Nothing Ordinary

barnfog.jpg

I know this from my photographer’s experience: any image I take is one of a kind. Each composition–in light or in words–is unique. The light will never be that color from that angle on that exact configuration of barn, tree or wildflower ever again.

And this: that we too often take for granted the extraordinary senses of vision and hearing, touch and smell that are our gifts–opportunities given us by which we could know the familiar beauties too often missed or dismissed in our hurried lives.

We have so little time in the present and there is so very much to take in and share. There are wonders all around. From our everyday lives, these familiar things may seem unremarkable to us. But in these precious instants in time, if we keep our eyes open and our hearts ready to know it, there is nothing ordinary.  ~ from the Author’s Note,  Slow Road Home.

Click image for enlargement in black and white.

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fred
fred

Fred First holds masters degrees in Vertebrate Zoology and physical therapy, and has been a biology teacher and physical therapist by profession. He moved to southwest Virginia in 1975 and to Floyd County in 1997. He maintains a daily photo-blog, broadcasts essays on the Roanoke NPR station, and contributes regular columns for the Floyd Press and Roanoke's Star Sentinel. His two non-fiction books, Slow Road Home and his recent What We Hold in Our Hands, celebrate the riches that we possess in our families and communities, our natural bounty, social capital and Appalachian cultures old and new. He has served on the Jacksonville Center Board of Directors and is newly active in the Sustain Floyd organization. He lives in northeastern Floyd County on the headwaters of the Roanoke River.

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  1. Your photo and words sent me outside this morning to capture “a certain slant of light” on my Pennsylvania hilltop. Thank you.

  2. I enjoy your photos and other connections to your life in Floyd…

    We had a great time in Floyd over the weekend of October 31-November 2. We were pleasantly surprised at all there was to do and see in town. It was also interesting to experience 2 unique cultures existing in one town… See my blog for more… http://mandolinartist.blogspot.com