Time

That word, along with its various and sundry meanings, has been on my mind.  When beginning to create this month’s blog, it seemed appropriate to think about it even more, since February 29, 2016 is a leap year.  We’ve been given a little more time.

I never fully understood the importance of a leap year, nor even knew where it originated from, but today as I watched the morning news, a journalist spoke to a scientist, who then explained that it was actually given consideration by some insightful individuals back in

46 BC – a long, long time ago.

Interesting.  Time.  A precious commodity that even the wealthiest person on this earth cannot purchase. “Time has a wonderful way of showing us what matters.”  Very true, very wise words.  “You cannot wait for the perfect time, sometimes you must dare to jump.”  Also a wise reflection in the use of time.  And then there is this; “Some talk to you in their free time and some free their time to talk to you.”  I like this one in particular today, because I did not wait for the perfect time – I jumped – and reached out to a man I did not know, in a country I’ve never been to, and he reached back.  He shared something with me I will always treasure.  His time.

The man I speak of is Lignum Draco.  He is a photographer who lives in Australia.  To my delight he not only reached back when I wrote to him and shared how much I enjoyed one of his photographs, but has accepted my invitation to be my guest on this blog.

Mr. Draco has no idea just how much his art has helped me, encouraged me and put a fire under me to stop procrastinating and get to work on my book!  The bones are all written down.  The chapters in order, the rewrites on course.  There is no time to waste, I need to keep working, focusing, creating – and his photograph helped me do just that.  I now have a self-imposed deadline.  I have put myself first, learned to say no, and give my work the priority it deserves.  For this I am very thankful I met Mr. Draco at this time – timing is everything they say – whoever they are.  They were right this time.

 Time

I’m a street photographer based in Sydney, Australia. In my spare time I like to wander around and photograph people. Mostly up close, capturing that fleeting instance of people’s lives that they may not even be aware of. A moment that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Last year while walking through a pedestrian mall, I noticed an interesting sign on the side of a building site. It was an excerpt from Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. The book is a memoir of Haig’s emergence from chronic depression and anxiety which afflicted him from the age of 24. But more than being a simple memoir, the book is about making the most of your time. In it he offers advice to others going through a similar struggle.

                                                   Photo by Lignum Draco. All rights reserved.

Standing there, it was as if I were the only one to notice the sign. The world continued to move at full pace around me. I adjusted the parameters of my camera for a slow exposure, steadied myself, and took the photo. I wanted to convey a sense of time passing against the backdrop of the sign. Time — both fleeting and infinite at once.

I invite you to take some time to explore more of Lignum Draco’s photography and thoughts about “nothing in particular”, but everything refreshing!  Taken from a very unique point of view – his camera lens. http:// lignumdraco.wordpress.com Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera  Now, go make the most of your time.