Random Little Things

Here's my day for you: online and on the phone for audio conferences by 6 am, instant messaging multiple people, putting instant oatmeal in the microwave and figuring out when to take the dog out for a potty break -- occurring simultaneously. Create list, check out things from the list, create a new list. Starbucks. Crunch numbers, answer emails and call people. And you know what's a mini-break? Refreshing Facebook. Even Facebook is now becoming pseudo-work with a set process. First, check the little red icons with numbers. Then check the messages. Then check the newsfeed. Or some permutation of these steps.

How do I unplug? I take my camera, put on my sneakers and take a walk. I pay attention.

When I visit my childhood home every year, I never venture in the garden. Until last September. I just realized my mom now keeps pink orchids. My last memory of orchids growing up were rows of deep dark violet dendrobiums. I need to ask mom why the orchid variety shift and when did this happen.



Here are two French-looking guys in San Francisco. I wave and they wave back and say hello in fake French.  They were rehearsing lines for the theatre.



It's pretty cool to not just look but to really see. Random little things and interesting characters. Being in the world with 100% undiluted attention.  Each photo = a second of seeing, being and clicking. In that critical moment, it is just you and the subject, plus the bonus of capturing what can no longer exactly be.

One second of clarity. No clutter. What a gift.