unexpected charm

 Charm is a product of the unexpected.  -Jose Marti

As I lay on the grass, lens toward the lone dandelion in our backyard my husband commented that my muse of the afternoon was in fact a nuisance and begged my to pick it before it's seeds flew away (and reseeded in our yard). We had a good laugh at how we can look at the same thing so differently. After a few more choice shots I tenderly picked the weed. To guilty to toss it away I took it inside and honored it and all the wishes it boasted by placing it in tiny vintage vase.

That lone, proud lion of a weed carried more beauty than any boisterous bouquet ever could. Simple, unexpected, charming. The juxtaposition of something you'd never normally see in the house there on the coffee table brought me days of joy. And I would have never considered it had it not been for the urging of my husband. Of course he shook his head at my choice of centerpieces he was still amused at my childlike excitement.

We are the lucky ones ladies. We look at a weed and see wishes. And we can collect them up and take them with us wherever we choose.

Today, create something that will bring you joy, no matter what the world may say. Point your lens to something happy and hopeful for that sake alone. Coax the charm out of the ordinary. Share your very own happiness with us today.

Comments

[Marcie]

'No matter what the world may say'..and the freedom to choose:
http://visionandverb.com/2010/03/the-chosen/

[Beatriz Macias]

I agree completely with your statement on how lucky we are. We walk around with our camera in hand capturing moments of bliss http://www.flickr.com/photos/suitcasecontents/4472780195/
Moments that may seem ordinary to everybody else, but that bring joy to us.

[marina]

Your shot of the dandelion in your vintage vase is very sweet, and a great reminder to keep our eyes and hearts open to the beauty around us.
This spring, I am enjoying taking pictures of small "ordinary" flowers, trying to honour and show their extraordinary beauty. Here are two of them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4473569926/in/set-72157623670009826/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4472784553/in/set-72157623670009826/

[Darlene]

Love your image! I just love the simple beauty of everything, and how it comes alive in a photograph.
http://www.whimsicalyearsphotography.com/blog/1630/boothbay-popham-beach-and-wiscasset-maine/

[bright and blithe]

I've been marveling at the beauty in the simplest moments of home

http://brightandblithe.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/one-choice-at-a-time/

[Tara R.]

I often find the most wondrous sights when I take the side roads, the ones less travelled.

http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/weekly-winners-side-streets/

[Lula Lola]

I love it! I love being able to see the promise of a wish!

[Liz]

right now i'm totally loving how green my back yard can look through my lens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/
and these little flowers that are so common here that most people probably don't even notice, make me happy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogliz/4458279470/

[Crystal]

It is so true we are the lucky ones!

We can enjoy the obvious beauty...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11617769@N02/4463014585/
and the potential for beauty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11617769@N02/4457559758/

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

I love how you can look at something one way and the person you love sees it completely different. When we each realize this that and understand it that is true love. And I agree, the one's that see the wishes are the lucky ones!

I will create something that brings me joy today... no laundry waiting to be folded for the first time in MONTHS. Hopefully that doesn't sound strange.

http://www.vtcabinfever.blogspot.com/

[Stacey Bruce]

I am amazed at how some of the posts here on Shutter Sisters correspond with what is going on in my thoughts at the moment. Just this morning I was thinking about dandelions... how beautiful they are and at the same time how much of a nuisance as well... and how many parallels can be drawn from our daily lives. I've posted this before, so I hope no one minds that I do again.

http://staceybrucephotography.blogspot.com/2010/03/wish.html

Have a beautiful day!

[georgia]

amen!

what a beautiful aerial view you have captured of one of the most delicate and intricate things in nature. i love dandelions... especially at this stage. i grew to love them because of my mother's love of them. she loves them, because to her, they are the first sign of spring. i still remember living in the country as a child and mowing down acres of those resilient weeds at my father's request. but there was always one left standing for my mama. :)

i think it is shutter sisters that first made me think to photograph a dandelion. i probably never would have, had i not seen some beautiful examples here. so i tried it out last year, and was pretty pleased with the results. wishes indeed! here are a couple of mine:
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/06/wishes.html
http://jorjah-b.blogspot.com/2009/07/jorjah-wish.html

and here is another weed i found beautiful... worth coaxing the charm out of.:
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/06/got-weeds_11.html

[wendy]

I agree.

Just a simple branch...with a bud...which means life, newness, a miracle from God...

http://awebert.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/day-28/

[~ kristina ~]

Beautiful photo!

A handful of candy, given to me by a friend...

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2010/03/tea-tuesday.html

[Denise]

I love that story!

Here is something I shot over spring break in California. My boyfriend is from Cali, and I'm from a small town in South Dakota. My first visit there, I was fascinated by the pigeons. The way they just waddled around among the people, not afraid of anything. Where I come from, birds fly away from you, not toward you. Anyway...I kept taking pictures of them and my boyfriend would always say "Don't take pictures of them. They're gross. You can't even call them birds!" But I kept doing it. I found them pretty. So here's a picture of three of them perched perfectly spaced on a bench on the Seal Beach Pier. I know the lighting isn't very good, but I do like the composition. =]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/4451073997/

-Denise

[Laura]

Three things that are making me happy right now...

http://www.dashily.com/home/?p=675

[kristin]

beautiful photo tracey.
here is a shot i took today.
sick little boy,
another rainy cold day no sign of spring,
but there is love to be found on our dirty wet windows....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4476039893/

[melissa]

My happy came in the form of baby ducks this week:
http://melissamillerphotos.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/quack-quack.html

[xanthe]

so beautiful.

i almost gave up taking a photo today, as it's been so miserable here, the rain and cold are stopping spring ignite.

i have these little beauties growing in my kitchen and they bring a glimmer of hope.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4476339113/

thanks for making me look for happiness. x.

[Tracy]

This photo is so, so beautiful. There is such a sweet softness to it. Your husband surely has to admit it was a precious find!

[elk]

tracey . this post & photo captured my heart ..a wonderful way to see the world!

I stopped on the way home from work today and took a photo of a fence I see all the time ...I "see" it differently now..thanks!

http://www.redorgray.com/2010/03/for-some-reason.html

[JoLyn]

Just an ordinary airport row of seats...but it became charming when I caught two birds perched on the cushions, watching the planes take off and land!

http://www.ayearofhappyphotos.com/2010/03/40-the-perfect-seatwatching-the-planes-come-in.html

[Lynette]

I love looking at these tiny leaves unfolding and the patterns of the veins right now but I know later they will make a nasty mess come fall. Now if I can only find a way to remind me of the beauty of these leaves when I have to rake them up.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4477885192_a84369a1af_b.jpg

[Kim Klassen]

so appreciating the beauty in your dandelion.... sigh...

i fell in love with weeds today on the trail and shared them here.
http://2blessedbeyondbelief.com

simple beauty..... "sigh"....

xxo, kim

[giggletwig (corey)]

Lovely post. Love the sentiment about collecting wishes. Simply beautiful.

[giggletwig (corey)]

Oops...forgot my link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/4478470379/

[Aubrey]

Kindred thoughts HERE :-)
THANKS FOR THE POST!

[jakki]

My happiness.....spring if finally here! And what better proof....magnolia blossoms

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeenwashington/4477402097/

[Shawna]

I have always loved dandelions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnac/4123755822/

[Deirdre]

I'm not sure that my photo fits what you are asking, but I was inspired by your photo itself. I loved the point of view and the shallow depth of field from above. I took a similar photo with a stem of pussy willow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/4479704727/