Power to express – Wyeth Walk #75

Birds and spring greens marked today.  I got dive bombed repeatedly by a tree swallow that apparently didn’t like me taking pictures of junior – flew within inches of my head several times, yikes.  My pics of junior unfortunately were not quite in focus.  The flowering trees were very showy today as well.. my favorite view was of a street lined with trees with white flowers on the top, and full spring-green leaves on the bottom, and a gorgeous gradation of color in between with the light shining through- was absolutely gorgeous.  None of my pictures did the colors justice.  I snapped a picture of a bright red cardinal sitting in a still bare tree (but too far away to truly be captured by my phone camera).  This snapshot of the tree shadow and brook joined at the base was my best shot of the day – I love the way the black shapes mirror each other so closely – but this photo too I wish were more crisp.  Eventually if I keep doing this enough I’m going to want to study photography and/or get a better camera…but so far I’m still happy with just taking snapshots to remember the walks… but today, those lost color gradations and out of focus birds reminded me of a NC Wyeth quote:

“One’s mental conceptions always exceed the power to express, so we are always limited by technical inability.”

Andrew Wyeth studied with his father, and he made him for years paint cones and spheres and still lifes, honing technical ability.  I am now after typing this incredibly inspired to go practice arpeggios… I KNOW how much my finger strength improves after doing them even just a week or so.

I did notice today that I am actually starting to recognize the different birds by their calls because I’ve been walking among them enough.

April 27, Chester County PA, temp 52F