Capturing the essence of a person may be simpler if you dare to get up close and personal. By getting close, you may reach behind that veil of smoke that so many of us attempt to hide behind.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
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Out of this world.
“By walking in a snowy forest, you can really forget about this world, and every time you forget about this world, you leave this world, and every time you leave this world you gain a very special wisdom that does not exist in this world.”
― Mehmet Murat Ildan
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forrest of wilderness.”
– John Muir (1838-1914), early advocate for preservation of wilderness.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
A stroll under Blackfriars Bridge.
“I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.”
– G. M. Trevelyan
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Parts of a person.
One person is capable of showing countless facial and bodily expressions, all of which tell their part of the story of who that person is.
These portraits were taken for Halloween 2014, attempting to reveal the more dark, indifferent, condescending and arrogant sides that a person may have.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Nuances.
They say a picture can speak a thousand words, but how much may the interpretation of the story that these words tell change with the subtle differences that might be captured in an expression, with only a second between frames?
This is the same man, in the same setting, doing the same thing. Yet the slight differences in his expression and the tilt of his head lead the viewers thoughts in two opposite directions regarding what he may be thinking and feeling.
It is a powerful reminder of how those who chose which picture to use in a story, say in a newspaper article, can knowingly or unknowingly manipulate the viewer and reader simply by which picture they choose to use.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
World language.
London attracts millions of people and tourists from around the world. All may not be able to communicate clearly by use of the English language, but one language that can be understood by all is the language of music.
Musicians have the ability to communicate without words, and yet make themselves perfectly understood by those who listen. Music and sounds may evoke thoughts, feelings and responses, be it through smiles, dances or tears.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Contemplation by the Thames.
“In the city fields
Contemplating cherry-trees…
Strangers are like friends”
― Kobayashi Issa, Japanese Haiku
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Sleeping cat awakes.
Cats may sleep up to 20 hours a day. What sweet dreams must they have to make sleeping so long so worth while?
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Colours of Buddhism.
Bangkok, Thailand.
Colours remain significant in the everday practice of Buddhism. The most common Buddhist flag is made of the colours blue, yellow, red, white and orange. In some variations of this flag, the colour orange is replaced with maroon, green or pink.
BLUE symbolises UNIVERSAL COMPASSION for all beings.
YELLOW symbolises the MIDDLE WAY, which avoids extremes and brings balance and liberation.
RED symbolises the BLESSINGS that the practice of the Buddhas Teaching brings.
WHITE symbolises the PURITY of the Buddhas Teaching and the LIBERATION that it brings.
ORANGE symbolises the WISDOM of Buddhas Teaching.
Facts and flag credit: The Buddhist Council of Queensland
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Boys wanted.
While railway modelling is a hobby that is mainly associated with boys and men, dancing, as both a hobby and a sport, experiences the opposite: Most dancers at Hildemors Dansesenter in Bergen are girls and women, because few boys and men choose to take up dancing.
The trend is said to be true across Norway, and the reason explained to me is that many boys and men feel shy and are sometimes teased if they admit they like to dance. Indeed, among the parents and grandparents present during my visit, the dads and granddads giggled a polite “no thank you” when asked to take part in my story for the newspaper. One dancing boy even told me that under no circumstances must he have his photo in the newspaper, because nobody at his school knows that he dances.
In jazz, street and hip-hop, being a solo girl is not a problem. However, if a girl wishes to do partner dances, she must often find a female partner. Meanwhile, a boy can pick and chose the dance partner that suits him best. This, the dance centre said, explains why the few boys and men that do dance tend to excel.
Photo credit: Britt Embry
Picture the Stories 