Noticing More: Prayer Pit Stops

Knowledge comes from noticing resemblances and recurrences in the events that happen around us,” Wilfred Trotter

Diving into my woefully disorganised camera roll is one of my favourite ways to learn from my scattered visual notes. Amid the chaos, I can sometimes make connections from one set of photos to another. It is a messy but intuitive and unpolished way to see the subtle threads that connect one local culture or location to another, often thousands of kilometres apart. These waterless dives are meditative and accidentally informative and yeah, also enormously cathartic and rewarding.

My latest wander through my camera roll lead to a gentle study of how certain complex human needs are deciphered and manifested onto our streets. In this case the need is spiritual and it is revealed by the dedicated places for passersby to leave a brief silent prayer or pay a nod of respect.

Today I am drawing lines from the street side shrines I encountered in Malaga to the O-Jizo-sama of my local neighbourhood in Tokyo.

It goes without saying pavement prayer pit stops tell more than a particular culture’s requirement for roadside reverence. They tell of faith, piety, hope, pain, respect and sometime superstition. But they also tell us plenty by how they are presented, what they are made of, how they are maintained and where they are positioned. Floral offerings seem universal regardless of religion. Specific to Japan are the garlands of senbazuru found beside O-Jizo-sama, they strike a poignant chord with me. The patience and dedication it takes to make 1000 origami cranes really moves me.

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WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Are there any such places for roadside reverence where you are? I would love to see your observations and read your thoughts.

Please share with me via email: Yasumi @ Superordinarylife.com or via Instagram

Send photos, words and let me know where they are taken and where you would like me cite and link credits to.

NoticinG More: FENCES

Wire fences add an extra visual layer to a scene. Visually, they add texture and geometry. They can also distort, frame and restrict what we (choose) to see.

On first impressions, I immediately liked their grid systems. Noticing wire fences in mundane moments, I’ve begun to appreciate the visual effect that they have on a setting.

They are designed to restrict access to an area by creating a boundary. They control access, protect, prompt a sense of caution and interrupt our line of vision but in doing so, they can also add interest to what we see.

Wired

I like noticing things getting caught in fences. Especially plants - plants have a sense of emotion attached to them, I think. Or is that just me?

Warped

I’ve always liked a rebel. Rebellious breaks in the pattern on fences included! Warps, breaks, attempted repairs, they must have a story and perhaps it’s that thought that makes them oddly inspiring.

Background

Colourful backgrounds have a way of highlighting the patterns and details of any fencing in the foreground. Together, they create an interesting canvas for the eye.

Foreground

Fences obscured by trailing plants are take on a more solid visual appearance. There is a sense of enchantment mixed into there, too.

Away from the purely aesthetic appeal of fences and the mundane things I notice about them. Although it is ingrained in human behaviour to be more curious about concealed, areas sectioned off from public access. fences do require a sense of caution especially when they are protecting institutions such as schools.

Sharing Your Fence Observations With Us:

We would love to share some of your Super Ordinary Life fence observations alongside ours. If you would like to send one, or even some with us. Here’s how you can:

Instagram

#super_ordinarylife on Instagram. We’d love it if you shared your captures there. We will always credit and link back to you when we use your pics both here or on Instagram.

Email

Send your pictures and friendly words to : Yasumi @ superordinarylife (.) com