Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil.
–Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
As promised, below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s a lichen and moss covered tree trunk and exposed roots from my backyard. Taken on an overcast day with no special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone. In Photoshop, I also added a flower-shaped layer mask and a gradient fill for the background.
I would warn you that I do not attribute to nature either beauty or deformity, order or confusion. Only in relation to our imagination can things be called beautiful or ugly, well-ordered or confused.
–Baruch Spinoza
Below is the original photo used to create this image. Awesome clouds just before sunset, taken last month after dinner. No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
Nothing is more important than that you see and love the beauty that is right in front of you, or else you will have no defense against the ugliness that will hem you in and come at you in so many ways.
–Neal Stephenson, Anathem
Below is the original photo used to create this image. I caught this lovely sunset on a random Sunday evening as I was leaving a grocery store. No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
If you try to view yourself through the lenses that others offer you, all you will see are distortions; your own light and beauty will become blurred, awkward, and ugly. Your sense of inner beauty has to remain a very private thing.
–John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s a candle in a cracked-glass hurricane. This was taken in the spring of 2016 for a Photography 101 challenge called “Warmth.” No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my Kodak Share digital camera.
There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.
–Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With The Heart Of A Buddha
To see the inspiration behind this original digital art, please see the story here.
When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let is destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.
–Dr. Seuss
Below is the original photo used to create this image. I found this container of pansies on a lunchtime walk around downtown Richmond, VA. No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my Kodak Share digital camera. And it’s even a little blurry…
Don’t ever let a guy make you feel ugly because no matter what, you are beautiful with or without him.
–Zayn Malik
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s the big blue sky pic I took on a recent trip to Illinois. No special lighting or retouching, simply a snap from my smart phone. Yes, the sky really was that blue…
Beauty is nothing, beauty won’t stay. You don’t know how lucky you are to be ugly, because if people like you, you know it’s for something else.
–Charles Bukowski, Tales of Ordinary Madness
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s water flowing along the sidewalk into a storm drain. This was taken last year on a bright fall afternoon, no special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my Kodak Share digital camera.
You must let what happens happen. Everything must be equal in your eyes, good and evil, beautiful and ugly, foolish and wise.
–Michael Ende, The Neverending Story
As promised, below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s a maple sapling growing between stone pavers in my backyard. Taken on an overcast day with no special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
I try to believe that something beautiful can result from something ugly, and that there will come a time when I’ll get to see what that is.
–Mia Sheridan, Archer’s Voice
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s my car’s engine, no special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
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