How boring our lives would be if every day, everything looked exactly the same. But in the daily frenzy of life, we rarely slow down enough to truly appreciate the beauty and sheer joy of the “ordinary” that surrounds us. A number of people have asked me about the panoramic photograph that I use at the top of my blog. I’ve told them that it was taken from a spot that overlooks the Cabin John trail and creek near my home. Well, that’s just part of the story.

I have been shooting from that exact same location in all types of weather and in all seasons for a number of years and over time I realized that what started out as a casual photograph, had become a few photographs, then many photographs, and now an exhibit.

For the last ten years, I have viewed the same scene every day of the week, every month of the year, and in every season – over 3500 times. It wasn’t until three years ago that I realized what I casually ignored was special. Although it had been previously viewed without stopping to really notice, think about, or appreciate it, when I slowed down and observed the beauty of this changing tableau, I was amazed at what I saw.

Stand in the exact same spot, day after day and observe the world in front of you as time passes. You will see changes far greater than imagined. This is what I did with my camera. What had been just the view from my window became a world unto itself, with its own beauty, mystery and constantly changing moods and feelings.

In music, many compositions include “variations on a theme,” where the composer writes the “theme” and then provides numerous variations. In this exhibit, nature has provided the theme and through the passage of time we have been presented with the innumerable variations that have truly transformed the “ordinary” to “extraordinary.”

The sheer joy of getting up each morning and wondering what I would experience and if I would be moved was the motivation to begin the journey of this project. And it continues today.

Details of the exhibit can be found here. Note that the Opening Reception is this Sunday, May 13th, from 2pm – 4pm.