inspiration

I'm not sure how it felt when gold miners, after sifting through endless mud-filled pans, finally glanced down to find an unmistakeable treasure. But I imagine it was a little how I felt when I stumbled upon this gorgeous heap of old cars. I consciously had to force myself to slow down, to make sure the engine was off before exploding out of my car. Crawling around the old garage, I was struck by the overwhelming beauty that is always surrounding us...even in that which is seemingly neglected, or overlooked. It's the form of a door handle, the geometry of a tire, or the symmetry of a railroad track. Inspiration is everywhere. And when It taps you on shoulder, it takes you on a ride which expands your perspective. Suddenly, you see the elegance of a dozen eggs, or the quiet grace residing between a few blades of grass. Then maybe, if we're lucky, Inspiration also opens us up to seeing ourselves and each other...each one of us as the every day, ordinary miracles that we are.

What inspires you today?

Comments

[nicola]

the easy answer would be my children, but barring them, right now...rocks.
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com

[Marcie]

A house...abandoned by its occupants for the winter:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=658

[JeanaMarie]

i love the photos on your blog! today, the way my fabric was sitting in a tea dye bath ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanamarie31/3196121690/

[Kate Baumert]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-week-ive-been-thinking-lot-about.html

How funny! I JUST wrote a blog post about what inspires me! Perhaps all great shutter sisters think alike? :-)

[Mod GIrl]

Anything bathed in sunlight seems to be my inspiration. Yesterday it was bedknobs... I'm curious to find out what it will today!

http://modobjectathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/bedknobs.html

[camerashymomma]

wow, that VW shot of yours is WOW! i love it. all of them, but that one especially.
you capture texas so well.

[ELK]

what a happy post of discovery!

inspiration abounds in my life .....here is a simple reflection that made me smile:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/3195039333/

[kosenrufu mama]

today is ispiring me reflections....
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/01/365-scatti.html

[renee @ FIMBY]

winter sunsets like these:
http://fimby.tougas.net/winter-trees-Blomidon-sunset?size=_original

I feel like I live so much in the dark these days, even though the days are getting longer. Being out it the woods and finding a view like this, with so much warmth, inspires me for all those long days at home with the kids.

[Bonnie]

I love the small bits of nature that go unnoticed most of the time in my busy life. Every now and then I stumble upon them and am delighted.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonniebythebay/3185372279/in/set-72157612221592314/

[Kelly]

Little things I didn't intend to capture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3196811172/in/photostream/

[sandi]

Love the photo.
As I was out walking in the bitter cold one day, I saw this. and it inspired me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandis_art/3176985131/

[Puna]

I love your pictures of the cars and town...so stirring and beautiful.

Here's what is inspiring to me today.
http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/2865/

Puna

[mary]

Wow, LOVE those old car photos, especially the door handle.

I've been finding inspiration in the small signs of life amidst the death of winter:

http://inasoftlight.blogspot.com/2009/01/grace-given.html

[maz]

Today, it's fog!

http://divingforpearls.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/inspired-by.html

[Jamie-o-e-o]

The early morning light, just before sunrise:

http://camerashy.cemestos.com/just-before-sunrise/

[Kath]

Twenty five below. The world is frozen and white. True, true Canadian winter. Hand knit socks and my sister. We've posted colourful photos today.

[abbey]

this!!! beautiful weather & of course kids!!
http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/

[shelli]

The old wood pile in our backyard often offers me some inspiration.

http://web.me.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy/Pages/Nikon_D60.html#49

[Charlane]

today, it's just the joy of waking - and the sight of my irises sitting on my window sill. A bit of sunshine in the harsh cold outside.

[lu]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldb/3182506226/

This image I call meditate. I love it. I love how it makes me calm. I am seriously thinking about ordering a huge print of it as a constant daily reminder to chill and just be.

[Katy]

Breakfast inspired me the other day...part of my goal of taking more pictures of everything:
http://flickr.com/photos/29536663@N04/3195198193/

[sheSaid]

Texture
http://flickr.com/photos/purplehouseonpearl/1568874667/in/set-72157600287743603/

and my own journey of discovery

http://flickr.com/photos/purplehouseonpearl/sets/72157612204039250/

[Sharon]

I love those pictures! WOW!

I have always loved books, but I just recently started seeing them differently - not just as carriers of words and stories, but as beautiful objects in themselves.

http://flickr.com/photos/queenofsheba/3169058132/

[benzismama]

My bible.

http://photosbytracie.blogspot.com/

[Gail]

...right now my inspiration is found indoors for the most part...too cold outside for my usual long walks..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/3196152152/

[donna]

I agree...inspiration definitely opens us up to each other. Seeing the way a child spontaneously responds to something is always inspirational to me. I recently went home to visit my family and all my nieces and nephew were so open to letting me photograph them.

http://lemondingo.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-another-pretty-face.html

donna

[Jen]

I never get tired of the sky, the light, the clouds.
http://americana.visualblogging.com

[Elizabeth Harper]

My inspiration comes from many places... today it's about Hay.


http://www.giftsofthejourney.com/Elizabeth_Harper-Gifts_of_the_Journey/Blog/Entries/2009/1/14_Sticks_%26_Stones.html

[Suzanne]

Like so many others, I was inspired by a single shaft of sunlight after waiting and waiting and waiting for inspiration to strike.

[miz katie]

i'm feeling most inspired by:
http://www.mizkatie.com/photographs/index.php?showimage=69

this is definitely not today, but it gives me great hope that a day like this will be in my near future.

[Loic Brohatd]

I am glad I found your photoblog via Blogger's Choice Award. Really an outstanding portfolio with some stunning photos. Thanks for sharing, I will visit often. Cheers, Loic
http://brohardphotography.blogspot.com

[Karyn]

Babies and kitties inspire me today. Easy to please.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/3197932178/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/3197080623/in/photostream/

[hi kooky]

Light, light, light!

http://hikooky.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-evening.html

[jen]

What a wonderful site. Thank you!

[jen]

oops, almost forgot. My girls, endless inspiration. :)
www.tutusbliss.blogspot.com

[Shar]

Today I am inspired by a new project that I'm working on that celebrates creativity and vintage, two of my favorite things!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shartreuse/3198440850/

[Toni]

Recently I've been inspired by my new Lensbaby and the decor in the office where I work.

From today:
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/curly-ques/
A series starting here on farm tool thingie:
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/farmthingie/
Some berries:
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/its-a-berry-good-day/

[Alicia]

Thanks for inspiring me to think about what inspiration I saw in my day!

Check it out:

http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/01/getting-inspired.html

[Naomi]

Summer blooms have been my recent inspiration
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/3170117098/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/3170116680/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/3170116002/in/photostream/

[KKH Photos]

Just found your blog. Beautiful photos. It's photographers like you that inspire me!

[Diane Schuller]

oh dear, I'm sorry I'm a day late for this! But what inspires me today can be found in the depths of winter, in its quiet serenity

http://albertaphotography.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/winter-candy/

Conspire to inspire!

[Melanie]

I just wanted to say that these are the most amazing pictures. I'm in Austin and when I looked at these over lunch I wanted to stash my purse and camera under my jacket, sneak out to my car, and drive to West Texas. Truly wonderful work.