Yes, that's what we humans are, a fine mess. Fine, as in delicate, elegant, beautiful, high-quality. Think of diamonds or jewelry or china or crystal. Think of wine and dining. A mess, as in this tangle of experiences, of emotions, of desires, of fears, all thrown into a melting pot of language and culture, heredity and personality, that makes us who we are. What a recipe for complexity! If you tug gently on one of the threads, the entire being resonates. Vibrations travel along the filaments, setting off those nearby. The breezes blow and we rock and sway, either singing or howling, depending on the ferocity of the wind and the direction from which it comes. Echoes of the past, present and future collide.
Sometimes, though, in this state of unbridled messiness, we are drenched in luminosity, dangling and vulnerable though we may be, when seen in the right light, from the right perspective, through the right lens, we are a treasure to behold.
Speaking of lenses, for my birthday, my chéri gave me a real macro lens (100 mm f/2,8 for those who are interested) for my camera. Macro lenses have the ability to focus on tiny details, to amplify them, to allow us to appreciate the beauty that lies in the ordinary or the overlooked. This photo was taken with that lens. The tiny, tangled web was only about an inch in diameter as it hung from the tree branch in the yard. What we see and how we see really it depends on the lens we use, how we set the focus, how much light we let in, how quickly we look (or how quickly we look away). Photography has taught me to see the world around me much differently, how to observe subtle changes that occur, how to look for details and focus on what is most important.
And so, while humans are messy creatures, and life is a messy endeavor, there is an inherent beauty in the authentic messes. I'm not talking about the ones that are created with ill intent. I'm talking about the seeming contradictions like the tears and smiles that come at the exact same moment, the simultaneous hellos and goodbyes, the ability to retain optimism when things are bleak, how separation can make the heart grow fonder and bolder. These are the types of messes I honor here in this photo.
Until next time...
Anne