📷 My Top 10 Photos

It was an interesting prompt, to create photos of nature without giving them captions.  I'm writer and a communicator, so I like to explain the meaning from things I see in the world.  When I leave things open to interpretation, I'm afraid people won't see the value in something the same that I do.  However, to follow the instructions from the syllabus, and to explore an uncomfortable but exciting form of art, I shall leave my photos unlabeled.  Please enjoy, they are the most meaningful and interesting and beautiful in my eyes, among the numerous ones I took this semester.

Journal, Leading a Class to find Unlikely Beauty

Todd Redman Journal – Leading a Class to find Unlikely Beauty

In my Honors class Treks and Texts, there was an assignment called “Lead Respondent”, where a group of students worked together to present on important figures in man’s exploration of nature.  At first, I was going to work solo on my presentation, but I quickly changed around to work with a group presenting earlier on White and Eisley.  I’m glad I chose the larger student group setting, because I benefited from the fun collaborative experience.

            White was an interesting man, who lived through a rough childhood but persevered by connecting with nature in a place away from people.  He was specifically fascinated by Arthurian legend because of its exploration of morality and themes of good versus evil.  We discussed his short story, The Snakes are About, and we found his message to be that there is beauty in all creatures, even the snake that is traditionally viewed as a symbol of evil in literature, such as in the Bible.  I thought that it was a nice theme, to see beauty in nature where one would usually not look to find it.  Our class activity based on this concept had students go outside on campus for about a quarter hour, to find an example of “unlikely beauty”.  Despite being leading presenters for this project, I suggested to my teammates for us all to go outside and find examples of unlikely beauty as well to share with the class.  This semester in Treks and Texts has been eye opening, because I have found joyous experiences in things such as poetry about nature and volunteering at a forest preserve, when I usually might not have explored those opportunities before.

            When we went outside, we found multiple things that were examples of places of unlikely beauty.  The one we located as a group was a small red-leafed tree about the height of one of us.  Despite most of the campus being a vibrant green, this red plant stuck out to us.  One of us presenters remarked that it looked a lot like some trees she’d seen out of state on vacation.  I realized that I would not have found unlikely meaning and beauty in this plant had I not taken the time to walk around with this open mindset.

            I was excited to find some more examples of unlikely beauty, so I looked around a bit.  I found under where the tire-swing used to be, a patch of dried mud.  I remember seeing this natural phenomenon multiple times before in my life, but only now did I look at it with another level of appreciation and openness.  Looking at the desolate and cracked mud, I thought of it as an image of the wasteland, a symbol of a decaying world from another one of my literature classes.  It was beautiful in a sad way, the lack of vibrant life, and the abundance of dark hues and dried-up things.

     

            I also found an anthill, or a mound made by ants.  I took special care to not trample on it, especially because ants in Texas are notorious for biting.  I observed how the gravelly mound was in an out-of-the-way location, so that it was a more private and sheltered base for the ants.  I looked closer at the green plants and the brick pathway that surrounded the pile as well.  Despite it being just an anthill, I found it somehow beautiful as well, in a way that I can’t quite describe to myself right now.  Maybe sometimes things in life do not need words to be explained.

            I had a great time presenting to my class about themes and the beauty of nature.  I was pleased by my professor bringing plastic crows and snakes to symbolize the readings we did for this day, they looked pretty cool and they became a symbol of our nature-appreciating classroom until the end of the semester.  To this day, the crows are perched peacefully atop a computer screen in our room.  I’m glad that I look to nature for moments of beauty, even in the most unlikely places.  It’s good to have an open mindset. 

Journal, Turning 21 [December 4th-5th]

Todd Redman Journal – Becoming 21.

            December 4^th was the day before my birthday.  It all came so quickly, especially after Thanksgiving break which ended on November 27^th.  To a lot of people, the last big number to celebrate is 21, after having celebrated 18 and 16 as other coming-of-age birthdays.  However, this day had come so quickly, and my mind was preoccupied with papers and presentations (in fact, December 4^th evening I recorded a final presentation video with my teammates), so I was not prepared to make great celebration out of turning 21.

            I recalled the joyous remarks of fellow young adults who were excited to go out for a drink the moment they turned 21.  I also remembered some comedy videos online where a person would ask for a beer at 11:59 and be denied, only to obtain it just a minute later.  These ideas crossed my fancy for a moment, but passed soon after.  I was never a person who wanted to go drinking or partying.  I’ve always been a very academic and well-kept individual who likes quiet celebrations with his close friends.  As all my friends were busy during these weeks of final preparations, I found my last hour before December 5^th to be solitary and quiet.  To fill in this time, I decided to go for a nice walk.

            It was crisp and cold outside, and I was smart to bring a jacket or two.  Campus was dark as well, it being 11:15 at night by this time.  I took some photos of the interesting things I saw in the evening as I meandered through the place.  I first stopped by Frog Fountain, always a gorgeous place to visit.  The water had been turned off, but there were still droplets quietly dripping into the shimmering pool.  The colorful yellow light from the commons mingled with the purple hazy lights of the fountain, and it all looked so mellow and pensive.  If this was a moment in a book I was writing, I would say the fountain symbolized the peaceful and reflective qualities of my own mind as I gazed upon the structure.

            Along my walk, I saw Frog Henge, and the stone pillars were steadfast in their circular ritual.  Everything looked darker, but not in an unpleasant way.  It was very tranquil and quiet.  The cold air became noticeable for a moment, so I picked up my pace.

                                                                             

I walked through the corridors along the commons, which were nicely lit despite it being nighttime.  I caught a glimpse of some trees along the way, and I paused to observe their colorful collective of leaves.  Despite the dark night, they were still illuminated, their clean edges visible and eloquent.

            I wondered to myself if such a walk as this would be a viable journal for my Treks and Texts class as I wrapped up the semester.  I thought about how my walk was spur of the moment and not brimming with meaning and themes.  I was just about to turn 21 in a matter of minutes by now, and I walked back through the doors of my dorm.  This was not a thoroughly exciting night, but a peaceful and thoughtful one.  I decided that this indeed was a meaningful walk anyways, because I was able to enjoy the peace and darkness of nature without any goal or purpose.  I think that especially in these days of finals, and soon of Christmas, that taking some time to walk around and observe the quiet beauty of nature is important, to clear one’s mind and experience a little joy in the world around us.  I’m glad that I didn’t need a beer to have a good time this night,

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