All of us have done it. As we drive down the highway, something catches our eye—something or someone unusual or out of place.
Maybe it’s a 30-foot-tall cement rooster, a brightly colored Santa Claus standing in an open field, or an unexpected moment of tenderness, such as someone carrying a dog on their back. I’ve seen all of these.
If you are like me, your insatiable curiosity compels you to stop, turn around and go back for a closer inspection—and maybe a few pictures.
What is interesting or beautiful is in the eye of the beholder. If you’re an arborist, you might notice types or shapes of trees most of us pass by. I have friends obsessed with trains who can hardly pass one without taking a picture of it. My wife loves old houses and flaky paint.
For me, seeing and trying to capture fleeting, visual life lessons—ironies, contradictions and metaphors—interest me most.
I call these gentle, visual sermons.
Such is the case with this photograph I titled, “Under the Shelter of the Cross.” For me, both the irony and the symbolism are unmistakable, reminding how even the birds and animals are provided for by their creator.
Take the Reader Photo Challenge
Put your picture-sensing radar on high alert for anything that seems out of place or out of the ordinary: common items parked in uncommon spots; uncommon caring or uncommon emotion; visual metaphors and lessons; or contrasts, such as the wealthy and the poor.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.