In the autumn of 2004 I went for a hike along Vermont's Hedgehog Brook trail, which connects with the state's famous Long Trail.  I found a small stream with this pool of floating leaves and branches that reflected a colorful canopy of green, red, and yellow leaves on the trees above it along with a deep blue sky.  The combination was stunningly beautiful and I had my 4x5 camera with me to photograph it.  

While this picture can be appreciated at a distance for the colorful leaves and water reflections, what made it especially unusual was the way the water created miniature rainbows in the curved surface as it lapped up against the branches and leaves.  While focusing the camera with a magnifying loupe these became enthralling and I realized it would produce a print that could be appreciated at close inspection as well as from further away.  Some of these are visible in the view.  

Something as simple as leaves floating in water can become gorgeous artistry if the direction of light and camera position are chosen carefully.  Many times we walk by these things oblivious to the possibilities that await us with a little more exploration.  It's been an important lesson to me to stop and see things from different directions before moving on.  The same metaphor applies to living my life.  I find that I get along much better when I make the effort to see things from more than one perspective, and sometimes I even find something amazing in that process that might otherwise elude me.