2/31 July Challenge

2/31 July Challenge

Well Folks, it was quite a morning!

I woke up at 4am knowing I had an hour drive ahead of me to get to my favorite lake. I shot out the door, having packed the night before, and as I was driving I ran into a fire on the side of the road. That delayed me for a little while and I found myself chasing the sunrise, hoping that I wouldn’t miss the good light. Thankful for me, the lake was behind a mountain and the sun wasn’t up yet when I arrived. Not so thankful for me, the lake was almost entirely dried up. I had to switch to Plan B…

…Which was, essentially, to use what I had and to not complain about it. I was even slightly excited, since I wanted to challenge myself as to what I would do this month when things didn’t go my way. The weather was chilly at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (hey, I live in the Southwest), but surprisingly the water was warm. Usually that lake is absolutely frigid with cold and ice, so I was counting my blessings.

In it’s own way the lake was beautiful; reeds chased the sun everywhere, shooting out toward the sky. The mud was freezing so the water felt good on my toes and soon the stinging in my soles went away. I found myself giggling and smiling uncontrollably in that way that only happens when I am completely alone doing what I love.

I did the shoot first laying down with my feet to the camera. That didn’t look so great so I switched my head around and tried that. Still something felt slightly off, so I shot a few sitting up. Those were the images I liked the most and I used one of the three I shot for the final image.

My lesson today, at every step of the way, was to see the beauty in the mistakes. Because I was delayed on the road I got to watch the magnificent sunrise. Because the lake was dried up it was warm. Because I was open to experimentation I got images that I really liked, instead of ones I would Β only settle for.

I dared myself into into the water and saw the brightness and magic of what creating does; it opens your heart to every experience, big or small, and lets you see what wasn’t there before. On the muddied edge of my lake I sat looking at the fireflies dance on top of the water, and everything was perfect.

9 thoughts on “2/31 July Challenge

  1. That is a sorry excuse for a lake! LOL But you look so happy, and that is all that counts! πŸ™‚
    On a serious note, don’t get any water in your nose, or if you have a cute or something. There are so many things like brain eating amoeba, and really bacterias. Okay that is the end of the public service announcement. πŸ˜‰
    Can’t wait to see tomorrows. πŸ™‚

    1. I’ve thrown caution to the wind so many times now I must have about 10 billion brain-eating-vermin in my brain! πŸ˜€ In all seriousness, I need to be reminded of these things because I certainly don’t think about it while I’m shooting. XO!!

  2. Oh Brooke. Oh Brooke.

    OMG BROOKE!

    The mud…the mud. Laying in the mud, walking in the mud. Squishing. In. The. Mud.

    I could never do that, and I am in AWE that you can. Even when I take photos in a lake I have shoes on because: MUD. Watching your video it became very clear to me that I have a MUD PHOBIA. It’s not even about the possible brain eating amoebas…just the squishy squishy mud.

    p.s. And I also LOVE the photo πŸ™‚

    1. When I think of standing or laying in mud, I think of leeches! They don’t hurt you, but they are still nasty little things! LOL

    2. Oh no! The doctor prescribes one week adventuring with me and then mud will be the least of your worries πŸ˜€ hehe πŸ™‚ All joking aside, I totally get it, oddly enough. I feel the same way with deep water. Every time I jump in my heart is in my throat. I am thankful that I love mud…probably too much. And certainly too much for my husband πŸ˜›

      1. Hi Brooke!! looks like you had so much fun!! Really great final result too :)…. I was shooting on the rocks at the beach near my house recently, fell and cut my shin, got infected and have cellulitis, something in the water… go careful!! Brilliant and inspiring work as always. Oh and thanks for your lovely comments on my ‘renaissance style shot, much appreciated… keep doing what you do!! Mick in Ireland πŸ™‚

        1. Thanks Mick! I will definitely be cautious, or at least attempt to be! Thank you for your kind words!

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