Five Frames

The Way It Bends

This pattern was carved into the surface of an old, weathered tree trunk, long past its prime, soft in places, breaking down.

And yet, the lines still hold shape. Still flow. It made me think about what remains after time does its work, what we carry, what we leave.

Do we only see beauty in what's new, or also in what’s endured?

This Week’s Prompt - The Texture Game

Technique: Photograph five different textures around you—bark, stone, fabric, glass, etc.

Why it works: It sharpens your eye and deepens your awareness of the details in your surroundings. You start to see not just what something is, but how it feels—visually.

Try this: Get close and fill the frame. Don’t photograph the whole object—just the surface and its pattern. Let the texture take over. It’s not about identification; it’s about sensation.

Notice how light plays across rough bark or how a smudge on glass catches the sun. You might be surprised how something ordinary becomes abstract, almost unfamiliar, when you remove context.

Behind the Photo

I almost didn’t take this shot. The light was tricky, bright and dappled, shifting fast through the trees. The water was rushing, loud and relentless, and I wasn’t sure I could capture its energy without losing the quiet mood of the forest.

But I paused. Watched. Waited.

I slowed my shutter just enough to slightly soften the water, but not so much that it lost its movement. I wanted to show the energy, not erase it. To hold on to that feeling of something powerful threading its way through something still.

At the same time, I tried to balance the deep shadows with the glow of morning light, preserving the contrast without letting either one take over.

I composed the frame so the water would lead the eye, pulling you in and letting you follow its path as it disappears around the bend. You can’t see where it goes, and that’s part of what I love about it.

Sometimes the challenge isn’t technical. It’s knowing when to stop moving and start seeing.

This image is available as a print in my shop for anyone who wants to bring a bit of that quiet rush indoors.

A Thought

Photography can be a form of gratitude. Every time you pause to take a photo, you’re saying, “This matters.”

What was the last photo that felt like a quiet thank-you?
What were you grateful for in that moment?
Do you photograph with appreciation or habit?

A Quote

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton

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