Waiting for Wings

Last week I read “Waiting for Wings” to my class. It’s my favorite Lois Ehlert book. Lots of information, great illustrations!

As I wandered around the yard yesterday I thought about the book and what an apt description that title is for my photography adventures…and for my lifestyle. People often ask me how I manage to chase down so many different butterflies and dragonflies and other critters. The simple answer is that I don’t. I wait for them.

When I first started photographing critters I tried to follow them and get closer to them and it seldom worked that way. My movements or even my shadow frightened them away. Slowly, over time, I learned to just stand near a group of flowers and be still. Sometimes I have to wait a long time, but if there is activity in the garden I usually manage to capture some of it. I wander and meander and dawdle in the yard. Critters get used to me. Even this season’s rabbits have already started to ignore me.

I have admitted before that I’m a “what if” person and usually think of at least a dozen best and worst things that might happen in any given situation. However, when it comes to actions, I’m usually not the person out front trying to make things happen or change. I’m more of the “wait and see” type. I usually don’t go with the flow until I see where the flow is going. Perhaps I have simply slowed down with age, but I like to think I’ve grown older and wiser.

So if you need to find me….I’ll be outside, waiting for wings.

Comments

[Megan]

Metaphor for life!