With the advent of cell phones that take pretty good photos, every youngster becomes a photographer.
For whatever reason, so many of these photos turn out to be pictures of kids acting dumb - sticking out their tongues, smiling through glaring teeth, hoisting beer bottles, hugging each other, etc.
Every once in a while one will come up with something genuinely interesting that they have observed and want to share their impressions of. Almost art, in other words. Something beyond themselves; more than self-absorbtion.
When I see something like this, coming from the lens of one of their cameras, I must admit that I pause for a moment and experience a moment of thanksgiving and renewed hope in a generation that seems more wrapped up in themselves than in anything else.
More than that, I look at that particular youngster with a new respect. There's more to him/her than I had thought. "Wow!", I think, "I want to know him/her better..."
Every generation of teens is quite naturally self-centered. Mine was. Yours was. Something of a painful necessity, I suppose. Still, when I see just a few separating themselves from the pack and seeing something good, true and beautiful beyond themselves, I am surprised and inspired.
Lovely photo. Reminds me of a Japanese watercolor.
Posted by: chancy | November 17, 2009 at 03:14 PM