When photographing a landscape image…especially a wide angle view…a certain amount of forethought and planning is necessary to design the image I have in mind. To really “capture” the viewer’s interest, photographers can use what is referred to as “depth of field” or LAYERING…designing several “layers” of visual interest that help guide the viewer’s eye into the scene. In this image, it’s the gently flowing river guiding the eye downstream from the trees along each bank…to the brilliantly lit cottonwood tree in the middle of the scene…to the silhouetted Half Dome rock in the lofty distance. They are very rewarding images to create!
When I recently ran the Gobbler Grind Half Marathon in Kansas City, I also used a “layering” technique to protect myself and keep warm during the 26-degree, thirteen-mile race. In running long distances for several hours, careful planning needs to occur to stay warm before the starting gun. Then there is a spot about 3-4 miles into the race to actually shed a layer…the remaining miles of the race are ready when warm and loose…and then again, after crossing the finish line. Because of the freezing temperature during the entire race, I needed four layers in total to stay warm…shedding just the one outer layer to my wife, Bonnie, and daughter, Jessica, at mile 4. The plan worked perfectly!
At the fine rope age of 70, it occurs to me that life itself has a LAYERING effect of its own…a change of SEASONS you might say…childhood…adolescence…adulthood…middle age…and of course, the “golden years”! And having reached middle age now at 70…okay, late middle age…each LAYER of life has added a more interesting “depth of field” to this creative adventure calling living. As with landscape photography…marathon running…and life…some good planning and preparation can yield a successful result. There are always challenges and obstacles to overcome to be sure…stormy weather in photography…injuries on long distance runs…broken relationships in life…I’ve experienced them all. However, they can each be overcome when you have a good teacher…a good coach…and a good mentor. Why in the world would I attempt any of these endeavors by myself…totally unplanned…totally unprepared?
Entering the golden years has shown me the incredible value of getting my Creator involved…as a Teacher…a Coach…and a Mentor! You see, I just had the idea of what I wanted to be…of what I wanted to do…of who I wanted to become. HE had the training plan for each of them!
As Solomon observed during his long and prosperous life…”There is a time for everything, and a SEASON (i.e. layer) for every activity under the heavens…” Yet, timing is so important…especially the Creator’s timing! As a new SEASON arrives…the golden years now…I need to transition from the layers of achievement and success (or so I thought) and embrace the new layers of gratitude and contentment.
LAYERING…one image at a time…one mile at a time…one day at a time…one SEASON at a time.