Then, the awe of the moment suddenly broke when I realized I had my camera in my hand. Before I could catch up to the irony, the camera was out in an attempt to capture the amazing experience.
This photo represents that moment:
Why did I bring my camera with me on a dark night for a short walk to the beach?
I laid on the sand and pondered my predicament. For over six-hundred days, I have taken a photo every single day and shared it on my photo blog. It is something that has opened my eyes in so many ways and taught me more than I ever imagined it would. My camera lens has become somewhat of a third eye in my life and I love it. However, I began to wonder if my lens was taking on too dominant of a role...
This photo shows nothing of what my senses experienced that night. When I search this black rectangle, I don't hear the waves, see the stars or feel the cold wind on my face. I see a black rectangle. I also see that there was nothing for the camera lens to see, though. This photo reminds me that sometimes life is meant to be experienced rather than recorded.
It is a fine line to walk, knowing when to capture a moment with the senses and when to capture it with the camera, but ironically, having my camera with me that night on the dark beach opened my eyes to see that I want to walk that line as well as I can. I long to inspire and influence lives with my art. In order to do that most effectively, devoting time to creating something is essential, but don't be surprised if you find me occasionally tossing the camera aside. Or just walking at night under the stars...
