So often we wait for a big event, for everything to line up just right. And when it doesn’t, are you bummed out? Well, the key is to appreciate the present moment. Big moments are wonderful, but most of life is about ordinary little moments. So if you want life to mean more, you’ve got to look at the gift of right now. The color yellow led me to this epiphany. Take a look at this abstract photo’s message.
With the endless stream of news, it seems like we are about to get caught in a monster wave and crushed. Asking “why” focuses on the past, and worrying puts us in the future. We need tools to help us be in this present moment. Ocean waves are a great symbol of how life crests up and then dumps us down in the troughs. Using ocean wave photography as a reference point, I weave the story these photos tell by summoning the wisdom of Phil Stutz in Jonah Hill’s recent Netflix documentary, “Stutz.”
There’s a deep peace walking in fresh snow. You want to be quiet. It’s like visiting a temple or historic cathedral. Or maybe it’s a protective device of ours buried deep. A safety behavior so we don’t unnecessarily tip off an avalanche. However, there was no danger of that here.
In the past, religious ceremonies, art, literature, music, time in nature, and other rituals used to offer us these moments of reverence. Unfortunately, our pace has pushed those things to the side. Instead, we honor a to-do list and multitasking motion. Reverence is abandoned. People complain of being tired and feeling like they are going through the motions. As the star of the show, we must dedicate ourselves to figuring out how to appreciate things around us more deeply if we wish to reclaim meaning in our lives. The story behind this Arizona mission art tells the story.
While it seems like there’s a resurgence of Wild West recklessness in the world lately, we are enjoying a resurgence of red colors. The reason for the popularity right now? We are looking to surround ourselves with positive energy and add a sense of individuality to our surroundings. So bringing the warmth of red inside gives us a lift. Plus, the more subtle reds create an atmosphere that feels safe. Like barn red!
Ann Newman is an abstract photographer, writer, and creator of Annstracts. As a former, professionally-trained salesperson, Ann understands that people want to solve problems or accelerate growth for a better future. Exploring the symbolism in abstract photos, she lets them tell stories that offer hope. You might find Ann near her home in Phoenix, bent down looking at the tiniest details of a bug, patting any nearby dog, or looking up at a tree to figure out what bird she just heard.
