The Wall
Sometimes when you’re out walking about with a camera in hand, you see something you just know you’re going to enjoy photographing. That despite the fact that, it really doesn’t seem like much, and the photograph is not going to be, in any sense, outstanding. Still, you know it will bring you a bit of joy in the making, and, if you’re careful with your technique, patient with your eye, and focused, you will make something that can bring a bit of joy every time you look at it. Images don’t have to be drop-dead amazing to be consistently pleasing to look at and enjoy.
That’s what happened when we took our stroll through Bad Wildungen. There were, naturally, some interesting intersections and spaces in the historic old town that provided some pleasure in picture making. But when I saw this wall, something inside me leapt with joy as I quickly walked over to see what I could craft.
No, it’s not much. But it’s graphically interesting and offers endless opportunities for visual exploration. And for me, much visual pleasure. If you wanted to, you could talk about abstract concepts like metaphor and the struggle between nature and our modern built environment, or the tenacity of life. Heck, you could even give it a title! Me, no, I’ll just look at an image like this and enjoy it for what it is.
Call me simple minded, but a photograph really doesn’t need to do more than be pleasing to look at! Engaging your brain, well that’s icing on the cake.