Life can be a mystery. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Some live a life of constant struggle and woe; others live in the lap of luxury. Some are thankful for each new day; some just wish the night would swallow them whole. Some rush through life blithely ignoring the effect they have on others, while some are desperately seeking to know if anyone knows they exist. I cannot explain why all the things that happen in life happen the way they do. Sometimes I can see the cause and effect of one or two situations, but for the most part, I can be just as confused and uncertain about things as the next person. The only thing that I can see which makes a difference in the twists and turns that life throws our way is hope. If hope is placed in the right hands, a person can survive what appears to be insurmountable circumstances. Hope has the ability to lift a person beyond the here and now to something better, some place better, Someone better. Without hope, despair becomes the alternative, and despair can lead to the unthinkable.
I hadn't made up my mind as to how I was going to approach this word. I wasn't planning on taking the "typical" shot. But while we were visiting the Nature Conservancy in Cape May the sun was so bright I often had trouble seeing the picture in the screen on the back of my camera, so I shot blindly "hoping" that something would come out. Every once in a while I would just lift the camera and take a shot to see what I might get. Imagine my surprise when this picture came across the screen while uploading the 200 plus pictures I took that day! It's certainly not worthy of National Geographic or Natural Wildlife, but it is a happy accident, and very fitting for hope. I don't have a fancy lens, so I'm not able to zoom as I should for a soaring bird shot, but if memory serves me correctly this was an Osprey flying home with a fish dinner in its mouth.
Although it may be a common image for hope, it is a picture of what it does for the human soul. It draws us to light. It lifts us above the ground. And it opens wide the sky to brush breezes across our face and put air under our wings.
Beautiful...and just what I needed today. Thank you. I'm faving this one so that I may come back and visit with your thoughts and image on another day. Thank you.
Wow ... what a fantastic photo and love your pov. Fantastic lighting and lovely to have the Osprey there. You should really be a writer (as well as a photographer,) Ann. I know that I've said it before, but I think that you should try to go for it.
@karenann Thank you Karenann- I have been thinking and praying about that so much lately. A good friend of mine has said the very same thing this week- to take my photos and the things I write together and make a book. I am tentatively leaning towards "going for it". I'm not sure what it is, but I feel there is just a bit more confirmation I need. Thank you for your encouragement. I am taking your words very seriously. @wenbow Thank you Wendy! I appreciate your comments!
@sangwann Thanks Dione! Well, it's not a pigeon, but that's an easy mistake to make because my little p & s cannot zoom in on soaring birds! We saw all kinds of bird life that day and this may have been an osprey carrying its dinner home or another sea bird such as a seagull or skimmer. It's hard to tell from this distance!
Brave girl standing under a bird taking its picture!!! But you got a great flight shot! I love it. The blue sky, the sun and the gull... Perfect! Well done!
i was viewing your photos yesterday at the office and i really enjoyed this one. the 'blind' shots, i call it. shoot now, get surprised later. serendipity, i say, unfortunately it's not one of the words. wonderful shot, ann.
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri!
@daveanajao Thank you Dave!
@groovygirlrn Thank you Sheri!
@lyno Thank you Lyn!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick!
@beachradish Thank you Beachradish!
@mrssmith Thank you Carla- it means a great deal to me that this was "just what you needed today". It was also what I needed today too!
@eudora Thank you Diane!
Thank you so much everyone! You are incredible in the way you support me!
@wenbow Thank you Wendy! I appreciate your comments!
@prttblues Thanks Bev! Oh not to worry- he was so far up I was safe.