A Little Bit of Home, Wherever You Go

Being from San Diego, California, there really wasn't much of my childhood that I remember not being outside. Even in our very own backyard at home, we had a huge grassy field with bike paths interweaving throughout it so as a kid I could ride my bike round and round our backyard with my siblings until our parents called us in for dinner. In addition, our family lived fairly close to the beach so my mom would often buy us all Subway sandwiches and pack me and my siblings in the car for yet another beach day. I have always loved the outdoors not just for its beauty and peace but also because truthfully each time it brings me just a bit closer to feeling at home wherever I go. 

One of my favorite areas in Fort Worth that reminds me the most of home is the Trailhead by Clearfork shopping center just 10 minutes up the road. I often come to the trail for food by Pressed Cafe, to read a book, to go for a run, or walk and listen to a podcast. On this day that I captured in the following photos, I was doing my best in this nature observation to really unplug and be mindful of the things around me. I put my phone in "Do not disturb" mode and did my best to be mindful of all my senses in order to see the area through a fresh and unique lens. 

The first photo I captured reminds me a lot of what the Conservation Photography Handbook by Boyd Norton defines to be as texture. The slight ripples in the Trinity river from the wind that day really capture in my mind the three-dimensional aspect of this photo and also highlights the aspect of motion in nature. I think many times photographers can capture stillness which also offers peace and tranquility but I have to say growing up with the waves in California, I really resonated with the small ripples and movement in the water in the photo. 

The second photo and honestly one of my favorites highlights the sun just peeking through the trees. I truthfully think since I was just walking and being mindful of the things around me I was able to catch this timing of the sun through the trees which honestly I found so beautiful. I love how later in the Conservation Photography Handbook chapter the author highlight that each picture tells a story and I believe that each story can be interpreted differently depending on each person and their past stories and experiences. But for myself, this picture reminds me of a large sycamore tree my family and I had in the back corner of our backyard when I was little and the sunrise on our side of the street used to peek through just like this picture. 

It never fails to amaze me what pictures or places or moments can instantly bring you back to a memory or experience. This nature observation specifically taught me to continue to be mindful and take inventory of what is around me because you never know the places you will go when you take the time to pick your head up and look.