Framing

July 29, 2017

Taking pictures of the field of sunflowers was not as easy as I anticipated. The drive to the side of the field where I had to park was downhill, which limited the view from my less-than-6 ft. elevation. I suppose I could have climbed a tree, but that didn't enter my mind at the time--next time. (I'll be sure to have someone take a picture of that!)

"No Trespassing" signs were firmly posted. Visual challenges from the edge of the field included mud, weathered string tied with hot pink flags around the planting, and overhead power lines. How do I frame the view to focus on the desired image and screen out the undesirable objects?

There was a time when I saw something that I wanted to photograph, I zoomed in and later discovered all of the incidentals I wished I had screened out. We've all done it, e.g., Aunt Mildred with a pineapple growing out of her head. Now I know to look beyond what is capturing my attention. Practice makes perfect. I'm still practicing.

Advice from life coaches or counselors often includes the word, "reframing." How we view something changes with how it is framed. If you don't like how it looks, reframe it. Zoom in on what you like and minimize the undesirables.

My mother, who recently had knee replacement surgery, spent time in physical therapy. The PT instructed her on how to best navigate stairs: lead with your bad foot while going down the stairs and with your good foot while going up. Mom reminds herself every time, "Up with the good; down with the bad." That's pretty good advice with a lot of applications.

Lesson learned: focus on the good.

Philippians 4:8 sums it: "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

~LowTide Explorer, Carolyn Fjeran