The Shine Journal

Artist In Residence 2010 : Megan Anne Metzelaar

Megan Anne Metzelaar is an animal rescuer, hawk watcher, writer, vegan, hiker and nature photographer living in the beautiful Skylands of New Jersey. Growing up in rural Moscow, Pennsylvania she developed a deep appreciation and respect for animals and nature at an early age. As a child she would often take walks in the woods and visit nearby parks such as Big Pocono with her family.

As an adult Megan has found much comfort in yoga, meditation and the Buddhist concept of mindfulness in the present moment. During a recent revisiting of Big Pocono State Park she realized that there are endless ways to view the same flower, tree or pinecone and was overjoyed to experience the environment with fresh eyes, just by being open to the present moment.

Focusing on the moment and sharing it with others via photography has become Megan’s way of showing gratitude for the gift of life and respect for the Earth, animals and other people. Through photography, she hopes to inspire others to slow down and appreciate their own world more often, and maybe help them find peace in their present moment too.

March Showing

I took these photos at the beginning of last autumn when the leaves on the trees were first starting to turn red, orange, and yellow. Everything was in transition. Looking back at the pictures from that day, I wonder what became of the things I saw then. Did a squirrel scurry off with the acorn? Did seeds from the pinecone plant themselves in the dirt? Did the caterpillar make it through the winter? I'll never know, but as Winter turns to Spring I remember that nothing ever disappears in Nature, it merely changes into something new.

Pine Cone

Acorn

Caterpillar

February Showing

"This past December I had to say goodbye to my dear Tess kitty. I rescued Tess when she was just a few months old and I felt a strong connection to her right from the start. I had 14 wonderful years with Tess and it was so hard to let her go. I had to make the terrible decision that so many pet guardians face: to end a beloved animal's suffering before it gets worse. My family knew how much Tess meant to me and I received a lovely bouquet of tulips from them in honor of her memory.

About a week after Tess died, I was sitting in my front room and the sun was streaming in through the window. It was a gorgeous day, albeit a cold December one. The sunlight was bringing the tulips to life in a way I had never seen and in an awestruck state I realized that even in the hardest times there is so much to be grateful for and so much beauty to behold in this world. These photos capture that illuminating moment. I look at them whenever I need to be reminded of this powerful lesson."