How do we view things around us and what changes our perception of how we view everyday things? I’ve just been on a two-day photography course, which included an assignment to take photographs in London Zoo. The brief was taken from a quote by William Eggleston, “Declare war on the obvious” - go out at take photos that 99% of the other visitors to the zoo wouldn’t take. Really it was about seeing things differently, taking common place scenes and turning them on their head. It was great exercise in forcing us to really look at objects, look at scenes, and not just shoot snapshot compositions presented to us.
I’ve now started taking this approach to everything I see around me - not just while I’m carrying a camera. Suddenly bland grey walls on the way to the tube station have texture and colour that I never noticed before, even my muesli this morning seem to be alive with patterns (not entirely sure that I want my breakfast to be alive - I guess there are certain things that don’t need to be observed so closely).
Anyway eyes wide open I’m off to discover the un-obvious…
Life brings up all sorts of challenges - family troubles, money, crime, health and much more. It’s not about how many of these difficult situations come your way - it’s a myth that lucky people don’t face difficult times. It’s about how you handle these challenges.
The Forgiveness Project is something that I came across some time ago - the most emotive and inspiring project that I have seen. Every part of me says that it’s the right thing to be aiming for - for the sake of the situation, your own sanity as well as for the sake of everyone around you. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it must be. But reading the examples from the website was humbling beyond words.
“To forgive is not just to be altruistic, it is the best form of self-interest” - Desmond Tutu
In a somewhat random conversation over drinks, we were trying to work out what were some of the coolest inventions were. The Boeing 747, iPod (inevitably), the Ferrari 275 GTS, a frisbee, the internet, fork and knife, lapelles (!!), money, the Dyson vacuum cleaner, democracy and the bra.
What’s most interesting to me is how these things came about. Frenzied moments of genius? Not one of them - they have either come about through hard work (99% perspiration, yes I remember Dad!), or through total luck (Eureka).
- The Frisbee - inspired by the metal pie tins of the Frisbie Baking Co
- The escalator - conceived as a Coney Island amusement ride
- Reinforced concrete - by a French gardener trying to develop a better flowerpot (!!!)
Some people blatantly get it wrong. But some get it so correct it almost makes you want to jump up and down. Or, more likely, they get it so right, that you don’t even realise.
Oh, and don’t forget the old timers!
I am due to be going to a memorial tonight of a close family member.
Trying to work out a few practical aspects for this evening, it has really struck me of the power of photos. Seeing a recently departed loved one in a familiar photo - in this case at a family event with all relatives around him - it really brought back memories in an incredibly powerful way. I look at old photos of others (the joys of Flickr), and yes it makes me smile - but seeing photos of someone I know and love(d) from only a few years ago really does bring out so many different emotions. Pride and smiles, what a fantastic time we had. Tears and sadness, this person is gone.
Is there anything that we have that’s as immediate and powerful as photos? Being able to tangibly bring back a personal memory, what a gift, what a joy, what a moment to make me smile and be grateful for that relationship.
There are certain things from life that really influence you - the inspiring art teachers that meant you have got into photography, family meal times eating pizza that mean that you got into cooking, romantic grandparents that has been an incredible example for your relationships.
“I was dumfounded (sic). I thought I was dreaming,” the husband told the newspaper Wednesday.
The couple, married for 14 years, are now divorcing, the newspaper reported.
A pig and a chicken are walking down a road.
The chicken looks at the pig and says “Hey, why don’t we open a restaurant?”
The pig looks back at the chicken and says “Good idea, what do you want to call it?”
The chicken thinks about it and says “Why don’t we call it ‘Ham and Eggs’?”
“I don’t think so” says the pig, “I’d be committed but you’d only be involved”
Sound familiar anyone?
Muslims call it zakah. People at this time of year think of it more than ever. Many companies have the 1% club.
But really how important is charity? How much should we be giving away? And when? And how? And who?
Question for you - you’re asked what is the most embarrassing thing about the world in which we live - what would you answer?
For me, the big one is poverty. How can we really live in a world where we “in the west” have so much, yet so many people have so little. How can’t we find a way where we all have enough, and where we all are encouraged to work hard, and where we all survive. No, that doesn’t mean that all of us should be driving flashy cars - but it does mean that we all have enough to eat, that we all have access to health and education, that we are not in risk of war…
But how to build this into normal life? How can we make it happen? How to ensure that this is just a part of what we do everyday? All of us, all actors - from government to companies, from individuals to families to communities - don’t we owe it to us all to make this happen? Is there actually anything else that we should be doing?
I, of course, don’t know the answer. But it is incredibly encouraging that so many people and organisations and companies are trying to find solutions.
Is there anything more important that we as a people need to solve?
