NGC 3733 Spiral Galaxy and Abell 1318

Childhood Recovered

The sense of wonder, so bright in the eyes of children, becomes dimmed by the onset of our maturity. The gentle spirit of a child is eager to discover the world around themselves, perhaps, because they see the Earth, the sea, the sky and the stars though a lens untarnished by life's experiences. It seems we pay a price for the wisdom that accompanies aging by loosing our exuberance for the moments celebrated during childhood and by having possessions or self-worth replace the fascination of simply being. Like early frost on new spring flowers, time nips our desire to ponder the imponderables- and as everything settles into hard reality, we let ourselves toughen similarly.

A picture can conjure profound emotional responses but most are bent on stirring our reactions to things like fashion, injustice or toothpaste. For example, many ad photos conspire to renew our childlike awe even if it means shelling out several thousand from our bank account to accomplish it!

Interestingly, we are also engaged in this enterprise for attention as we seek to waken the wide eyed child that's still alive and curious within us. But, our commerce blends rational understanding with mystical enchantment and suggests new truths about and beyond our human existence. Thoughts about something or someone, yesterday or tomorrow seem less important when the majesty of the Universe is illuminated in its full splendor. Whether it depicts one star or thousands, our imagery reveals a path leading back to a place where childhood, for a moment, is recovered.