Small Wonders
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”
Socrates
This week Krista provided us with a double challenge. First, she asks us to share something that has been repurposed – such as the sand dollars in my opening capture.ย These pretty little creatures, which I’ve found over the years washed up on Kiawah’s beach, are on permanent display in my antique kitchen scale. I’ve seen them in several of my friends’ homes as well, most interestingly used with ribbons to decorate a Christmas tree.
Krista has also challenged us to address this week’s Discover challenge, going against Conventional Wisdom . Never let it be said I was unwilling to rise to a challenge!
“Go big or go home”….. “Bigger is better”….”Big is beautiful”….. Says who?? I contend there is wonder at the opposite end of the spectrum and in fact tiny can also be terrific ๐ฌ.ย Case in point, my opening capture of the little sand dollars that often end up stranded on our beach. Even tinier, the scene above of the Small Periwinkle snails which dot the landscape in the salt marshes here on Kiawah.
โTo see a World in a Grain of Sand… And a Heaven in a Wild Flower.”
William Blake
So too the tiny red flowers that dot the wild marsh grasses. No matter the season there is always an element of beauty and a spot of color to be found by those willing to look.
โThe more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.โ
Rachel Carson
In my recent year end retrospective I mentioned my goal to shoot more frequently here on ourย beautiful island. With the exception of the sand dollars, all of today’s captures were made this past week in one small area of our salt marsh, where I was challenged to find interesting subjects at sunrise, noon and sunset on a single day.ย The most difficult, of course, was the midday shoot. I was amazed at the number of interesting subjects I found once I committed to the search, including those in today’s post.
“It is happiness to wonder.”
Edgar Allan Poe
Of course, if all else fails, nothing beats a pan of a visually interesting scene such as the one of our marsh above….noonday sun notwithstanding ๐. Here’s hoping YOUR week is filled with small wonders too.
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I savor, cause I discovered exactly what I used to be having a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I in finding this topic to be actually one thing that I believe I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me. I’m having a look ahead in your subsequent publish, I’ll attempt to get the hold of it!
Wow, all those snails!!
โWonder is the beginning of wisdom.โ
WOW!! very intellectual…. Deep ๐
Sounds like a lovely day you had strolling about. My fav is olive shell with the blurred surround. Heard a ton of sand dollars have been washing up lately. Yours are so beautiful !
Thx Diane. True, lots of sand dollars. Not sure why
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I totally like all your quotes, and the pictures are awesome! Thanks!
Thanks Cecilia!
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So much beauty in the small scenes. A great day capturing details and using creative techniques, Tina.
Thanks Jane, a fun challenge ๐
A walk in our own back yard can open our eyes to many things we overlooked before.
Time for me to take another look at the beaches I live near. Lovely photographs, Tina.
It’s always a joy to visit here.
Isadora ๐
Many thanks Izzy!
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enjoyed your small wonders, and your repurposed sand dollars, Tina.
a very thoughtful post.
i too enjoy the wonder of discovering small treasures, and i have found that photography has greatly contributed to that. it’s so easy to be busy and it is good to be reminded from time to time to slow down and take in the moment here and now, even if my camera happens not to be with me.
Absolutely Kris, I feel the same way. Thanks for your thoughtful comment
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The marsh pan is a lovely depiction of nature.
Thanks Sally
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These shots make me miss the marshes and other features of the low country. You are lucky to live in that area; I find the soft colors so soothing.
Thanks Lex, as a relocated northerner I find a great deal to love about the lowcountry, especially the winter climate!!
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A wonder of a post I’m glad I didn’t miss!! ๐ Tina, this is such a joy to read, I just love the quotes and am saving these. Then the photographs – wow! The last one is amazing, like a Monet painting. Beautiful reflections, Tina thank you so much for sharing. BTW, what is a sand dollar?!
Thanks so much Annika-I’ve been surprised by how many bloggers are unfamiliar with them! They are a sea urchin that lives on the ocean floor but that wash up onto the beach occasionally. Read all about them here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dollar
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Nice post, Tina. I especially liked the abstract feel of the spots of red photo.
Thanks Jane
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This is the first time I’m hearing of sand dollars. They almost look like the top of mushrooms, in my opinion. They have such a lovely pattern in the middle. Maybe I haven’t been to the beach enough. Haven’t seen them at all. Or maybe they are the kinds that blend right into the sand, shy ๐ Love what you did to the landscape shot of the marsh in the last shot. Very creative and abstract. Lol, while there is a lot of light in the day so you can keep your ISO low, you are spoilt for choice as to what you can photograph first ๐
Thanks Mabel. Happy to introduce you to these beautiful creatures. They are very delicate, nearly transparent. Those in our part of the world always have that pattern on the shell. Although they exist in most of the worlds oceans, they are much more prevalent here on kiawah than most other places I’ve been. Not sure why, just lucky I guess!
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Very nice, I love those little periwinkles.
Thanks PJB. They are very tiny. You have to be really close to see them
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Love those spots of red up above. Very nice!
Many thanks Mitchell! >
I love this post… after spending some time lately where my world is a little confining… .I am reminded to look for ” small places” of gratitude, beauty and splendor… you seem to find beauty and renewal in whatever world is yours at the moment. Love those sand dollars we take for granted ..
Thanks Linda – I hear you about confinement!! Hope itโs going OK. >
Such beauty in the small things and I love your sand dollars! I once had one, but it got broken and I don’t think we get them on our beaches.
Thanks Jude – sorry for the late reply, your comment went to spam ๐ฆ
Been doing that a lot lately – but hopefully resolved!
Beautiful Tina, as always!! Those are really great photo’s of the salt marsh…we have one also here in our inlet but I’ve yet to wander and take pictures..one day soon though! You give me inspiration!! T. ๐
Excellent! Nothing I like more than inspiring others to get out there and shoot T !! >
Spot on, Tina! Incredible shots and sayings. I just love sanddollars! I discovered them a few years ago in Costa Rica and couldn’t believe Nature does this on its own! Wow!
All little things are little bits of happiness. Less is more. And you’re showing it beautifully today!
Thanks so much Juls – they really are quite something, arenโt they?! >
Sure are! ๐๐๐
Nice set of images; great post. Thaks, Tina.
Thanks for stopping by Isabel! >
I thought I passed you out on the parkway with your camera last week and I wondered what in the heck you were shooting! Silly me ……..it became the beautiful marsh shot! Have you gone from being T to Miss TM? ( a proper double southern name ๐ )
LOL, I was looking pretty foxy that day, mucking about in the marsh donโt you think ML?! My shoes may be forced into retirement but I was happy with the treasures I came across along the way ๐ And no, still just T for me LOL. >
Great post. I have learned a few things and I have seen the first sanddollar in my life. I have to look it up, I’m not quite sure what it is and if I can find it on our beach.
Beautiful photography and thought provoking quotes as always, Tina. Thank you!
Wow Dina, kind of thought sand dollars were everywhere. You can read about them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dollar . Beachcombers love them, including yours truly. As always, appreciate your visit and comment. >
“Marsh Pan”…oooohh…but of course you knew I would love it ๐ Great post Tina. The beauty of your salt marsh is treat for the eyes full of its “small wonders”. Makes me think of my favourite quote from Albert Schweitzer, โIn the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.โ Have a great week yourself.
Love that quote Andrew! And of course humbled by your comment re the marsh pan :-). Must admit of all of my shots this week, Iโd have expected that one to catch your eye. >
How wonderful Tina, I really like the spots of red – gorgeous capture! ๐
Thanks so much Inger!
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A wonderful gallery of tiny things, Tina!
Big thanks Sue ๐
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A good challenge, and a wonderful gallery of little beauties! And it is so true, about the beauty of little things around us. I love especially the red spots …and the quotes. William Blake speaks in my blog as well. thank you for sending reminders!
Thanks so much Leya
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Wonderful post; I love the pan! I also love that you were challenged (and excepted) to photograph the same area Morning, Noon, and Sunset. If we look hard enough, we do find beauty in everything around us (as you have shown us here today). Thanks for the reminder. ๐
Many thanks Cynthia, Iโve seen you recognize beauty all around you many times! >
You are absolutely right Tina, there is nothing small in wonders. Case in point, your photos magnify them all! And to wonder is happiness. Perpetua
Thanks Perpetual, much appreciated. >
just gorgeous shots…thank u for reminding us on kiawah how much beauty there is just outside our doors….great eye!!!
Many thanks April – we do indeed have much beauty all around us. >
Beautiful shots Tina! I love learning about your island and seeing all its beauty through your eyes. ๐
Many thanks Nicole – amazing how much is out there if we take the time to look
Yes that is true!
Tina–you always rise to the challenge and, most definitely, GO BIG–says I! Beautiful photos, equally beautiful quotes.
Thanks so much Lois for your visit and lovely comment >