Successful resolutions are intentional, obtainable changes in our lives which lead us to experience happier, more fulfilled days throughout our years. Many resolutions require a change in our thought life and acceptance of a new mindset. Successful resolutions in small seemingly insignificant areas of our lives affect our character and conduct.
The Contest
The announcement in the Daily Press grabbed my attention; a contest for the best picture of the colors of fall. I immediately knew that I wanted to enter the contest. I have been taking pictures for years but in the past two or three my interest in taking pictures other than “of friends, family, events, and grandchildren” has increased. This interest in photography has been piqued by travels and other adventures, including perusing a motivational book from a friend’s collection; You Can Do It, Badges for Grown-up Women. . I resolved to enter the contest with a really good picture. It would complete my photography badge.
One of the specifications of the contest is that the photograph had to be shot locally. I yearned for the colors of autumn in Appalachia —burnt orange, golden yellow, scarlet red and all the shades in-between. So the adventure began.
Driving to work, I began noticing different trees as they changed colors. I found a group of willows turning yellow. They were gorgeous! The following weekend I dressed in “clothes for lying on the parking lot” and I took shots through the cascade of golden yellow leaves. When I got home to look at my treasures, man’s footprint, in this case power lines, sliced the photo’s karma into a million little pieces. This would definitely not work as “a really good picture entry.” The hunt continued.
As I went through my daily life, the contest loomed in the back of my mind. Getting ready for overnight company, I spread a bright red and yellow quilt on our guest bed. Its colors reminded me of fall and the comfort one gets from cozying up with a cup of tea, a good book, and the warmth of a quilt. The next weekend, Bob and I played like we were tourists and did some gallery hopping. One of our walks led us past the museum and …bingo..I found my Appalachian colors in their courtyard. I took a few pictures and saw the potential when I looked at them on the computer. None of the shots were THE one but the location was perfect—if only I could capture the beauty of the leaves glistening in the sunlight.
The Daily Press ran a picture of last year’s winner in an effort to remind people that the contest’s due date was the following Friday. I looked at the picture again, noting the rustic wagon full of fall colors and how the wagon set the tone of ‘welcome to fall.’ I looked around and thought, “What welcomes a friend or stranger more than a cozy quilt? “ The quilt would definitely be a prop for THE photo. Recalling the milkcan from the dairy that was part of Bob’s family years ago, I loaded the milkcan and quilt into the truck and headed into town for a quick photo shoot at the museum. I pulled into the parking lot and it was completely filled. The vehicles obscured the Autumn’s Welcome that I had planned to capture. Ah, I would have to do this on the weekend when the parking lot would not be full of man’s four-wheeled footprint.
Sunday afternoon I returned to my ideal spot only to find that the one vehicle in the parking lot was parked in the one space that had to be empty, the one closest to the gate and courtyard. I waited patiently for the owner to return. After a good two minutes, I got out of my truck planning to study the angles, looking for any distracters that I would need to work around, and took my props and camera over to the Museum’s yard. The heavily tinted window of the compact truck rolled down. Startled, I jumped as the couple in it asked me if I needed any help. I asked if they would mind moving to another spot in the lot, explaining about the photo.
I lugged the milkcan inside the arched gateway, with my camera around my neck and the quilt slung over my shoulders. And then I began taking photos, discovering later as I worked with the photos on my computer that I had indeed taken THE photo that afternoon that was my creative best. The judges agreed with me, awarding me third place in the contest and its prize of a $25 gift certificate to Diane’s restaurant.
My photography badge was completed, topped with a gold star.
Go for it! Hugs and love, Mimi
The Contest is just one recent resolution in my life to strengthen my belief that all I do is unto the Lord and should be done well.
