When you capture an authentic moment in a photo you can revisit it time and time again, and relive the moment. Sometimes we tend to look for signs. I’d like to share 3 little stories:
Footprints in the snow: One very early morning I walked across a carpark which was covered in a carpet of snow and with no signs of any humans. I happened across some footprints presumably made by a bird. The pattern sparked my curiosity. Just as I was bending down to investigate further and imagine how this had come about, a van parked up nearby. The van driver wound down his window. ‘Interesting isn’t it?’ he called out to me. “It’s art – and it’s all free!” he added. “That’s true!” I replied. We both smiled and nodded in agreement.
‘Do you wanna build a snowman?’: I built this jolly snowman in the garden (with the help of one of my grandchildren). Happy times! On Day 1 Mr Snowman had a big happy smile. By Day 2 he looked curiously more animated with his head slightly tilted and a cheeky happy smile. Mr Snowman was with us a week and then gone but we have these fun fond memories captured on film.
A little bird told me so – centre stage: It was a robin on the garden fence that caught my eye. I focused in for a photo-shot of the robin only semi-aware of the wind-chimes. I did not set this up in advance and only on looking more closely at the photo afterwards did I see the possible likeness of the tree to my logo. It was the day before what would have been my mum’s birthday.
Were these messages, signs or just my imagination? Most probably the latter of course!
In reality they are just lovely moments, real memories, and authentic photos to look back on.
The simple authentic things around us can bring contentment and joy if we let them.
by Dr Julie Charlesworth 10/2/25