Turning Down The Volume Of Life

 

“Quiet is peace.

 Tranquility.

 Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. 

Silence is pushing the off button.

 Shutting it down.

 All of it.” 

~Khaled Hosseini,

  The Kite Runner 

 

The little bird you see in the photo is a Least Sandpiper. It is a mighty little bird, in fact they are the smallest of the sandpipers. They are about the size of a sparrow, and I have misidentified them more than once, but I have come to know them now, and I look forward to them every year. I love their sound. While I can't wait to photograph them, they are quite a challenge as they move about in a manic pace. I also enjoy just putting the camera down and observing them. I know I say this about all the birds I photograph, but I love them. I truly do. Each bird is so unique, and for these birds it's how small and mighty they are. They inspire me to keep trying. They migrate thousands of miles in a year, and are only around for a little while before they are on their way, so it is a true honor to just turn off all the noise and be thankful for their visit to my corner of the world.

 

Learn More About The Least Sandpiper Here.

 

 

“My imagination functions much better

 when I don't have to speak to people.” 

~Patricia Highsmith

Quiet

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

On Saturday, after I finished photographing the wreckage of the Asiana Airlines Flight 214, I decided to chill out for a few minutes before leaving BayFront Park. I was a bit tired, and it was an eerie feeling of seeing the reminents of what had been a pretty large aircraft just sitting still on the runway, with large, gaping holes and clear signs of having been on fire just a few hours earlier. I don't know that I was exactly ready for the sight in front of me, but I took the shots I wanted, and then recognizing the growing anxiety welling up, I stopped and sat in the grass for a bit, to just rest and decide how I wanted to approach yesterday's post.

Across the small body of water that seperates the airport from the park, were some cute little birds, Sandpipers I think, doing some fishing, completely oblivious to human tradgety not too far away. It was a nice sight. I took these two pictures, and immediately felt better, as so often happens when I have my camera with me. I kinda tease myself sometimes, that my camera is actually fused to my hand, but seriously, my cameras have always brought me so much comfort, that really and they really are a part of my body at this point. The best part of my body... lol... I have been told I have pretty eyes, but they aren't my best feature, my camera is! LOL. As we begin another Monday, I will be starting the day a little quiet, and happy for the real miracles that happen every day! Oh... and for my cameras!

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

~Dr. Suess

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)