have fallen
and lay submerged
glittering their promise
like diamonds
beneath the sea


Friday, January 4, 2019

Shifter

Shifter from the Differentiation Series by Sara Harley
Shifter



sands of time
shifting
changing
adapting
layer upon layer
creating
a complex
beautiful
life


Thursday, January 3, 2019

Moody Blues

Moody Blues is from Sara Harley's 2018 collection called Differentiation
Moody Blues



clouds gather
darkness descends
raw emotions
unleash
the storm
what my truth is
I don't know anymore


Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Drift Away

Drift Away is from Sara Harley's 2018 collection called Differentiation
Drift Away



rising tides threaten
to overwhelm me
but the ocean calls
soothing my soul
worries drift away
like seaweed that has
lost its mooring