
Just over a month ago I had the privilege of meeting the enchanting singer/songwriter Dana Parish at an event we both were involved in. I fondly and vividly remember a story she shared with the audience introducing her song She Laughed.
She painted a picture of a late dusky afternoon rollerblading in her hometown of New York. In the distance she caught a glimpse of a man on a bike riding full steam ahead. As he got closer and closer, it appeared that he was headed right for her at an alarming speed. Her immediate reaction being fear for her own safety of course quickly changed to anger. Angry that he would be lumbering down the crowded bike path with such reckless abandon. He—and his bike—were rapidly approaching and as she formed a string of choice words together in her head for him, something surprising was revealed that changed everything.
From behind the man came two little arms outstretched like wings. Two arms of this man’s daughter flying from her rear bike seat with the freedom that only the top speeds of her daddy’s bicycle could offer. A wave came over Dana as she was reminded her of her own father; the father that would do anything for his daughter; anything at all to give her the wings to fly.
And as any good singer/songwriter would do, she went home and wrote a song about it with her equally charming partner Andy (whom I also had the pleasure of meeting).
How quickly things can change from what our minds have led us to believe to something totally different. It always amazes me at how sure we see one thing in one moment, and the next, the whole picture changes leaving us with a new perspective. It only takes something small sometimes to put our original ideas on thier ear.
Have you ever seen something through your lens in one way and then somehow it transformed itself into something else entirely? It’s the exact feeling I had when I was shooting the series of photos of our peach tree during the chilly days of winter, as featured above. After shooting for a while, they began to look like angels. Share with us the visions that opened your eyes and heart to something beyond what you ever imagined.
The talented and charming Dana Parishis offering a signed copy of her newly released CD Uncrushed. Leave a comment today for your chance to win the gift of Dana’s enlightening music.
I suppose this can be something different to anyone who looks and sees:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=635
thank you for all these giveaway!!!
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2008/09/linzertorte-ancora-merenda.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3060341923/
have a nice day!!!!
Wow, I just love that story! Would love the chance to win a copy of the cd ๐
Take care!
I love that story!
that is a wonderful story-i love the picture it paints in my head.
Revealed, in my post today I have a photo that at first glance you dont see anything. Second glance you will see the faint imprint of a hand , cast long ago , captured forever in a iron ore beam.
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com
I love the story and the picture
Yes! That’s the feeling exactly!
What a wonderful story. At first all I saw was a bud and some leaves. It look the story to see the angel. Thanks!
pick me! ๐
i took this photo of cows by the side of the road and i realized later that they looked like girls, wearing knee socks.
http://3yrplan.typepad.com/photo_du_jour/
What a beautiful story!
Great voice. Pick me!
What a great story! Thank you, it was a great way to start off my day.
oh cool! I am going to look her up now!!!
I LOVE new music!
The other day I posted a few things I had received for Christmas. Some of the gifts are esoteric but the last gift from my son fits your analogy above in a much less profound way but unexpected nonetheless. So much so that I had to ask him what it was…
http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2008/12/28/what-i-found-under-the-tree/
I can so see the angels in your photo. Awesome.
What a beautiful story!
I love that story. How sweet!
love the story…and enjoy finding some new tunes to listen to
Thank you for sharing !
Lovely.
What a wonderful story! Inpiration is all around us, if we just take time to look . . . whether we’re a singer/songwriter, a photographer, a designer . . .WHATEVER!
Thank you all so much for these wonderful giveaways! It’s been fun to see all the inspiration you’ve passed along each day.
Have a wonderful week!
great story. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the magic in photography
wonderful story about perspective, thanks!
What a wonderful story…what little child wouldn’t want a Dad like that! I would love this CD.
I hope I am posting this link properly..not too tech savvy here…but I was photographing the sky, the clouds and "found" a treasure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30788900@N00/2986652324/
I loved ” Dana’s song ” very much. Music a very important element of my life, and pls pick me pick me pick me. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway.
~Happy New Year 2009
That is a great CD. I would love to own it. Thanks for the opportunity.
word paintings!
count me in!
I would love to experience new music recommended by the dear Shutter Sisters.
Thank you for sharing.
I’ll be trying to slow down and see things from a different perspective this coming year. A timely reminder.
A story to remind us about are too often quick judgments! Judgments made before we know "the rest of the story". Thanks for the reminder. That CD sounds lovely.
The story brings a great big lump to my throat, my heart knows the feeling so well.
The wings of youth
fly exceedingly high,
sometimes___
past the limits
of your expectations.
What a great story! Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful story….a real reminder to not judge others and to look for beauty that is all around us~
๐
one of the things I love about the holidays is that my house becomes a place that I don’t recognize. once the prep is done for the family who comes from out of town, I let go and we all just live together for three days enjoying food and drink and laughter.
What a great story. Please count me in for the CD. Thank you.
I’d love to hear the song she wrote from that story!
Thanks for the opportunity to hear her songs and for this great website. It’s the first time I have been on here and it’s wonderful!
Great leaf shot. I’m so excited to start doing macro work with my new lens that Santa got me!! ๐
I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to take many pictures. Of course I feel like something’s missing because of it. MUST get out my camera today!
What a great story. Makes us think to see beyond the immediate and be patient.
Love that story – inspiration can really be found just about anywhere, even if you’re not looking for it.
My wonderful copy that I received at the event was *stolen* by my girlfriend. She calls it *borrowed* but I’ve yet to get it back, so I want another! lol. It WAS a lovely story that brought tears to my eyes, especially that song. LOVE Dana Parish!
Today is my birthday!
Today I am 30. I decided that I am now a grown-up, for better or worse. And grown-ups send thank you notes, so thank you for your amazing site, and all of the wonderful hign syou share with us out in the ether.
The song brought tears to my eyes … my husband and daughter. Loved it!
That’ a great story. I’ve got a detail of a water drop of which people saw different things inside:
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/the-image-within/
We never never know everything. So we can be surprised in a good or bad way.
I wish all of you a lot of good surprises in 2009!
Please share your stories…
Great story! A good reminder for me today.
what a beautiful story… and she has a beautiful voice!
lovely story! I would so adore this CD for sure …. ๐
Thank you for the story and the song. Would love the cd – might have to use my Christmas money if I don’t win ๐
I loved your story! Thanks for sharing the link to the music too… I love it!
I know that feeling! Once, I found on the floor a ticket from a library with the name of a book I wanted to read. I didn’t ask anything to my husband, because I thought he bought it for me. But the time passed and he didn’t give me the book for my birthday. So, I thought he bought it for someone else and didn’t tell me (nothing creepy, just thought that he didn’t want to tell me everything he did). But then, our anniversary came, and the book came to me too. It was for me after all! And he bought is so early thinking of our anniversary…
Here is a picture with that feeling for me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3145672465/
I first thought that a bunch of dried dandelions didn’t look well, until I left them on this glass.
Oooh, love her voice – I need to add to my music collection, hint hint!
Thank you for introducing us to this lovely lady!
YES
lovely story and photo to match!
If Dana’s music is even a fraction as beautiful as this story, then I can’t wait to listen.
thank you
Dana
I so enjoy coming here every day for the photo and delightful story!
WOW! I just found you today, and now I’m going to have to stay up past my bedtime reading your archives!
That is a great story. I love your picture above. Thanks for sharing.
I’d love a chance at the CD. Thanks.
http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-follow-barefoot.html
I see the angel, too! I see things differently thru my lens as well. ๐
A lovely story.
Beautiful. simply beautiful!
am I too late? ~love her music!
Beautiful image and such a sweet story.
After listening to the partial sample tracks, I would love to hear Dana’s entire CD.
Really wonderful story and I love the image. I often shoot with my 50mm 1.4 and it opens up a whole new reality where light and objects melt into a veiled mystery of color and motion. At least for me.
I think this image is a good representation of seeing beyond what is right in front of you;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapshotsunmade/3027951769/in/set-72157608695961021/
thank u for the great story, totally inspiring and sweet. i am a big dana parish fan. i bought her cd on itunes after i read your post. everything she says is my life, i feel like i have a new best friend. thanks for introducing us to this brilliant artist. i have not heard an album like this since carol king’s Tapestry.
i also love your angel shot.
Oh how I love your "angels <3 I have not had this experience, but I will definitely be looking back through some of my shots and challenging myself to see what I did not realize was there.