As a child, I heard the saying “Practice makes perfect.” But I’ve changed my thinking: only perfect practice makes perfect. But practice does create habits. Contemplative photography is a practice, like yoga. The more we practice, the better we get.

I was reading in Effortless Beauty about seeing. Julia Dubose states several times that we often do not really see what’s in front of us because we we have our minds elsewhere. And sometimes when we focus our minds on something, we see that thing. For instance, if we go out looking for color or shape, then we will find those very things. It’s as if we can’t see anything else for those things.

I am taking a “weekend break” from the contemplative practice of photography. My older son is a high school band director, and his band is competing this weekend in the SC Lower State Marching Band Competition. This will be the first time that I will see his students perform. Therefore, I am stepping away from the series for a couple of days. I’ll be back Monday, though. (Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to do!)

I will leave you with a question: what will you see through your camera lens this weekend?

I went out looking for shapes in August. I found these beautiful heart-shaped leaves on this morning glory vine.