Meditations of My Heart: people

Credit Where It Is Due

Credit Where It is Due

I like to make photographs, and I enjoy being praised for what I have done. But God teaches a different attitude, one of thankfulness and humility. He pointed that out to me recently. I DO NOT MAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ALONE. I didn't create the light, or the technology which makes photography possible. I didn't buy my camera, it was a gift from my husband. I didn't give myself the ability to see through the camera in order to make an image which others find pleasing. It is right to use what I have been given to the best of my ability, but it is wrong to take credit for what I have not done. God made the light, the elements which are used to manufacture the camera, and the world from which these images come. He has given me gifts: people to teach me, eyes to see with, and a brain to process information. I am thankful for these gifts. He deserves all the praise, not I.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Monday, October 19, 2009

Steam Train

I had an appointment today, so I drove into town. My route crosses a long bridge over a lake. As I came to the end of the crossing, I noticed a group of people with cameras standing together looking east toward the railroad bridge which is some distance away. I thought that they might be part of a photography class...

On the way home, I saw more people with cameras. They were scattered along the pedestrian bridge and again all looking toward the railroad bridge. I wondered some more about why, but it just was not a good place to stop.

I turned off the highway down a scenic road thinking I'd stop and take some pictures. This is one.

Where this road crosses the railroad tracks there were cars parked along both sides and more people with cameras. I decided to ask a question or two, so I pulled over and rolled down my window. "Excuse me, what's going on?" I asked.
"There's a steam train coming along, and everyone wants to take a picture of it." I was told.
"Oh, thanks!" I said, and I drove off.
After crossing the tracks, I turned down the road which parallels the railroad for a couple of miles; it was my regular way home. But I had my camera, and a steam train doesn't go by every day...I started looking for likely places to pull off, places that might give a good view of a passing train. I didn't want to go too far, because I knew that this road crossed another near a railroad crossing, and I expected I would find lots of people there. I didn't want a lot of people in my pictures.
I found a nice spot, pulled over a little, got out and waited. I actually could hear the steam whistle in the distance. My view was through a few yellowing birch trees looking down to the tracks. I thought it would do.
As I was waiting, some other people, but not too many, stopped nearby and found themselves vantage points. Two cars stopped and the drivers asked me what was going on. Waiting was kind of fun!
Then I heard the train in earnest, whistle blowing and the rumble of wheels. I aimed. It got louder and louder.

Then suddenly, there it was! I took a shot, hesitated a moment, then took several more as an Amtrak passenger train, complete with observation car at the end, sped by. Here is what I saw, straight from the camera. I hope you enjoy the sight!