What's (in) the Picture?

Chris Breebaart Photography – finding stories

Agapanthus 2020

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The Netherlands, Oegstgeest – August 2020

The theme for Lens-artists Weekly Photo Challenge #110 is ‘Creativity in a time of Covid’.

In The Netherlands, lock down started in March this year. For me the biggest impact was the obligation to stay in or close around the house. I hate talking about ‘normal’ or the ‘new normal’ but all of a sudden I was not on my bicycle twice a day to the station to take the train to commute to work. And hence my ‘spontaneous inspiration’ diminished for taking photos on my iPhone. Luckily the garden was a real treat in colors, flowers, sun (we just exit the heatwave), and still is. The biggest ‘creativity’ was doing DIY in and around the house. The DIY shops thrived during the lock down, everybody got working on projects.

So, how creative am I during times of Covid? I am still the same person in looking at objects; the world I can physically see however is smaller. Lock down is lifted gradually, so my world is growing again. But this limitation led me to see much more detail and up close, and wonder about the smaller things in life that are important, which I took for granted or did not give attention before. Which helps me to be patient, and support people who keep us going forward (care staff, hospital staff, scientists and even the government and all others who keep the country going). Challenging, but not impossible. Balancing, experiencing the unknown.

Shot with iPhone 11 Pro Max edited using Snapseed and Marksta Click the picture for a larger version

19 Responses to “Agapanthus 2020”

  1. beth

    beautiful and I think you are right, this has caused us to move a bit slower, take notice of things close to us that we’d often overlook before, and to spend more time in reflective pursuits

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  3. Tina Schell

    Well said Chris – I agree we’ve all learned to appreciate the important things much more, and to focus on the beauty around us rather than the world at large. Beautiful image.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Chris Breebaart

      Thank you Tina! My opinion is subjective, being older it makes it easier for me to keep social distances. Young people have a harder time coping with that. I can fully understand that and appreciate that.

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  4. pattimoed

    Hi, Chris. You express this so well: “But this limitation led me to see much more detail and up close, and wonder about the smaller things in life that are important, which I took for granted or did not give attention before. Which helps me to be patient, and support people who keep us going forward (care staff, hospital staff, scientists and even the government and all others who keep the country going). Challenging, but not impossible. Balancing, experiencing the unknown.” I totally agree. I’ve been paying much more attention to the little things and trying to be kind to others. I feel better knowing that we agree and we live thousands of miles apart from each other!! Building bridges…right?

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Chris Breebaart

      Thank you! Being kind is not always a natural, now lock down is lifted slowly we see a rise in cases, and people have a hard time keeping distance in shops etc. That annoys me at times, but in general, I try to focus on myself and what I can do myself. Thank you for your kind words. Connections are important, and are always there. We are all human aren’t we?

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