Original Post - August 10, 2016
A memorable soap opera intro proclaims, "As sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." As I get older, the sand seems to be moving quicker from the top of the hourglass to the bottom. At times I wish I could turn the hourglass over and start again. But really would I? Would you? It's those particles of sand in the bottom chamber, for better or worse, that have made us who we are. Furthermore, it's taking a step back and remembering those moments that make up those days makes us appreciate the "sand" or moments that are still left to come.
One of the reasons I love photography is that it is my attempt to "catch the sand" as it falls through and to take those moments to remember those grains of sand that make up our precious hours and days we share.
Last month, I took a few days away with my three daughters to go to the Michigan dunes to reconnect before school was soon to begin. I know I can't put a "stopper" in the hourglass to halt the descending sand, but sometimes I like to take time to watch it go through. My second daughter is about to go off to college for the first time, and that will make two daughters in two years to leave the nest. More than ever I want time to slow down. So in those few days in Michigan I put my hands through the falling sand and watched it move past my outstretched fingers.
The photo above shows a sand weathered tree trunk we passed while on a dunes tour. While petrified, it was smoothed over time by winds of sand. Though overturned, it is life's harsh weather and pummeling sand has made it beautiful. If you look hard at it you might see an alligator or swordfish.
You can imagine the silhouette of the state of Michigan in this strikingly beautiful, overturned tree trunk.
So that is why this blog is called "Sue Eckl, Sand Catcher". I encourage you to let me help you "capture sand" for you with my photography of your special moments. Contact me at SueEcklPhotography.com