Someone who seems doddery is perhaps not doddery at all but only an older person absorbed in squinting concentration, as though on an ultimate trip, memorizing a scene, grateful for being alive to see it.
~ Paul Theroux, The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari
Today’s Capture Your 365 prompt is Concentration. I stumbled around this one for a while, not quite sure how I could capture concentration in an image. My first thought was how easy it would be if I had someone I could catch concentrating on something, but there is no one here who would want to be featured on the blog. Even Bo the Dog is camera shy these days. Someone took a picture of him using the flash on their camera. (I am not to blame for this one. I rarely use the flash.) Bo associates the flash with lightning and associates lightning with thunder, and he’s afraid of thunder. He expects a boom! to follow a flash. I wonder if he’s surprised when it doesn’t?
I had a gander at the definitions of Concentration and “something concentrated: a concentration of stars” and “a concentrated collection or mass” (FreeDictionary.com) brought to mind some possibilities. I will admit to creatively stretching the definition a bit. Otherwise, I’d be left with nothing.
M and I sat out on the deck the night of the last new moon. The stars were brilliant and almost overwhelming in number. It was, indeed, a concentration of stars. We could even see a limb of the Milky Way. A few falling stars (meteors) flashed in the southern sky. I would like to try to photograph the night sky someday. It will have to wait until the weather cools off and the biting insects retreat to wherever they go when they are finished for the season. I’m not sure my camera is capable of what I’d like to do, but I won’t know until I give it a try. Learning how to do it will require concentration.
Elegance is achieved when all that is superfluous has been discarded and the human being discovers simplicity and concentration: the simpler and more sober the posture, the more beautiful it will be.
~ Paulo Coelho
Thank you for visiting today, and spending a little time in concentration. It’s still hot and humid here at the Wabi-Sabi Ranch, and I’d love nothing more than a day or two at the beach, but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon. There are a few puffy clouds floating around in the mostly blue sky. If they hang around for a while, it should be a nice sunset. Meet you on the dock. Sunset is at 8:09 PM. Maybe we’ll treat ourselves to a cold glass of wine as we watch the sun retreat for the day.
Be good, be kind, be loving. Just Be. 🙂
Today’s joys: Running and bounding with Bo (he’s such a happy dog!); cold and sassy water (“sassy water” is made with cucumber and lemon slices, mint, ginger, and of course, water); using some of those overgrown cucumbers in sassy water; lots of exercise and outdoor time.
That’s a heavy concentration of green there.
And Bo is concentrating on making a break for it.
Oh, the big dark starlit sky. Ahhhhh
No wonder is more concentrated
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It is one of the best wonders of the universe, PhilosopherMouse. 🙂
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I keep going back to these butterfly photos! Incredible captures!!
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Thank you so much, Amy. 🙂
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I think you nailed it! Even Bo looks like he’s concentrating on whether you’re going to flash him.
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lol! Thank you, Gunta. 🙂
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Beautiful photos. Especially those blue flowers!
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Thank you, Marc-André. And thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it. 🙂
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Most welcome 🙂
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Love the first buterfly shot…how concentrated the colors are. Love the cat too…the colors and the focus. Of course I also love the dog. How could I not?
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Thank you, Dawn. 🙂 Bo will appreciate that you love him. He’s a very appreciative dog.
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Love all the butterflies and your cat!! 🙂
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Thank you, Michael. 🙂
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Robin your photos keep getting better all the time. Just love your butterflies and Buddleia. Also love your cat and dog- Hope you’re well- E
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Thank you, WG. 🙂
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Oh my, butterflies, flowers, cat and dog – a concentration of some of life’s special things.
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Thank you, Carol. 🙂
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Concentration does seem like it could be a difficult prompt – I like how you interpreted it. Love the butterflies and butterfly bush flowers. I’m down one butterfly bush this year 😦 and I seem to be seeing far fewer butterflies as a result. Stare-downs between cat and dogs are a regular happening around here, lol.
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Thank you, Karma. 🙂 I tried to grow a butterfly bush in NE Ohio, and it died, so I was thrilled that this one is not only alive, it’s blooming and thriving and attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. A friend gave me two more from her garden. They don’t look like they’re still alive, but I’m going to leave them until next summer to see if they make a comeback. Lots of stare-downs going on around here. lol!
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Your efforts at concentration have led to beautiful images.
You could also look at the word concentration as being many – as in the many trees seen in a small space in your first photos 🙂
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Thank you, Colline. 🙂
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A lovely collection of pictures, Robin! I especially love the concentrating kitty and am sad that I forgot her name. I’ve been doing a lot more doddering lately so it’s nice to know I can claim to be concentrating instead! The sunflower shot is exquisite…
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Thank you, Barbara. 🙂 I know what you mean about the doddering. lol!
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Bo is adorable, Robin. As for doddering, I am in love with what can happen. Concentrating may have its place, though, especially if you’re a butterfly sipping that nectar. 🙂
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Thank you, Kathy. 🙂
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Lovely collection of photos and thoughts!
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Thank you, Linda. 🙂
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Beautiful butterflies. 🙂
… And sassy water sounds good enough to drink. 🙂
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Thank you, Sallyann. 🙂
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