Puddles along my path, 44.322701, 9.983710 to 44.328430, 9.971970
Puddles have a way of forming repetitively in the same spot. A dip is
formed and worn away by surface movement, because what underlies is
hard, impermeable rock. After rain collects on the surface, water remains
stagnant and softens the top layer of gravel which then gets
pushed and flicked to the side as vehicles pass.
To fix the problem we have to dig deep.
A joy to curious children, puddles can seem a nuisance to adults. The ones
I navigate in a car on my way home had become a source of exasperation
for two decades; they meant delayed parcels, reluctant visitors, a bumpy
ride and constant conflict with my local authority over the lack of
maintenance.
On a late winter’s afternoon, I began to document these puddles . One by
one , as in an introduction, I familiarized myself with them. Their aesthetic
quality, changed focus plane from surface to reflected image and back
again. I saw milky earth, bare trees, shed leaves and warm, soft ,tones.
Wonder arose from walking with my head down. Puddles have a valuable
perspective .
Bagnone, December 2022
