Pink Iceplant Flower at Glass Beach, California
Krish B.
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Although delighted by the quiet evening ambiance of Joshua Tree National Park, my family and I were exhausted from a long day of hiking. When my mom recommended another trail, I instantly protested. Nevertheless, the car came to a halt, and I switched my attention from my phone to the landscape outside. The sky’s colors made the horizon seem like a majestic painting, with the mountains submerged in a captivating sunset. I took a picture of the beautiful evening scene. After we finished the trail, I returned to the spot where I first saw the sunset. The heavenly evening tone had given way to a gloomy nighttime sky. As I observed the vastness of the atmosphere, I realized I may never see another sunset like that again. This is when photography became one of my passions. Over time, it has taught me the importance of living in the moment.
About a year prior, I stared into a different sunset in front of my school’s gymnasium during our basketball team’s tryouts. As tears flooded my eyes, I thought I would never play on the hardwood again. My dream of suiting up and representing my school was shattered. A simple layup, a move I practiced thousands of times, was the beginning of the end. With a swollen purple ankle throbbing in pain, I waited for my parents to take me to the hospital.
In the ensuing months, I took solace in photography and realized there are thousands of sunsets I have yet to explore. In other words, life is full of moments and details we might be oblivious to. While walking near the beautiful landscape of Glass Beach, California, I passed by a cluster of normal-looking flowers. I took a beautiful portrait of the leaves with the bridge blurred in the back. Before understanding the art of photography, I would have ignored the leaves and lost such small details and moments forever by taking the standard shot of the vast ocean. I may never physically see those flowers again, but photography has enabled me to capture this moment forever. The waves, motion and pigmentation of the flowers, and the surface of the rocks are something I can now cherish for eternity.
These clarifying times in my life from Joshua Tree and the Glass Bridge also led me to a conclusion: each moment of life is precious and fleeting and I can’t take it for granted. While studying for my physics final, my dad came and switched the fan on for me. Before photography and experiencing moments of disappointment, I would have continued working. However, I don't take thoughtful interactions like this for granted anymore and I always say “Thanks”.
I take every nature photo with the intent of sharing the same happiness I obtain from each of my photos with my community. I am not only able to express my creativity and facets of my identity, but I also can provide joy for others and provide new perspectives through social media. Every time I walk outside, I always look for new opportunities to find flowers, landscapes, and sunsets. I hope to inspire others to follow a similar mindset.
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Over time, photography has taught me the importance of living in the moment and acknowledging small moments within our lives. I gained an appreciation for ordinary acts, such as someone holding the door for me. Each moment of life is precious and fleeting and I can’t take it for granted.
