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Story and Photography by Carl D. DeFazio Once in a while we all pause to take stock of who we are and what we are doing here. We stop and take a look around. We ponder deep thoughts and grasp for answers. We slow down and get in touch with our inner thoughts. We are usually alone. We "take a breath".
When I "take a breath", the first thing that I sense is the beauty around me. Beauty to me may not be beauty to you. For me it's West Virginia. Her mountains and streams. Who can dispute their beauty? I was photographing a river scene for a "Pools" page on my website, when a wood duck came out of the weeds with her young. The air was hazy and the water had a quiet sheen. I took the picture, lowered the camera and "took a breath". The water around me to my waist, the quiet water, the wood duck and her clutch of young. . . being alone in such a place gave me what we are all looking for - Peace. I had been on a wonderful fishing trip to the Elk River and Shavers Fork for a couple days. I deeply enjoyed meeting new friends and catching some fish. Getting away had relaxed me and the work world with all its pressures were pushed to my subconscious. I was better able to focus on things around me. I was beginning to know myself again. On my return, I passed this beautiful mountain scene that I had passed hundreds of times before. I turned around, came back, and took a picture of the depths of my home State's mountains. After taking the picture, I "took a breath", glanced one more time, then continued home. Footnote: The state record smallmouth came from his home river, a 24.25 inch, 9.75 pound beauty that was caught in 1971. Carl has caught and released a 5.8 pound Smallmouth with a flyrod. He can be reached on E-mail at: cddefazio@citlink.net |
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Fly fishing has presented the perfect setting for me to get in touch with myself and while doing so move ever closer to a better understanding.
