the observer

 

The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really,
if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself.

~Bertrand Russell

 
This was such a good feeling moment for me, where the resulting image seems like a minor miracle given the conditions at the time. The area was actually quite crowded and I’d been having trouble isolating my little subject from the many passersby. I was also keenly aware that I was being “observed” by several people curious about what I was up to photographing a child not exactly suitably dressed for portraits in public. Since I’m not one for crowds, and shy about attention being placed on me, the photographing presented a bit of a predicament.

The funny thing is, I didn’t need to be photographing at all. We were done, the shots of the little girl in her cute outfits complete, and the objectives of the session had been met. Her mother had undressed her only so she could cool off in the fountain before heading home, and since it was late in the day and I hadn’t had dinner I was hungry and ready to leave myself.

So many of life’s little delicious moments are made such by the awareness of just how fleeting they are. There’s a sense of urgency, but not of the kind that induces panic or nervousness. Instead it’s the keen understanding that there’s no time for hesitancy and no room for holding back. You must simply jump in and allow yourself to be swallowed whole.

There was a pure little girl, the softest waning light, and the observer. Me. I don’t know where anyone else was in this moment. It can’t have been quiet though I remember it only as perfect silence. I wish so much that I could hold on to this peaceful/joyful/confident feeling longer.

~Cynthia