Stepping Stones, Heian Gardens

After choosing this way, then this way, and finally, this way, I end up at a beautiful, lily-filled pond. Gingerly, I step onto the first stone. Now I’m precariously perched over water, feeling at once that I’m floating, that I’m walking on water, but that I’m on the verge of disaster. Another careful step taken, and I’m on stone number two. A pause. I enjoy my surroundings and my different point of view. Step three and I must take a picture to capture this new point of view. I feel I am getting somewhere, finally. I begin to feel like I’m going to be okay, and lose my fear. Step four, I weeble, I wobble (more…)

Filed under:
365 days of stories, Japan, Stream of Consciousness, Surreal by Courtney

Alice’s Conundrum

Meandering through Heian’s gardens I stumbled upon this sign and stood, staring, awaiting the Cheshire cat to appear.

‘Cheshire Puss,’ she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know
whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider.
‘Come, it’s pleased so far,’ thought Alice, and she went on. ‘Would you
tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’

‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.

‘I don’t much care where–‘ said Alice.

‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.

‘–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.

‘Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long
enough.’

Alas, no Cheshire cat, so I chose a path…

Filed under:
365 days of stories, Books, Japan, My Art by Courtney

Peace Lantern, Golden Gate Park

To give myself a good kick in the pants to start posting more often, I thought I’d share some of the stories behind my photographs. Starting today, I’ll be posting one story of each photograph. Some may be short, some may be long, some may be real, and others may be fictional. I’ll try to post daily, but that might not happen – so we’ll see how long it takes to get to 365 posts! Today’s story is of the short, real, factual, you-might-actually-learn-something variety. Look away if that’s scary!!

A couple of months ago, I spent the day in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with the family. I’ve always wanted to visit the Japanese Tea Garden, so even though it was closing time, we decided to go in and enjoy what time we could there. I’m glad we did, because it was a calming, beautiful place to wander around in.

As I turned a corner, marveling at the sun-dappled light filtering down through the trees, I came upon this lantern. A peace lantern, it was given to the U.S. as a sign of friendship, celebrating the U.S. – Japanese Peace Treaty, from a group of Japanese school children. The description moved me, so I snapped a quick shot of it, documenting the sentiment so as not to forget.

I never have taken a picture I’ve intended. They’re always better or worse.
Diane Arbus

This quote from Arbus is one of my favorite quotes, and that’s how I felt about this picture (for the record, it came out “better”). The muted feeling of the greens with the jolt of warmth from the sunlight makes it one of my favorite shots from that day.

Filed under:
365 days of stories, My Art by Courtney