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| (1) |
Nature holds many lessons…and two of the most profound are the fleetingness of time and the overlooked beauty of the commonplace. Both can be observed in a lilac bud.
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| (2) |
I've been making images of the buds on a small lilac bush at the corner of the cottage for a couple of weeks. It's astonishing how they've changed in so short a period—and to me, astonishing how beautiful these fingertip-sized buds can be when you take a moment to look close.
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| (3) |
The first three photos are all of the same bud. The top (1) was made today. Image (2) was made two weeks ago. I shot the one on the right (3) last week. Dormant, greening, opened—all in the space of a few days. Amazing.
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| (4) |
All the other shots—(4, 5, 6)—were taken today. I may make more before it's over, because I want to keep pounding the lesson into my own foolish, neglectful head…that every day I miss far more than I see, disregarding the wonders of the commonplace and failing to see their beauty, though they are there in abundance, practically at my doorstep.
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| (5) |
I hope you like the photos—but even more, I hope you get out and take a few moments to look at a bud or two yourself. Because that's the other part of the lesson…time never waits.
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| (6) |
