found | Thinking Through My Lens

I love art. The kinds in museums like the MOMA and MOCA as well as many other smaller and less well known museums. I love the kind of art that kids make in school, especially the versions that allow space for individuality and creativity.

And I love the kind of art that shows up unexpectedly. Like a face peering up out of the sand, a small array of rocks, perfectly arranged to show the flip of the hair, monochromatic and striking in its simplicity.

Then there is the abandoned collection, carefully selected and arranged. Tiny shells and shiny rocks, bits and pieces of sea life laid out to be appreciated.

I love the art that is composed, either by human or by nature, with attention to an out-of-place detail that draws the eye and says, “look at me!” A single delicate blossom, maybe swirled in the briny breeze until it landed, planted in contrast to the worn edges of the sea-tossed rocks.

And the abstract composition that can only be crafted by nature’s hand, reminiscent of the polka dots Yayoi Kusama is known for, carved by wind and water. Is it art or an apartment building for sea creatures, algae, and insects?

I love that art is both made and found, and that it is open to the interpretation of the maker and the viewer. As the mom of an artist, I recognize that art emerges, oftentimes without a fully formed narrative that explains its creation, meaning, and significance. It emerges from materials, from a spark, from a moment…or from struggle, wrestling to free itself to find the light and maybe a new audience.

What art have you made, found, or supported today?

Do you speak in images? Enjoy taking photos to document your experiences or just to express what you notice in the world? Love to share them with others? Welcome to the weekly photo challenge! I post a new challenge each week…check in regularly and join the fun!

Just this morning one of my students found me just as I was heading out for recess duty… “Do you want to see a really big spider?” How could I resist that invitation? As she led me around the corner from our classroom, this is what we found!

I’m not a big spider fan, but I do appreciate the wonderful striped legs…and couldn’t resist getting close enough for a picture!

I also had my camera (phone) out yesterday at school documenting our student readers at work. There is something just so precious and powerful about finding a first grade reader engaged and hard at work.

I make lots of finds on the beach. This week I’ve been fortunate that low tide (and beautiful, warm weather) has corresponded with the time I have left work, offering me a wonderful opportunity for some beach walks before heading home. Yesterday I heard this urgent high pitched sound and then found these birds, seemingly engaged in quite a conversation (or perhaps a bird argument)!

As I was heading up the stairs toward the parking lot, I found this hat and sunglasses perched on the railing. It was fun to play with some editing tools to create an interesting effect…and a burst of light where the sun played with the water.

Over the weekend, as my husband and I walked we engaged in two favorite beach walking activities…searching for beach glass (not easy to find) and being litterati: finding trash, photographing it, and disposing of it (unfortunately, way too easy!). We did find this beauty of a piece of light green glass…

and this mylar balloon bouncing along the shore. We collected the glass and disposed of the balloon, both making the beach a little bit cleaner and the sea animals a little bit safer.

And sometimes my best photos come from things I find around the house. One of my student’s parents brought these pomegranates for us from their tree. I had tucked them into my refrigerator for my hubby to use in one of his recipes…until I was thinking about fall and realized they would make a great still life photo. I love the way the light comes into my dining room in the afternoon, washing the table in warm light. Here’s my little bit of fall find.

So what will you find that catches your eye…and your lens…this week? Will you stumble over it, be led to it by a student or child, pull it from the refrigerator, or find it on an outing?

You can post your photo alone or along with some words: commentary, a story, a poem…maybe even a song! I love to study the photographs that others’ take and think about how I can use a technique, an angle, or their inspiration to try something new in my own photography. (I love a great mentor text…or mentor photo, in this case!)

I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #found for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

What have you found lately? I can’t wait to see what you find through your lens!