April 4, 2017 (094/365)

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ” - Oscar Wilde. My January photos, rather unintentionally, featured the muted tones of winter skies and barren trees, while February's crimson hues and March's verdant shades were quite purposeful -- a challenge that both guided and frustrated me for two months. April began as a literal and creative breath of fresh air, motivating me to work and play outside. When the day was done, I had taken beautiful pictures of flowers waiting to be planted, fuzzy baby birds, and a brilliant sunset. Feeling lighthearted -- released from my own restrictions, I chose a photo of bright yellow ducklings to start the month. Then it started to rain. Sunday, I joked that Eliot was right about April's coquettish cruelty and featured weeping cherry blossoms. Monday, as the rain continued, I offered forsythia as a sunny surrogate. But now, after three days of constant showers, Saturday's beautiful weather feels like a particularly malicious April Fool's prank. So as not to succumb to this week's melancholia, here's the new challenge: April's photos will feature all the color that Mother Nature is selfishly withholding.