Beauty Revealed
Lens: Nikon 50mm f1.8 // Shot at: 50mm, f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 100
This is a flower.
Yes, just a flower. I couldn’t even tell you what kind of flower it is. I take that back, Google Lens just informed me that this a type of Crocus. Funny, I thought those were only found in tropical climates preying on unsuspecting gazelle.
It is pretty in its own right, the flower I mean. Not crocodiles, they are terrifying. But that doesn’t make this image come alive. Anyone can take a picture of a flower and those of us looking at the picture would go, “Hey, that’s a pretty flower!” It would stop there, though. Without context, a flower is a flower and a crocodile is a crocodile. Ok, enough about crocs.
There is more to this image that causes it to top one of my favorite photos. More depth to be discovered.
Context is king.
Anyone privy to the monochromatic 6 months of Western New York known more formally as winter, knows this flower is a sign of hope. After months of below freezing temperatures, ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain, seeing a splash of color in your gardens renews the soul. As one of the first flowers you’ll see in the spring, the crocus is that much needed hope.
The ground thaws, the air softening, streams flow with freshly melted snow, and aroma of new life fills your senses. People. You begin to see people outside again. Less puffy coats make their way out of the closets, parks and sidewalks fill with those formerly too wise to take on the bitter cold. It really is a different world.
But why are you writing this in November…?
While it is true that this post is mostly about Spring and we are flirting with Thanksgiving. There is a point to this madness. You see, we are about to step into that 6 month lull in color, warmth and sunshine. We will be in a seemingly unending rhythm if shortened days and air that hurts your face. Those who’ve experienced this each year long for a trip south to feel warmth from the sun. Some even resort to garden shows just to be around things that are alive.
We all know that it won’t stay winter forever. But when its May and there is snow in the forecast you begin to have real doubts.
The point is that there is hope. That hope is shown as a flower emerging out of the frozen ground declaring new life to the world. Hope is something we all need, and not just hope for 70 degree days.
As noted previously, I have lived with anxiety most of my life. Since a child I’ve struggled through good times and bad. Times feeling limited in my ability to function as a person and other times enjoying personal freedoms and days of peace. There have been moments that seem unending. Many years of unsettled conflict and fear of the unknown. I’ve lived through dark times in my world, issues that seemed impossible to escape.
But hope brought me through. Hope of new life. Hope.
But it’s still just a flower.
Yes, it is still just a flower. However, this flower speaks to my soul its intent and purpose of bringing in the new season. A new season in a physical sense, true, but when I see this flower that isn’t what I feel. I feel hope that this too will pass. Hope that I’m never stuck indefinitely. Hope for the next season and may it be even greater than the season before.