Finding things where you don't expect them

Part 1

Published on April 28, 2004 By KarmaGirl In Life Journals

There will be a few of these, but this is probably the best example that I have.

I recently took a vacation with my hubby. Nowhere special. When asked what we were planning on doing, I said "nothing". We just planned on hanging out and doing what we wanted to do. One of the things that I tried to do was to see things with a fresh eye. I traveled to places that I had been to many times before, but I saw things that I never noticed. This article is about one of them.

I'm really not sure why I didn't notice this before. I am also not sure why they are not preserving it more than they are.

This image is from Sault St. Marie Michigan. Odd place to find a Torii, eh?

There is a very water stained sign that goes with it that explains how the Torii got there:

The odd thing was, even though we were up there and there was nobody around to distract us from seeing things, we almost walked right by it without even seeing it. I never knew it was there before, and I almost missed it again. I really wish that there was more display with it, and that the sign that they have for it was well taken care of. Of course, the locks area is like stepping back in time. I'm pretty sure that most of the displays around there haven't been cleaned or touched up in over 30 years.

It's amazing what you see when you really open your eyes.

Comments

dharmagrl

on Apr 28, 2004

Wow...that IS an obscure place to find a torii.

That's inspired me to 'look' and see what unusual things I find in my town..

Janders

on Apr 28, 2004

A strange place.... But I like it. It kind of shows you can find a place of peace in all the hustle and bustle...

JeremyG

on Apr 28, 2004

very cool, I might have to go around town with my camera as well.

JillUser

on Apr 28, 2004

Wow! I never noticed that and have visited there many times. Cool!

MasonM

on Apr 28, 2004

It is amazing the things we miss as we go about our daily business of life. I travel for a living and often take some time out to "just look around".

You're quite right, it is amazing what you see when you open your eyes. More people should spend time REALLY looking at their surroundings. There's a lot of interesting stuff out there.

Good article.

KarmaGirl

on Apr 28, 2004

Wow! I never noticed that and have visited there many times. Cool!

Exactly! I think that everyone who has commented so far understands. It really makes you wonder what you pass by every day and never even notice.

MadPoet41

on Apr 28, 2004

It's amazing what you see when you really open your eyes.

KarmaGirl~I like that quote so much. Thank you for it. I think this is a really cool blog because of the genuine words and beautiful photographs. I like photography almost as much as poetry. And that's saying a lot~given that I am a poet. I think you are a very fine writer. I am gonna make it a point to be on the lookout for more of your excellent blogs. Thanks again for sharing this. It really made my morning.

~MadPoet

P.S. Most poets walk around with their eyes wide open big time. I think the same is true for photographers.

KarmaGirl

on Apr 28, 2004

MadPoet, thank you for your kind words. Another thing I like to do is watch what my daughter looks at and try to see it in the same way. Children look at everything. How many times do you enter a building and never look up? It's amazing what you will find above your head. (I always look up because I love ceilings- especially tin type). But, in general, we are in too big of a hurry to really see the things that are around us. It's nice to slow down and see the flowers now and then.

JillUser

on Apr 28, 2004

My kids are always spotting stuff I would never notice! Our local mall has an area with mirrors on the ceiling. I never noticed until my older son looked up and said "Look at me up there!" I think adults often see only what they expect to see. Kids don't have any preconcieved notions so they notice everything.

KarmaGirl

on Apr 28, 2004

Yeah, kids see a lot of things. I think it's because they haven't quite formed their "idea" of what things will look like. As an artist, you have to see things as they are, not as how you think they are. Just like if I say "what does a cow look like" you already have an idea what a cow looks like, but your idea is most likely not what it really looks like.

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