Early morning in Portland (in Maine that is) has a different energy than the hustle and bustle feeling given off by shoppers and tourists that visit later in the day. The streets are sparse and filled with stirs of awakening. Entrepreneurs are opening up their shops and muddling about within, business people whisk by dressed in smartly pressed suits with briefcases and coffees in hand, and repair and delivery service trucks are parked outside of restaurants, markets, and stores. I walk the cobblestone streets (which remind me of walking the Royal Mile in Scotland), camera in hand, chilly wind biting at my fingertips, hair whipping about my face, looking for that ‘ah-ha’ visual that my gut says I absolutely, positively must capture with my lens.
I am halted and intrigued by a romantic, timeless chandelier in the streak-free, crystal clear window of a custom jeweler’s shop and notice that the reflections of the structures and clouds behind me, coupled with the light fixture, look dreamy and surreal; worthy of a photo. 
I wander most of the morning, following my sense of adventure without a plan. I pick up a bouquet of white ranunculus which I later put in my favorite milk glass vase, along with a bag of tarty sweet mandarin oranges from a local grocer. I lunch on delicious creamy tomato soup and a sour apple iced tea made fresh. I sit in a window seat and people watch both customers and passersby. I feel happy. I feel content. I don’t need anything else to make this day perfect.
Susan Tuttlefine art photography
