blue – Janis Grainger Photography

Things have definitely changed over the past five years but one thing for sure, I will never forget this view. I lived most of my life in Upstate NY as did most of my relatives before finding my way to a warmer climate. Life there was normal or so it seemed. I guess you just get used to what you see and what is around you. Not that any one place is more perfect that another but living in NY had its challenges. The cold Winter would set in as early as late September and if you were lucky, may break by Memorial day. Snow can be a beautiful thing until it doesn’t stop for days. With all the yucky weather, came lots of work. Just imagine shoveling snow with no end in sight. Weather may not have always been pleasant but there were the perks of a beautiful scene.

This was the view from the back of my house. Absolutely amazing to see when you wake up and get your coffee.

I hope you enjoy my view from the mountain that overlooks the valley between Norwich and Sherburne, NY.

During the Spring semester, I was given an assignment to get a photograph of a stranger. The only catch was…the eyes. The eyes had be tack sharp and tell the story of this unknown person. For inspiration we were shown the Afghan girl with green eyes, who had once found herself on the cover of National Geographic magazine. If anyone knows the photo, to find eyes as insane as hers, might be near impossible. I had a couple of people in mind for this assignment but of course, they were not strangers.

As with most days during the Spring, I would take any chance I could to get outside, breathe and try to not stress over the assignments that were very quickly, consuming our lives. Instead of enjoying lunch, the hunt was on for some eyes. I am sure people thought I was crazy staring at them but I was on a mission. Several people passed by but no go. A group of students were approaching… and there she was! Crossing my path was this beautiful young girl. I saw the eyes but by the time it registered in my mind, she had walked further away. I hesitated for a couple of seconds……..thought…….then ran after her. This was it! Thankfully she was willing to be my subject.

These eyes helped me take home the Photo of the Week in Small Format Photography. This was a huge surprise but would never have been, if it were not for this stranger. “The eyes are the window to the soul”