Triggering Insight

Friday, February 08, 2019

I’ve thought lots about this photograph which captures a view from my barn. The fog-hidden mountain that seemed interesting through my camera has become fascinating. I often consider it’s potential. Could I write to this image? Some easy writing options would be to speak of physical experiences in the mountain, or to collect and relate old time wisdom and superstitions about its presence, or to describe gasping in surprised upon spotting it from high above or even from the height of a barnyard trailer’s hitching apparatus.

Once I might simply have enjoyed this photo and set it aside, but nowadays I want to know what makes photos effective in blogs. Clearly, an image should draw interest, not used to decorate and be ignored. It should link directly or by implication to a theme. Many folks with the advantage of routinely climbing the Sisters Mountains could articulate related hardships and thrills. But me? I know little about the Three Sisters Mountains except that they’re nearby, visible from my backyard, and very beautiful.

One morning, I awoke trying to recall what dream had awakened me, and also had on my mind an image of this foggy North Sister. Instantly, I knew how to write to that picture. Those fog enshrouded mountains are reminiscent of nighttime brainwork! Dreaming is a topic that’s fascinating, but who remembers much of any dream beyond a first moment of awakening? A brain struggling to make sense of obscure images handles the problem by letting dreams slip away, at least for awhile.

Brainwork is a constant expense of varying energy that regulates bodily functions and powers thoughts. During awake hours, we’re planning, facing, handling, and learning. Tired brains need respite but as we sleep they continue working in another mode, this time using code to rework core daytime thoughts. The resting, coding brain shrouds reality and fogs recognition.

What dreams brought to my newly awakened mind this North Sister? What overnight codes let me comprehend how to blend the image and a blog? What added insight to elements that keep the image attractive? What’s it full potential? What initially made me feel drawn to point a camera? Does a good photograph reveal all the elements that contribute to its power?

If we were in a real time, multi-way discussion about complex images, our brains would offer unique responses to each photograph. We’d see many likely meanings. A great variety of possibilities elevates a photograph to art.

Dear Readers, have a fine day, with an open mind to awareness. Diana