Friday, April 22, 2011

It is well...

It is well with me only when I have a chisel in my hand. ~Michelangelo

This is how I feel when I have a camera in my hands--not that my abilities are anywhere close to the artistry of Michelangelo--but I know what he means. It's thrilling to uncover details or hidden gems in things that would appear ordinary to most, or to see beauty in a decaying structure. Photography has opened my eyes to really SEE our world and what a beautiful place it is. It's caused me to take a deeper look at the mundane, find meaning in the insignificant, beauty in the banal, to...connect.

Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop. ~Michelangelo
Many believe - and I believe - that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him. ~ Michelangelo
Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. ~Michelangelo

Discover your gift and share it with others. 

Blessings to everyone this Easter. Our weekend will be pretty low-key except for mass. What are you doing for Easter?

18 comments:

Evelyn S. said...

Beautiful captures! I'm hoping it doesn't snow on Easter Sunday, but it wouldn't be the first time that happened! Church and dinner somewhere. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful images and thank you so much for sharing those quotes! I especially love the first one - I feel the same as you do about photography.
Happy Easter! Pretty low key, hopefully all the kids, Mass on Sunday and dinner with friends. Perfect!

DJ GlenMC said...

This Easter I shall be dressing like a frog and singing Bullfrogs and Butterflies for out kids in church.

Be blessed. Be a blessing.
Cheesecake. Spaghetti. Pink Floyd. Above all else, Love Jesus.
DJ GlenMC

Charlotte Wilson said...

LOve your photos and quotes!
Holy Week here. We had the reenactment of the Last Supper with High Mass, washing of the feet by the priest. He had two co-celebrants, 7 Deacons and 3 altar servers, all dressed in holy vestments. I loved the incense, serenity, and reverence of it all. there was a processional at the end up and down the aisles, as they took the Eucharist away and stripped the altar. Probably similar in your church.
today, Good Friday, the last 7 words of Jesus (actually the last 7 sentences) was enacted by the Deacons. It was wonderful. We didn't stay for Divine Mercy or Stations of the Cross.
Tomorrow is the blessing of the baskets at noon with a vigil mass at 7 pm.
We will attend Easter Mass at 10am and then have a nice dinner at home with my daughter and her current boyfriend.
Happy Easter, Gail!

Michelle said...

I love thinking of these quotes in the context of photography. How wonderful to feel so blessed to create! It has also opened my eyes to the world around me. Your choice of images is fantastic.

septembermom said...

What a wonderful subject for a post! I love the photos and the quotes. Thank you!

Gail, wishing you and your family a very blessed and happy Easter!!!

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

What a wonderful statue, Gail. It made me smile.

Unknown said...

Isin't that spectacular to find the world with the new eyes. Now you look everything in a different way and you see so much more than people who don't photograph:)
They have "promised" very good weather here today and my three week holiday started as now so I think I will spending my time outside, cleaning the garden and barbecuing, I love food which is made outside:)
I hope you have a sunny weekend and you can enjoy the time outside too.

LindyLouMac said...

I am delighted you found me recently and became a follower as I now have the pleasure of being able to follow you back and enjoy your beautiful photography. Have a Happy Easter.

hootnonny said...

Oh how I love these pics and the quotes with each!
Church and lunch out! Have a wonderful Easter my fff!

Starla said...

It's funny. Since you're photos have reopened my interest in photography, I have started to look at life around me thru a camera lens (even if I usually don't have the camera with me....need to get better about that!). Loved all the quotes. So fitting.

Since we've already gone to two different church productions on the Easter story (one very "traditional", the other, an AMAZING interpretive take), today will be spent with the IL's celebrating DH's birthday and just relaxing, playing games with the kids.

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa Gordon said...

What a wonderful post this is Gail!
So much to think about in those words.

I hope you had a fantastic Easter!

Rosie Grey said...

This is such a wonderful post, Gail! Beautiful quotes and photos! I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful statue... even in its crumbling state... & I love the blue/green color in the background... I assume that's water? =)

I sure wish I could send some of this rain down there for ya'lls drought season...

Rosemary Aubut said...

Beautiful Lisa! Great photos and quotes! Spent Easter with family and friends. Early sunrise service.

Shug said...

Love this post...So well spoken!
Easter at our place was Beautiful..
Blessings,
Shug

Pat said...

I, too, find that to be true--Photography helps me to see beauty in simple things. These are wonderful quotes from Michaelangelo!

I liked your Ten Words, too.

Maureen said...

Wow, such beautiful, colorful photos! and lovely quotes to go with them. Hope you had a wonderful Easter.