Reflections

The weather outside is frightful. Now if you are a regular birder like Susan and Steve Dimmock or Kelle-bird, then this is the sort of setting where you get out your waders, pull on the turtle-neck and head for the wetlands, dawn should be about right and it wouldn’t hurt a bit if it was raining.

Oh goodies! I can’t wait. Okay, I can wait, in fact my fuzzy slippers and lounge chair see a lot of service when the weather does its thing and turns the skies gray and wets the streets, the grass and just about everything else that gets in its way. I am perfectly capable of sitting around watching the Champions League and drinking hot tea and not caring a hoot about anything outside of my doors.

But all the wet stuff on the ground does make me think, nay, reflect on reflections. Yes, the thing you see in a shiny surface, like a mirror or the surface of a lake or stream. Reflections are everywhere and they make for some of the most interesting images and artists could want.

But what good are they? I’m glad you asked. They make for great pictures and many times the terribly smart folks who organize shows recognize this and build their show around this very theme. No way, yes way.

Take the upcoming “Visions of Spring” at Easy Lane Frames and Select Gallery. Sure you can have a vision of spring which does not have reflections in it, maybe, flowers and nymphs or cherubs or lambs frolicking and gamboling or storm sets or sun sets or new growth on the trees…but you could have reflections.

They’re everywhere, if you look or even if you don’t. Try driving your car without reflections. That rearview mirror keeps you from backing into buildings and bikes and plants and dogs and maybe from running over someone near and dear. When you get out of your car after using the rearview to successfully avoid a “Good Neighbor’ moment,
Take a look at all of the shiny surfaces on that car. Hey, that’s why the car salesmen wash even the new cars, makes them shine and like a crow that catches your eye and loosens your wallet. Ever see a sale at the wrecking yard? It’s hard to make a junker, with a crumpled hood or a bashed tail shine.

And what about big boy toys, motorcycles? They have so much chrome on them they can twinkle in the moonlight. But you get in close, (that’s why they put the macro mode on your new camera) and catch the sun or the moon grinning back at you from all of that chrome and what a picture it makes. Probably why Thunder at CAM will feature motorcycles and motorcycle art. Will you be ready?

Reflect on that. Then go out and find your own reflection, they’re everywhere and so long as the rain lasts they’ll stay and be ready when you give up your fuzzy slippers.