Project 365 d-136

     Have you ever seen something that was just amazing, but your couldn't figure out how to get your mind around it properly? Well if you have, then you can appreciate the dilemma I faced in viewing today's image. It was at first glance that I recognized an abstract quality to this piece of plywood. It was from an old work bench in the garage of our new home. Though it seemed ready to be torn down; I couldn't bring myself to do it. I kept thinking that I wanted to photograph it in a studio under lights one day. Standing on a ladder and leaning over it I had even tried to capture what I was seeing last summer, but to no avail. There were so many little unique mysteries locked into the surface. Colors and shapes of many different projects over the years were etched upon its surface. Each section with a story that I will never know and can only guess as to how it came to be.

     So today I began to tear down the bench thinking I was content to let it go and just remember what I saw. As I took this big piece off; I found myself setting it off the side separate from the other bits and pieces. There was a roaring fire outside that I had started in anticipation of this event. It had already hungrily devoured the fallen tree branches that I had started it with and needed to be fed again. After all the bench was torn down, there were two piles. One for the burn pile and my lovely abstract plywood. Out the door with the scraps to the fire I went. The flames leaped at the offering of fresh food and hissed and snapped in excitement. What to do with the plywood. "Should I save it, or just let it go?” I asked myself. "Well, it could be months before you have time to mess with it!” I thought. "Just one more try and then I will let it go.” I declared. Retrieving my camera; I propped it up outside for another try and began to photograph. Many exposures later; I realized that I still could not grasp all of the happenings that were on the surface. "Into the fire it goes!” I decided. It had to be this way. Simply, I didn't have the room to store it, or the time to worry about how I failed to capture its essence.

     As I laid it on the glowing fire; I felt a bit sad to see it consumed by smoke and flame. Just before the flames swallowed it completely; I took one final look and tucked the memory away. Except for this photo, ashes all that remain now of this abstract plywood. Maybe there is a lesson here and maybe not; I'm just glad that I saw what I did and took a chance on making art out of it. Day's like this help keep me in the process, and on the journey to the next Oasis to drink my fill. Thanks Mr. Murray for your wise counsel.



Happy Shooting.