Spark joy

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy” -- Rumi

I don’t feel well when I am not being creative. I love taking photographs. I love going out walking and spotting things to photograph. Those simple acts spark the most joy in my life, and they contribute greatly to the quality of my well-being. I enjoy playing the role of being a detective when I go looking for things that we tend to overlook take it for granted. When I photograph those mundane objects, I hope to bring new light to our observation by infusing them with my personality. When I used to go on one of those exotic photography trips, it is straightforward take beautiful photos of those amazing and unique locations, and because the locations are chosen as they are visually extraordinary. It is therefore not a great challenge to bring home at least a few satisfying images.

But to create something beautiful out of subjects we see as mundane, that takes deeper seeing and thinking. How do you pique people’s interest with subjects that are not usually deem worthy to photograph? If you can make the most ordinary object look interesting though, think how much more you can bring to compelling subjects or scenes when the opportunities do come? Seeing the potential in ordinary objects and scenes is therefore a fantastic skill to have and one that is worth spending the time developing.

Early last year, I started photography dandelions I spotted around my house, yes dandelions, those we see as weed and we try our might to get rid of them as fast as we can in our backyards once we spot them. Instead of seeing dandelions as nuisance, I found such beauty in their structure which deem them to be perfect subjects for black and white photography in my eyes. When they are lit with beautiful light, their white seeds with the beautiful translucent quality bring a glowing presence to them. They are jewels in my eyes. Unfortunately, I started late in the season last year and I was only able to take a few photos I deemed to be specimen shots. Starting early this spring, I resumed my effort and expanded my effort to many other locations, hoping to find dandelions in situations where I was able to put in some personality to an ordinary weed. I am happy to say this year’s effort has yielded much better results.

This year, I make more intentional effort with my shoots due to the lessons learned from my not so successful effort last year. I have been keeping in mind a couple of key points during each shoot. First, before I start shooting, I ask myself what elements I can bring to make the dandelions come alive? I try to make conscious effort to connect with my subjects by conjuring some stories before taking each photo. Instead of seeing the dandelions as they are, I view them as different people, each with their own story and personality. I try to highlight some of their unique features and make them stand out – be it a lone seed on its crown, some seeds come undone due to the wind, elements that add to their stories. I look hard and probe my subjects by looking at its textures, its colors and what elements they are made up of. Another crucial element I pay attention to is of course the lighting condition. Light is truly a gift. Interesting light can make anything wonderful to look at. I take advantage of different lighting conditions, be it harsh light or soft filtered light that accentuates the translucent quality of the dandelion’s seeds. I am always on the lookout for light that make the dandelions glow.

I love looking for beauty in the everyday and practicing gratitude for the little things. I find by taking photos of the mundane in my life, I sharpen my perception to look for good things that we easily overlook. It is hard not to feel content in life when I have so many beautiful reminders of the little joys that surround me. By photographing those little moments, I curate and fill my life with beauties that spark joy.