The Dust

By Rena Johnson June 23, 2020

I woke up this morning thinking about the dust. First the Sahara Dust and wondering how close it will come to where we are. The first wave will be to our west. The 2nd wave will be more to the east. Can I reach it? Can I see it? Should it be my first extended photo shoot back out there?

Then my thoughts moved on to another kind of dust. Its been a few months since I have been on a real shoot. When the virus came and shut down the country, the whole world really, I decided to take a hiatus from my work as well. Even though its often quite solitary, I felt now that everyone else was taking time off from work, I could do the same to get the full experience of this incredible time we are all experiencing. Even though a lot of it is horrible, it is also an extraordinary experience lost to those who refuse to be present with it. I am glad I chose to walk through it as I did. The break allowed all the dust of the last decade to settle. I can now see my photography, my art, my writing, in a whole new light. I am not the same artist I was a few months ago. The internal journey seemed to pick up its pace, even as I was taking a break. Isn’t that often the way of it?

So, as my own internal dust settles, I am making plans to go see the Godzilla of a dust storm that is headed our way. Will it reap havoc on our area? Will its sure size cause unexpected damage or will it merely pass over, as those under it barely even notice? I will protect my animals and garden just in case, but will grab my tent, camera and a notebook then go face it as it makes landfall. Experience, experience, experience. Isn’t that what its all about.

Dust in the house. Dust on the gravel roads. Dust in the chicken coop. Dust of memories long forgotten. Dust on the skill set of techniques constantly used. Wipe away the dust and it all becomes new again. Then I go chase down its beauty, its intensity, its fervor, its shadow. Quick, grab the shot. The sunrise, the sunset. The incredible golden light as it goes from a couple of hours into a couple of days. What a reintroduction to the work I so love. Then as the dust departs, I will wipe away what remains and my work, my nature, my art, my soul will become new again.