Forest Zipper: What Happens When We Take a Moment

 

“The world moves fast, changing everything around us with each new day. Photography is a gift that can keep us in a moment forever, blissfully eternal.” - Ali Novak


    I used to frequently approach life like a series of missions, tasks to complete and lists to check off as I maximized my efficiency, making the best time possible. The destination was of most importance, not the journey itself. I'm sure I picked up some of this life scripting from my father and probably learned the rest from my time in the Navy. Mission accomplishment was a Chief's job, plain and simple. But to go through life with this mindset certainly made me miss some happy moments along the way. It wasn't possible to savor the wonder of creation when I spent the journey, the real meat of the meal of life, chewing and swallowing as fast as I could so I could get to dessert, the destination.

    That's not to say that I was always like this, but I did find myself in this mindset more often than not. As I grew to realize how foolish I was being, I resolved to slow down and "smell the roses." This became most impactful when driving on a trip of some kind. I used to care most about getting the drive over with. Now, I look for opportunities to stop and enjoy things I see by the side of the road. Taking the time to get out, look around, appreciate the breeze and smell the outside air, take an impromptu hike up a forest path, and capture an image or two has made my travel through life much more enjoyable and memorable. Taking a moment to appreciate the world makes all the other moments that much more lasting. Life isn't a series of to-do lists. It's an adventure if we're willing to take time to notice.

    As I wrote in my post on December 11, 2021 as winter was fast approaching...

    While driving home from the town of Boone, North Carolina after visiting Appalachian State University with my son, we decided to stop the truck and stretch our legs a bit in the chilly mountain air. Grabbing my camera, we hiked up a hill and marveled at the gorgeous colors of the rich fall foliage. After capturing a few grand vistas, I decided to look a little closer at the trees nearby and found this wonderful scene of lusciously cascading yellow leaves. With autumn now quickly fading into wintertime, I hope this reminds you of the joy to be found in the autumnal forest.

Clicking on the image will open it in full screen

‘Forest Zipper,’ a yellow tumble in the chilly embrace of an unusually cold late afternoon during fall in Deep Gap, North Carolina, in Watauga County.

www.johnjgiardinaphotography.com


Location: Deep Gap, NC 28618, USA

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