Wonder and Appreciation

Photo by Nikita, 9, Spain

I bet you there is something only you can see right now because of where you are geographically, socially or just in a moment in time.

We all have access to something unique and you have an opportunity to capture and share it with people across the globe who will be fascinated by it.

More often than not, it will be something you take for granted. That’s just how we are designed: when something is no longer new, it becomes normality and we just stop seeing it.

So how do we maintain that sense of wonder and appreciation? Picking up your camera in a way forces you to do just that, to slow down and to look at things newly again.

If you take your time and observe patiently, you will be ready to respond quickly and pounce with your camera when the right thing presents itself.

Learner’s Tip 📸

🦋Look at Nikita’s subtle diagonals going through the hands - they just make it easier to understand what’s going on in the photo, to take it all in. That’s how human brain processes information and that’s why it just works.

🦋There are no loud distracting colours in this photo and we can just focus on the caring scoop of the hand and the soft movement of the butterfly wings.⠀⠀

🦋Nikita used the perfect setting to make sure the butterfly is not frozen sharp by a fast shutter speed. We can’t see every little detail in her wings, but it’s better this way - this image is as much about the hand as it is about the butterfly. Through this photo we get to experience coming in contact with another creature, her gentle motion and aliveness.