Lynd Photography

The song of the day is Hard Times by Paramore. It has been a very hard spring I am so relieved to be on summer break to be able to process my hard spring. This song is upbeat for what it is speaking about in the song. ” walking around with a little rain cloud hanging over my head with it not coming down.” It hit very close to home but I am starting to see the sun from a very rainy time.

Today, I revisited a playful photographic tool I had purchased a few years ago, a whimsical object resembling a crystal ball mounted on a wand, embedded with multiple kaleidoscopic lenses. Intrigued by its potential, I set out to experiment freely, allowing curiosity to guide the process.

Surrounded by the natural beauty of my own yard; blooming flowers, textured leaves, and branches reaching toward the early summer light. I allowed the lens to distort and reimagine what I saw. The angle of the tool dramatically transformed each scene, scattering light and bending shapes in mesmerizing ways. Some of the most compelling results emerged when delicate rainbows appeared across petals, or when repeated floral patterns emerged in unexpected symmetry, echoing the geometry of a true kaleidoscope.

I was especially drawn to the subtle fog-like vignettes and soft shadows that naturally occurred along the edges of some images, adding an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality to the compositions. This process reminded me of the creative freedom I often encourage in my students; the importance of stepping outside of conventional approaches and giving ourselves permission to play, to discover, and to surprise ourselves.