Leaves are Nature's beautiful works of art. Leaves can be used to help humans better understand and appreciate the human experience. In addition to the natural beauty of leaves, they have a greater and longer lasting benefit. Leaves make a significant contribution to life itself. They provide benefits to every living organism. For instance, they produce oxygen for humans, animals and insects to breathe. Therefore, without leaves, we could not live. Leaves are used to make medicines that cure sicknesses and diseases. Leaves on trees or bushes block the sunlight and therefore produce shade. Leaves serve as a food source for the tree or bush, for animals, fish, insects, and of course humans. Leaves, in fact, have a usefulness even when they die; they are used as fertilizer for producing nutrients for future life of vegetation. The hope is that more attention and appreciation will be brought to the value of leaves, that many humans take for granted. The beginning and life cycle and experience of a leaf is symbolic and very similar to the essence of the human life experience in many ways. For humans, like a leaf, we begin our life experience as a seed or a bud. Like a leaf, at the early stage of development, we start off and remain attached to our source of life we call mother. Like leaves, we have our seasons and moments to shine and display the best in us. Some will blossom and exhibit a wide spectrum of colors, while others will not mature, and remain stunted until time to die. Like leaves, some of us cling on to our life source; we are not threatened by the thought of being separated by even the strongest wind. Conversely, others are not as strong; the slightest blow of air will make the disconnect. Some leaves will loosen and become airborne, and resurface to other venues, while others will fall to the ground without any chances of rebounding to a height above an inch or two from the ground. Similarly, some humans release themselves from their life or energy source, and explore levels that are high, wide and distant from the home base, called family. While others remain affixed or remain in close proximity to their home base. Like the leaf, each human is one of a kind, with his or her skin tone, body shape and size. Additionally, all humans have their respective character, personality, abilities, and yes, their purpose. In essence, we are all representations of human art. We are all beautiful in our own way.
About the Author: As a Nature Photographer, I see photography as a way to capture and record nature, culture and history through my camera lens. In my opinion, the camera lens has its boundaries and limits. Great nature photography requires the human eye, feelings of the heart, honed skills as well as a profound spiritual dialogue with nature. These aspects are equally important to the experience, as is the mechanics of a high quality camera and lens. The human and spiritual eyes are what influence what is captured for the record. The feelings of the heart add another feature to what is saved at a moment in time that may never be repeated. Nature photography is a language all its own. Nature itself is many moments of multifaceted, multidimensional beauty. The nature photographer needs both an open heart and mind, and a willingness to accept and respect nature for all that it is. The nature photographer should be excited about the energy flow from nature; to 'partner' with it. Nature must be respected without the threat of being altered or controlled. In other words, the nature photographer must be friendly, kind and in synch with nature; nature, in turn, will, if it desires, respond with its most beautiful offer. There is a constant dialogue between the nature photographer and all other features of nature, such as the leaves, birds, bees and trees, the flowers, mountains and seas, the raindrops, windstorms, and snowfalls upon the hilltops, and the sunrises during the summer, spring, winter and fall. Oftentimes the dialogue between the nature photographer and nature is non-verbal, motionless... spiritual. Sometimes I must sit with patience and wait for the bird subject to make the perfect pose or I must position myself and wait for the sun to make its final set for the evening. As a Nature Photographer, I see nature as a perfect picture just waiting to be captured. The perfection of nature's beauty has established a high standard of photography for me. In nature's beauty, nothing is planned or rehearsed. I have to train and condition myself to be ready to meet the essence of nature's beauty and surprises. When I catch nature's beauty on film as a memory of a beautiful moment in time, I will share it with the world as my spiritual dialogue with nature. And as people from around the world expand their appreciation and dialogue with nature, I believe the world will be a more beautiful place in which to live.