Familiar paths

On a beautiful day recently I headed out by car with my camera to visit a botanical garden about an hour’s drive from home. Traffic was horrible, and after taking 15 minutes to go less than a mile, I changed plans and decided to stay close to home and see what I could find for photos.

So I took a stroll through my garden and then along the shore. I didn’t go out expecting to see anything particular, but whenever I head out, it seems that I always find something that attracts my attention. That’s part of the beauty of photography. I try to be open to the world as it presents itself to me and to be aware of its freshness, even in routine.

The garden tour resulted in some dahlia photos, and the shore walk presented some fine seascapes, maritime scenes, and a mural I had not seen before. In the end I was glad that I put off the car trip for a future date. The sunshine, fresh air, exercise, and some good photo ops made the change of plans worthwhile.

Familiar paths can sometimes surprise us with novelty and beauty and offer us a chance to reflect on our blessings. Although travel is a wonderful way to experience the world, I realized that I don’t have to travel far from home to experience the wonder of creation.