Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity…
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” Seneca
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity… An auditioner at an Oprah Show open call...
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity… Hula Hoop Queen... spinning for over an hour in a park
Every moment we have breath is an opportune moment. We have finite time on this planet and we can choose how we use it; for benefit or banality. This week’s photo challenge had me paying attention to how I respond to events. Do I cry over spilled milk or accept that a moment was lost because I was meant to see it as a fleeting not a lingering one? Do I jump at the chance to go for a shot or do I let fear of rejection get in the way? Do I recognize the generosity in people who say yes to being photographed and respect the fearfulness in those who give me an unequivocal no? What pictures represent opportunity for you? For this exercise, I’ve added people, some pets, and few other things. Each represents an opportunity I seized to capture them with or without permission. I’ll explain…
“Opportunity follows struggle. It follows effort. It follows hard work. It doesn’t come before.” Shelby Steele
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Jonathan Rhys Meyers giving me a peace sign
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Sister Genevieve obliged...
At the premiere of From Paris with Love, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and John Travolta came out to support their movie. As we were all leaving at the end, I heard some attendees yelling, “Hey Jon, great job!” As he turned the corner, he was suddenly in front of me. I said ‘Hello, just one shot please!’ He gave me a peace sign and stopped so I could take the picture… great opportunity! Sister Genevieve is in charge of the monastery I stayed in in France. She’d always say no to pictures and run off. On this particular day, she was in good spirits and happily smiled for the camera. Permissions granted.
As per the first two shots, the lady in pink came dressed for an audition with the Oprah Show and her attire stood out. People stared and chuckled. I was impressed by her daring garb and asked if I could take a picture, she smiled and said yes! The hula hooping doctor was at a suicide/healing event at Alexander Holley Plaza, and as she spun around again and again, for almost an hour, I knew I had to capture it. Permissions granted.
“The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.” John Burroughs
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Twins & friend at a bus stop...
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Man playing his version of drums...
I was driving home yesterday and thinking about this assignment and what pictures to add. As I turned a corner and merged on a busy road, my eyes caught the identical twins sitting at the bus stop chatting and laughing with their friend. I loved the fact that they sandwiched their friend and were having fun. I pulled over, jumped out of my car, and asked if I could take a picture of them for my Opportunity photo project and they obliged. It is one of my favorites… their friend was so tiny too. The man on the plastic bucket drums in Portland, Oregon, was full of life and enjoying himself as he banged away on his improvised drums. His enthusiasm pulled me closer. He wasn’t asking for money for the usual things but for new drums although all contributions were appreciated. Permissions granted.
“Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.” Anonymous
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... A moment of worship...
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... A moment of meditation...
The first picture was from a special ceremony I attended a month ago. As the monk offered prayers of peace, I took a self-conscious shot of her… It was a beautiful ceremony and I wanted to capture it. The young man meditating in the picture above, was showcasing austere furnishings at a Lighting and Furniture show I attended in NYC last year. I presume he wanted to convey the serenity one gets in being in a simply furnished, bliss-filled space… Soon, he was deep in meditation, oblivious to all the visitors walking by and taking pictures of him. Permissions not granted.
Today is Diwali Day – the Festival of Lights celebrated in India and by Indians and many others around the world! May the light symbolized by Diwali illuminate the hearts and minds of all with the grace and light of the Lord. Shubh Diwali! More below. 🙂
“Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.” Daniel Boorstin
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Tangy awakening...
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Birds in flight...
Our cat Tangy was curled up in the twill bag taking a nap. We generally don’t like him sleeping it in as it’s used for work and food. When I walked through the door, he woke up abruptly, poked his head up and stared at me. I got the camera and took this shot and then he turned away and went back to sleep. The birds were pecking at seeds and what nots. As I approached, a few flew off while others lingered hoping to get more food… Permissions not granted.
“He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.” William James
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Caught on the Road driving...
Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity... Caught in a park staring...
If as Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” then I’d like to believe I was prepared when I had the opportunity to take all the pictures I showed today…. perhaps. But the two above were great surprises. I was driving home from upstate NY when on the turn of a road, at an intersection, was this huge Prozac pill and sign. I did a double take and had to turn my car around to capture it…on a fairly busy road. The deer was at Nara Park in Japan and, though they are friendly, they stick around for food only. This one was eying the treats I had in my hand and soon after this shot, he tried to snatch the treats from me. Ay Caramba! What about you? Was it easy/hard to find photographic examples of opportunity? Where you drawn to specific examples for the prompt? Was this prompt fun? Do share? Thank you! 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Weekly Photo Challenge: Opportunity…
Positive Motivation Tip: When a great opportunity comes your way, don’t vacillate, seize it with both hands.
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I love the pictures and the stories behind them! 🙂
Great pictures and post!!
This post gave me the opportunity to be inspired, to see beauty and kindness in all things, in every being. It gives me words that reflects on what’s important in life. It gives all of us the oppurtunity to embrace goodness. Thanks for the beautiful words my friend. Stay blessed always.
I like the Hula Hoop queen – and Tangy in a bag, awakening 🙂
Permissions not granted by the birds?
Don’t worry – be happy…
I love how you never miss an opportunity to take photographs. I am still too nervous to ask strangers if I can take a pic of them, so I miss great opportunities.
This was absolutely fascinating! Your photos, your narratives, and your quotes were so thought-provoking… Thank you for putting so much into this post.
Tangy is really growing on me! What a little doll!!
You know, you have to be able to see your opportunities before you can capture them. The way you view the world is a gift to the rest of us. I like all of your photos – and to me – they tell me more about you and the variety of your interests and insights than the subjects of the photos themselves… Thank you for sharing. 🙂
I could not help but smile with your photos. They are such great illustrations of how wonderful the human spirit is to witness in action.
I absolutely love this post, E!!! Love the John Burroughs quote.
My family and friends want to kill me with my camera…wait till I get that SLR I’ve been watching. They are going to wish I never visited.
My kids used to complain bitterly about Mom and her camera. Now, of course, they’re begging for the pictures! I love your kitty in the bag.
Loved the twins photo. I have identical twins and when they were young they had a friend just like that. Iain used to sit between them and act as referee!
Opportunities abound . . . as long as we keep our eyes, ears, and hearts OPEN!
All great photos! But, I love the photo of the deer. I’m still waiting for the opportunity to photograph at least one. If I went deer hunting with my husband, brother, uncle, etc., I’d probably see one right away. But, I couldn’t stand to see such a beautiful creature shot. So, I think I’ll just patiently wait to see a deer on one of our nature walks.
I always love your photographs Elizabeth. Thanks!
b
Eliz, I love to get to your blog to stop and think about what you have to inspire me today with, your photo’s, words of wisdom and the thought provoking things I wish to address in my own life. I always get like a “personal message” like I needed it for Today ♥
Delightful photos! Brimming with life…
Great pictures. To your ‘opportunity’ quote, it might be said in this day of Twitter that ‘opportunity follows back. If you’re a risk taker, you find options.
I always enjoy every adage you share…
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”
That was very true and I really agree with it..
Great post. Every one has their own opportinuty.
It’s important wether you can see it or not.
I love the comment about four leaf clovers. I used to look for these as a kid on the farm. I can see where the logic behind the saying – you are going to miss out seeing opportunities around you if you have your head focussed downwards looking at the ground beneath your feet!
Sometimes the candid moments are the most telling. I especially like the picture of the kids at the bus stop. They look thrilled to be there. 🙂
Great photos all! This was fun to look at as it felt like a family album of sorts.
These photo projects are a lot of fun. Keep it up.
B
Love your examples of opportunity. I love them all.
Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth.
Now that I have my i-phone I am never without a camera. So I am taking many more shots than ever before. I love that you got those kids at the bus stop – are the twins yours?