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| Upper Pond, Butt Park, off Eastern Valley Way, Castlecrag |
There is a list somewhere that ranks the stress caused by major life-events. I feel as though I have undergone the top three or four during the first three months of this year. But slowly, ever so slowly, the fog is beginning to lift. And with the fog, goes the 'black dog'.
These two images show you but one of the stresses, one that goes to the heart of character. The other stresses were a younger brother in intensive care, and on the verge, throughout January; an older brother having to be uprooted from one aged-care facility to another; moving in with my daughter and her family as our own form of aged-care, as my degenerative neurological 'syndrome' heads toward the pointy end; being always on-tap for my grand-daughter; and discovering that another grand-child is on the way. These are merely external stressors.
The stress that goes to the heart of character involves moving from the grunge of the inner-city urban jungle, to the beauty of the lower-north-shore suburban oasis. It is the stress of self-definition. Instead of finding my photographic delight in gutters, and the beauty of decay, I now am reduced to finding my photographic fodder in manicured gardens, and the natural world clinging to the coves of Sydney harbour.
This has been the hardest journey.
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| The Porterhouse, Cnr Riley & Campbell, Surry Hills |
11 comments:
Glad to hear that the fog is beginning to lift. Any one of those life-events would be stressful enough. Really great news that another grandchild is on the way. :)
You really have had a full plate over the past months Julie and yet you find time to manage the CityDailyPhoto Community so well. Wishing you fog free days ahead and thank you for bringing your talents to the City Daily Photo community. PS. Love the light on the water in the top shot and the transition to the urban jungle in the bottom shot. Your photographs depict your transition perfectly.
For "fog free" days ahead!
You are one strong lady, and I am so glad the fog is lifting and even more excited for you that another grand baby is on its way :)
One day at a time!!!
Been thinking of you a lot and hoping you are traveling ok.
I always admired your pragmatism when it came to life's challenges.
Has your brother returned from the verge?
And how are your wobbles and whathaveyou going?
You're right about a photographer's eye - it finds its comfort zone. I always have the opposite problem - adjusting from the bush to the city.
Thank you, friends, for finding me after such a lengthy break.
The CDP stuff, Joe, was all process and little emotion. What I couldn't do was find the headspace to have a 'voice'.
I am no stronger than you, Jo, with what you and Ben have been through this week. We all have our strengths - and weaknesses.
My bro' returned from 'the verge', Letty, but he still has a massive challenge ahead, without the will to face it. He has heart issues, and developed double-pneumonia.
I will work up a post about the progress of 'the wobbles' over on Plumbing in the next coupla days. They have another theory!
Yes, Joan has the same problem as you. I think I will be able to expand my 'vision' to find a beauty in both that is satisfying. I hopes so anyways.
Oooh I am so excited to have you back. And I will be fascinated to see what you do with the North Shore suburbian oasis ... I expect you to teach me a thing or two on photographic transitions.
i knew you had a thing or two on your plate but not that many things!! You are a most resilient woman.
Glad to have you back and to hear that the fog is lifting somewhat. Transitions are never clean and easy - here's wishing you well as you pick your way through the many new paths that have presented themselves. You'll find your way through.
Gosh you have had an awful lot to deal with. Your absence is understandable. Your previous commenters have all said it so well. So I won't repeat it but just say I agree with them all. If and when the other stresses subdside and the fog has lifted you will soon get a handle on the transition photography as you have shown on the newer posts.
Ooops subside
Joan, I suspect photographic transitions are difficult in their own individual way.
Ali - my want is to pick an access 'between' paths, making unheard of connections.
Diane - the transition photography has only been able to raise its eyes because some of the other issues, especially conflicting loyalties, have eased somewhat.
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