Photography - Lotus
We took many shots of water lily and I wrote about it the last time:
This time we hunted for Lotus. By the end of this article, you will know the difference between the two. We set out early at a time for the best natural lighting. This was the first shot I took as I like it that it looks like Jurassic Park. I was using a simple Canon IXUS and a Leica V-Lux 3 for all the shots.
These trees are really tall. Food for Diplodocus.
This is how a lotus pond look like. A lily pond actually looks better. Ain't pretty at all. Untidy, messy and murky but wait till you see the flowers.
Morning dew rolled into balls on these lotus leaves. Pure sky juice from heaven as shadows danced in the light.
Shutter bugs galore, the young and the old.
The Master (dad) and the pupil (daughter). Quite a few shutter bugs who were there knew my dad so they must be regulars.
Bougainvillea, our Sakura?
Periwinkle can be simple but lovely too. White Periwinkle signifies pleasure of memory while blue periwinkle means early friendship. All flowers have meanings attached to them. Flowers for each occasion, flowers which are symbols of religion since ancient times or used to convey a meaning or message during the Victorian era. More on these another time.
Flowers come in so many colours and anything colourful perks up our mood. Or for that matter, anything colourful. All kinds of everything.
Here's Dana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOnvZt1ktZw
But when I first heard this, it was from Frances Yip:
All kinds of everything reminds me of "You".
Beware of long-tailed macaques. They may run away with your belongings or camera equipment.
Let us switch our focus to the lotus which is so beautiful in every stage of its opening or closing sequences. Unmistakable, unmatchable, incomparable.
I like this one with a bee just hovering above. Bees work their butt off, help to pollinate, make honey and soon die. Everything has a purpose.
You see, the lotus flower is ancient and is a symbol deep in meaning for humans and our planet. It is also revered in religion. It grows in muddy water and rises above the murky water to bloom with such remarkable and awesome beauty. It then closes and sinks at night only to rise and open again at dawn each day. It is completely untouched and untainted by the impurities around it and therefore, the lotus symbolizes "Purity" - purity of heart and mind as you can see from this shot taken by my daughter.
Now, to share with you what we will see underneath the lotus. It has its roots deep in the mud but has stems that grow through the water around it and yet it would flower and bask in the sunlight each day regardless.
The mud is like the earth we walk on, the world we live in and the water is the journey that we grow and go through. We must rise above the murk and mud and bask in the sunlight which is from heaven, untouched and untainted.
This is why Buddhists and Taoists have Buddha and the Goddess of Mercy standing or seated on a lotus whenever depicted in movies or pictures, etc. just as Jesus is sometimes referred to as the "Rose of Sharon" or the "Lily of the Valley". You see, the rose is considered a perfect flower because it can be pollinated with its own pollen and has a sweet scent. Add Rose syrup to evaporated milk and you get Bandung. Sweet scenting drink. The Lily has a strong scent - sweet and fragrant too and its white represents purity and has seeds that are the colour of gold. It is said to be the tallest of flowers and yet it hangs its head down representing righteousness and humility and it heals due to its medicinal qualities. So flowers have lots of meanings.
Flowers are like humans and humans can be like flowers too. I would suggest that like a new lotus growing from muddy waters and yet it does not yield to it, conform to it and adhere to its surroundings, the spirit of men or good Men must surely be like the lotus. An unopened lotus is like our heart before it blooms and sees or understands. The mind like the flower is only beautiful when opened.
Can you see the seeds inside? These will drop and new plants will grow. These are the same seeds that you eat when you are having your desserts like "cheng tng" or just by itself. Lotus seeds are known to be seeds of longevity because it was found to be able to grow as a plant even after a few thousand years as some reports suggested. It is like life and soul.
It is not over yet. The leaf is huge and acts as an umbrella for life around it. It is even used by chef to cook and prepare your 荷 叶 饭 "he ye fan" or lotus leaf rice. Have you tried rice simmered in lotus leaf? Or hor fun or mee goreng wrapped with banana leaf? Oh, they are so wonderful! If that monkey stole your clothes while you were bathing in a river and you can only get one such leaf, where would you cover? Your face or your ...? I suggest your face? I think this could be an interview question that can be used.
Up close and personal. During the Renaissance, nature was considered a reflection of the divine. Love yourself so that you can love others but do not fall in love with oneself like Narcissus. As you know Narcissus looked at his own reflection and fell in love.
I told you I like to look at things at different and at unusual angles. If not, how will you understand or learn more in depth or see things that you never thought you will see. So I swam across to shoot from below the lotus and fetch you this priceless picture.
It was worthy!
May a thousand flowers bloom for you!
3G - The Master, the pupil and the Guru in deep reflection. I wandered and pondered.
I never knew photography can be so tough. Just like golf, waiting all day for that good shot! Then the weather can affect you, your sinew got strained and you train your patience.
So with that we settled for lunch and while waiting for the food, we caught this mynah in energy saving mode. It was a good shot considering it was quite far away. We shot a birdie!
What are you looking at? Well, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. It was satisfying and half a day well spent where even my wife and mum came along.
Do see my previous article on Water Lily:
Next time, I hope to shoot butterflies. Meanwhile, be like a lotus and always rise above the impurities and muddy waters around us.
Till then.....
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