Fleeting moments
This week’s Sunday Stills prompt of Fleeting Moments has caused some discussion in our household. I like it when I have to think about something, turn it over, ask others for their opinion and make a decision as to what I do with it.
A fleeting moment is described as only lasting a short time, ephemeral – and I like that taking photos makes me be present, observe things around me and appreciate them for the fleeting moment I have them because they eventually fade and become part of my history.
Thoughts on what fleeting moments mean in a photography sense
We had different opinions on how to show a fleeting moment – the Mathematician thought it could be something spotted from a moving vehicle, say a car or train, down a narrow alley – a sight seen and then quickly moved on. Something over and done with very quickly. Which is one way of looking at it.
My photographer brother-in-law explained it in a similar way – a “fleeting moment” as capturing something that happens very fast, like in the blink of an eye. So it could be an action shot of some kind. Or a shot of something moving very fast. Or it could be a shot of something that seems to have gone very fast – eg a photo of your kids when they were kids, next to them now with their own kids – where did that time go???
My thoughts were similar but also the ‘feeling’ of being in a fleeting moment like seeing a rainbow or blowing bubbles or the feeling you get when seeing something special like the green spring tones of your house – it struck me again that I loved my house and the various seasons we get to experience by living here. I just had to grab my camera/phone to record this photo earlier in the week, between rainy days, as it really appealed to me – the green colours, the new growth, the beauty, the afternoon light. It was a fleeting moment before I’d even given this post any thought!
You know that moment when you have a thought and just have to grab a camera or phone and record it? That fleeting feeling or idea is showing me that I’m present and ‘in the moment’ but I’m also recording it for the future, so that I can re-live the ‘feeling’ over and over again. Isn’t that why we photograph things to have a record of that particular moment? I’m definitely into feeling things at the moment!!
Sometimes I think I’d like to be….
Some days I have a fleeting moment of thinking I’d rather be a baby bird being fed and cared for or kangaroos hopping around in the sunset glow, or a koala sleeping the day away.
Bu then I come back to myself and realise I have it pretty good being me!!!
Other times I enjoy seeing beautiful rainbows from my front verandah, they don’t last long but they brighten my day no end!
Playing with bubbles is also a fleeting moment of fun I enjoy with with my grandchildren, they love chasing them, blowing them and they always make me smile.
Sunrises and Sunsets are perfect examples of fleeting moments
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge
So how do you define a fleeting moment? Is it similar to my thoughts or do you see things in a completely different way?I hope I’ve explained myself clearly! I’d really like to know your thoughts.
Do you think my photos show fleeting moments?
Terri, from Second Wind Leisure, hosts Sunday Stills photo challenge, with the prompt this week being fleeting moments. You can read Terri’s post here Life is made up of fleeting moments and she very kindly shares links to everyone who posts for #SundayStills. Feel free to join in, it’s a fun challenge open to everyone with a different prompt each week! As I said at the beginning of my post, this one was tricky and I really enjoyed the challenge.
Have a great week 🙂
Deb x
*Apologies to The Rocky Horror Picture Show for using words from the Time Warp in my title but it came to me in a fleeting moment when writing this post!
Linking up to Natalie’s #weekendcoffeeshare
All my Sunday Stills posts can be found here – I’ve been doing these for quite some time now.
Latest posts on Deb’s World:
- A peek into a change of scenery #SundayStills
- The Thong Pole in Tathra #WordlessWednesday
- I’d rather be… #SundayStills
- That empty feeling when you finish a series #WOYBS
- Tell Us About…Scent
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Deb's World 
Lovely photos.
My fleeting moment?
My first bulb flowering.
Strong wind.
Almost destroyed.
Glad I took a pic.
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Thanks, and I love your response! Very creative and says it all really 🙂
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I like the blog title Deb – and the madness that the challenge invoked in your head (and the rest of the family members!) Interesting reading the thought process behind the photos and they were lovely pics. x
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Thanks Leanne, I did find myself going a bit mad trying to work out how to do this one, but that’s good for my brain! I find these type of things help me clarify my thoughts.
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Your photos are stunning! Our lives are fleeting moments in the life of the universe although I am more inclined to see it as a sunset or a rainbow or a babies first smile that no one was quite sure they saw. Bernie
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Oh thanks Bernie! I agree with you our lives are fleeting moments. Babies doing anything for the first time is a great one!
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I love the different descriptions of what fleeting moments are, Debbie. For me, all our lives are feeling moments. We’re only here briefly observing what’s going on before being moved on.
The double rainbow is spectacular.
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Yes I agree Hugh, all our lives are moments! The rainbow was a great sight from our verandah, I’m so lucky having the outlook and living here in our little piece of paradise. Thanks 🙂
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I think in some ways any photograph could be said to capture a fleeting moment, as it freezes time for a fraction of a second. But things that pass quickly, like a bubble or rainbow, are especially fleeting, I agree 🙂
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I agree with you Sarah, thanks for your thoughts.
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First of all, I am honored that such discussion exists on the cusp of a photo challenge, Debbie. Marsha and I discussed this idea on our trip to Portland and she also suggested shots of movement. But you captured the feeling of that moment, one that may never happen again, with your images of sunsets and playful animals. Your shot of a new spring beginning will always remind you of how the seasons cycle and perhaps what you were doing that day. So far I’ve read two posts that discuss how these fleeting moments affect our lives and I’m excited that the theme has sparked some great ideas! Always a pleasure to read your thoughtful posts and see your awesome photos, my friend!
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Hi Terri, I had replied to your comment but it went somewhere else obviously!!! This really was a challenge to me but I enjoyed the opportunity to think and question just what a fleeting moment meant to me and including some of my family helped clarify it for me. Thanks for your thoughtful comment on my photos and it’s always a pleasure to join you!
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I’m glad you enjoyed the challenge, Debbie. I love how everyone has a different interpretation of fleeting moments. Thanks for trying again on the comment, sometimes they become a fleeting moments that gets missed 🤣
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I love your interpretations of fleeting moments, Debbie, most particularly the double rainbow. They certainly don’t last very long.
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Thanks Cathy, I agree rainbows don’t last all that long and I love trying to capture their essence!
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Hi Deb,
What a great thought exercise – the notion of a fleeting moment.
It seems to me that we are surrounded by events that exist only for a short time and are not repeatable. Most go unrecorded, but for those that are, to be “fleeting moments” they still need to be significant somehow. Your rainbow is like this. It’s beauty is its significance.
A child zooming by on a bike will always be unique, but not significant unless some big happened only seconds later that made her blurred image somehow significant, like a car on bike accident – a tragic fleeting moment.
You know I’m a story writer and my mind went to that arena – is there such a concept in a written rather than photographic sense?
I think yes,
A few days ago I shared this story.
By itself – it was not a fleeting moment but I think one surfaced when a reader Zuzu read it and found a striking parallel in her own personal history. My story reminded her of a wow-moment and now I too have a remarkable piece of history tied to my piece of fiction.
If you read the story, don’t miss her longish comment for a great, “Oh Wow!” fleeting moment.
Thanks for the visit 😉
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Thanks Gary, it really was a thoughtful exercise and a challenge too! I read your story and agree Zuzu’s comment was a wow fleeting moment 🙂
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Debbie, Thank you for your weekend coffee share. I enjoyed reading your take and family discussions on fleeting moments. Your photos are beautiful. I always love nature shots and the sleeping koala is so cute.
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Yes the nature shots appealed to me Natalie as I often wonder what it would be like to be a bird, or other animal! The prompt was interesting and certainly made me think.
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Hi, Debbie – I love your personal definition of a fleeting moment for photography. Your photos to go with it are brilliant. I especially like the one of the bubble — it looks like an oil painting!
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Thanks so much Donna, it was a great prompt for Sunday Stills and really had me thinking as I was writing and sharing. The bubble is a favourite of mine too.
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All these pictures are gorgeous, but the “Home in Springtime” absolutely fills me with a sense of calm. Love it!
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Thanks Deborah, it might have been that sense of calmness and a feeling of contentment which compelled me to take the photo at the time. Glad you could feel it too 🙂
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Bubbles…they provide such simple, fleeting joy. I love blowing them with my granddaughters. They have an automatic bubble blower that they turn on and then announce that we are having a bubble party. And at that, we all grab a bubble wand and start blowing bubbles. Such fun.
Rainbows are also great examples of fleeting pleasures. What a beautiful capture of that double rainbow from your porch. Because we have so little rain, rainbows are special treats for us in far west Texas.
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Hi Leslie, thanks for your comments and sharing your love of bubbles and rainbows too. I enjoyed the vision of your bubble party with your grandchildren 🙂
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What beautiful photos – I especially love the rainbow taken from your porch
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Yes the rainbow is a favourite of mine too Deb. I’m so lucky living where I do.
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Gorgeous photos! Thank you for sharing them.
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Thank you, it really got me thinking so I’m glad some of my photos demonstrate the prompt.
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😊
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