Treasure: any thing greatly valued or highly prized

I was walking the Farmer’s Market in Campbell last Sunday. There is a photographer that displays exceptional photos of nature in varying compositions from landscape panoramas to still water macros. They are natural pieces of artwork or treasures he has discovered and then captured with his camera. This is something I will be in the process of learning to do with a new and better camera than I could have ever imagined being the owner of. I can already feel it in my hands! Thanks to all of my wonderful friends and family for giving me this generous opportunity! Ok…this wasn’t suppose to be about photography, but what better way to capture natural art or treasure, especially the big stuff, and bring it home so that others can have a look if they aren’t willing or able go out there and discover and experience it on their own. Enough about photos. This is about treasure hunting.

Treasure hunting gives me the opportunity to be out in nature and find the most magnificent pieces of art I have ever seen. Nothing else compares. Natural treasures are unencumbered by the artistic doctrine or the persuasive interpretation of an aficionado. Unlike walking into a gallery or museum where everything is organized, categorized, and compartmentalized, natural art is there for the thoughtful pursuit, hunt and discovery. It is what it is. No one can tell you what it should be or mean to you. And even better than a painting or photograph, you get to hold it in your hand, feel its surfaces, turn it in the light to see it change color and if you are lucky, sometimes you get to take a little of it home with you!

The hunt for treasure involves research, motivation, some hard work and planning to be able to enjoy the end result of a collected "natural history museum.” In my opinion, the most pure version of “treasure” is the material that occurs because of a perfect combination of mineral, maybe animal, heat, pressure, water and time needed to propagate the end result; crystals, shells, stone, patterns, colors…not something left behind or created by humans. Hunting for treasure gives you the chance to travel to new places, learn about geological history and physical chemistry. You feel the accomplishment of working hard, digging in the dirt, understanding the beauty with no one to tell you how it should make you feel or what you should think it means. It is what it is; a treasure.

 

Looking forward to my next treasure hunt!