random household objects

Being forced to take photos of random everyday objects is really allowing me to see more beauty, form, pattern, and irony throughout my day. I was told to make a brown paper bag look visually stunning in a photograph. At first I thought to take a shit in it and light it on fire. That would be pretty visually stunning, no? But then I really started thinking about those little brown paper bags and what they really mean. I realized that they are a representation of consumerism. I lined them up. 27 of them. Like little soldiers ready to preform their duty. Just shuffling down the conveyer belt. To be stuffed, loaded, crammed and filled with all the odds and ends we want. In taking this photo I started to sympathize for the brown paper bags. I created a relationship with them. They came from the earth, in the form of a beautiful life giving tree. And will end up back in the earth in the form of trash. This assignment ended up being a reminder of the cycle we get caught up in. I went from wanting to light a load on fire in it to understanding and feeling compassion for brown paper bag. I always try to be, and most certainly will be much more mindful the next time I am asked 'paper or plastic'. I will whip out my canvas tote and say 'neither'.