Canola Fields

During the month of April, I drove down to the coast twice, stopping by Waccamaw, Jones, Singletary, and Phelps lakes. I also visited Carolina Beach, Hammocks Beach, Goose Creek, Raven Rock, and Jockey’s Ridge state parks along the way. During one of the the drives back home, near Lillington, I passed by several bright yellow fields. Though I had been taking photographs all morning, mostly in the rain, I couldn’t resist pulling over to the side of the road to capture what I was seeing. When I returned home, I learned that I had photographed canola fields.

Beauty really does exist in unexpected places, if we keep our eyes open. I’ve taken hundreds of photos this month and a few of them are pretty good; but, my favorites are often the surprising images that I almost pass by on my way to somewhere else. I’m slowly learning not to plan too far ahead. It’s better to just explore and meander around and stop when something catches my eye… no matter where it is.

I suppose it’s always a good idea to stop and smell the roses. Or if you are a photographer, it’s always a good idea to check the rear view mirror, put on your hazard lights, pull into the grass on the side of the road, and hope no truck drivers or farmers get mad at you for jumping over drainage ditches to find the beauty in the fields they drive by every day.