kiss the ground

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." -Dorothea Lange

Many days we tend to rush around, head up, multi tasking, running errands, meeting deadlines, all hurry hurry hurry.  Photography has given me many gifts, but one I think I treasure most is the ability to slow down, take my time, really see.   We have all heard the expression "don't look down!",  as if something terrible may occur if we do just that.  I happen to like to look down.  I have found unexpected beauty in a puddle, messages from the universe, love, and  I have even found myself .

Today, lets slow down and look down, there may be something completely unexpected right at our feet.  

Show us what you find.

Comments

[cigi]

Lovely images. It's usually my tendency to look up but on a recent afternoon out in the desert I couldn't help but look down. The odds and ends that covered the ground were intriguing to say the least:
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/212365/

[Marcie]

What a great find!! Love how you've seen and framed this piece of street 'art'! And - yes - sometimes it is good to look down:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1256
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1266

[sarah]

Will you hate me if I say I have a bit of a prejudice against the trend of self-shoe-photographing!? I don't know why as it can create interesting perspectives. Here is something I found along my path one day ... a bit of rubbish from Nature that became a treasure in my heart ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinesphotography/4792265881/in/set-72157624472742764/

[DorkyMum]

Great find! I've never managed to take a good photo featuring my own feet, but I've got a couple of cool ones featuring other people's...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4879949490/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4583284297/

[Puna]

I looked down from my paddle boat and saw this lotus.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/08/august-26-from-the-depths/

[BlessedMess]

I can't agree more about photography expanding your sight, your awareness of beauty around you. It helps me appreciate details that without the lens, would be missed. Being able to share them with others makes it all a bit more exciting to seek them out. Even if they are fleeting....one caught while looking down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/4865322617/

[Katy]

My feet found water:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyharmer/4913973140/

[Victoria]

Oh, how I like today's subject. Maybe 'cause I'm short and I like the unusual to me perspective of looking down and having a long point of view. Whatever the reason, I like it.

Here's my most recent capture looking down:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/6riddles/4862748131/in/set-72157623146656980/

[Jenny Modesitt]

The first picture is of my son riding my old purple/pink tricycle. It is so old and rusty but, they love it.
The next is of my girlfriend's son in swimming lessons. I was standing there watching my children and when I looked down I saw these wonderful piggies.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8888946@N08/4883516138/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8888946@N08/4817918783/in/photostream/

[amy]

this is my message from the Universe yesterday. i took it quite seriously.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amy_lucky_number_13/4928031376/

[Becky Sue]

While walking on an island in Maine I was greeted by this butterfly that perched on my hip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4929346990/

[Jennifer]

I was busy looking at the sky, watching the storm blow in when I glanced down and noticed the beginnings of rainfall:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardboardsea/4866057646/

[Katie]

Actually, this is me looking up. I had jury duty this week and was in love w/ the columns! http://www.flickr.com/photos/smohrs/4924821881

[nic {luzia pimpinella}]

i always loved to look down with my cam... i can't tell how many "feet SPs" are in my archivs!
recently i added some...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luziapimpinella/4928825913/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luziapimpinella/4928826755/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luziapimpinella/4929421534/in/photostream/


p.s. all of your puddle shots are just stunning! gotta look down to find some magic puddles myself! xo..

[andria.g]

Great idea! Hoping I find something wonderful today while looking down!

[claudia]

I always think about all the places my feet have take me, and a record of where I'm at. I really should treat them better ;) http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4928850003/

[spread your wings]

that quote is so true. i often find wonderful things when i look down. this that I found last August is one of my favorites.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/3851375630/in/set-72157614801406937/

[Alison]

I love looking at the textures we walk on. In fact, I did a series of my feet and what I walked on in the year here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=110620&id=135584852971

[Ashley]

Relaxing by the lake, I miss these days

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40383774@N07/4929656104/

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

Funny, I blogged about seeing unexpected things last night!

http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2010/08/photo-essay-underground-art-in.html

~WW

[Elizabeth]

In an effort to energize my work I have been making a real effort to change my perspective when I shoot.

Here are some of my recent attempts:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmeier/4362663811/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmeier/4247264592/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmeier/4427615656/

[Diane]

Gosh, I do look down but when I see something 'down there' I always get down on my knees or my belly to take the shot ... I don't think I have any where I'm up looking down.

[Stephanie]

Found not just on the ground, but in an alley no less! http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/4864718700/

[NinaRevenant]

http://ninarevenant.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/more-movie-fun/

[georgia]

love it!

saw this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4686411103/in/photostream/

and this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4686410499/in/photostream/

on the sidewalk while walking around the side streets of chicago.

[Ashley]

I took some time to look down today and this is what I found

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40383774@N07/4929320055/

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

Love that shot, I love finding things in unexpected places. I always look up when I visit a city and marvel at what can be seen in those higher windows.

[smallroots]

Oh this post is right up my alley! I have challenged myself to looking down and photographing "where I am at" this year. (Finding messages or pictures at your feet is such a bonus btw - nice find!)
Here is my project on flickr...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/sets/72157623331620810/

or a few of my favs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/4817525004/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/4340190752/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/4671314584/

[Edith]

I love looking down at puddles - which is just as well given how wet it is in London at the moment!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/sets/72157623618233279/

[Tracy]

took a look down on my hike today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/4930306374/

[staci]

Love looking down, it's where my kids are most of the time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3monkeysjumping/4930034005/

[Vanessa]

i love to do this! there is so much sweet stuff to be found underfoot :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4930807286/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4930803176/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4930799682/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4930794860/

[Patty Reiser]

While attending a national direct sales convention week before last, I took some time to photograph things around me to remind me of the overall experience. This is one of those shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camera-patty/4930405899/

[Grethel]

looking down it's usually to where my babies are..

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4151402&id=747321475&ref=fbx_album#!/photo.php?pid=4515744&id=747321475&ref=fbx_album&fbid=403150141475

[Kristen]

I work midnights. And I'm usually fast asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. But the other morning, I was feeling energetic, so I decided to take a walk with my camera. These are the things I happened to find. The first one is my favorite.

http://kristennporter.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/hank/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35803462@N07/4931435056/in/pool-shuttersisters
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35803462@N07/4931434950/in/pool-shuttersisters
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35803462@N07/4930842349/in/pool-shuttersisters

[Bettina]

So true So true... since picking up a camera, i see the world in much more detail!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4713631634/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4883982775/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884687736/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884059697/in/photostream/

[AnnGeeDee]

I took this yesterday morning on my way into work before reading your post for the day. What a perfect coincidence! http://www.flickr.com/photos/40070449@N08/4932156642/

[Lennie]

I always look down 'cause I never know what I'll find!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphabetsoupstudio/2853436441/

[schmutzie]

I love looking down with my camera. Here's one I caught on the Palinode's birthday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmutzie/4822410725/sizes/m/in/datetaken/