Christmas in July –  Wyeth Walk #130

The one thing I’ve learned about doing this nature walk photography every day is that I can count on a surprise.  I have no idea where or when in the walk I’ve done 100 times the surprise or photo op will come, but I know that inevitably, as long as my senses are in “receive mode”, a piece of beauty will catch my eye and my lens.  It’s wonderfully comforting to expect the unexpected.

I think I’ve quoted this before in this blog, but I’ll bring it up again here – Andrew Wyeth said:  

“My whole idea is to keep myself open for the elusive something [that catches you] off balance when you least expect it.”

I recently had a conversation with a musician friend of mine about “trusting” improvisation, and this definitely holds true in music too. Being in receive mode for a music improvisation allows for beautiful unexpected surprises.  I’ve always talked about this in the past, but practicing this trust every day and leaving myself open in a different medium, photography, is really honing these skills for me in all of my creative modes- most importantly, in my music as well.

In today’s case, I was nearing the end of my walk, with a couple of nice photos under my belt of velvety moss.  Then, out of the corner of my eye this red leaf grabbed my attention and stole the show for the photo of the day.  The red and green reminded me of Christmas both in the traditional colors and in the gift of this beauty against the brown leaves.

July 13, Chester County PA, temp 84F