Arrival - Art is about making life visible. Art points out that there is more to life than what we see and that what we see depends on how we see it. Art does not need to be understood to be enjoyed. When I want a good solid hit of the mystery, I go to a museum and always leave more alive.

I was at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, and as usual, I started at the top floor. I can’t remember what artworks were on display, but do remember the crowd of museum goers was as equally enjoyable as the art. I left the top floor feeling fully saturated and satisfied. At the top of the staircase, I took a deep breath before descending into the ocean of art beneath me.

Over the railing there was an installation that you could walk into. It was a large white shape surround a field of darkness. The cubist minimalism felt quite calming. It was more than a minute before I saw people enter into the picture. They seemed to be absorbed by the glow, then disappeared.

Several minutes passed before I could frame the shot. People came and went dozens of times as I took pictures. Yet, I hadn’t found the right shot.

The setting and the frame were so beautiful that whatever happened in that space had to be as equally spectacular. I owed it to the frame to wait. None of the previous shots were wasted. Each one refined what I was looking for. It was a warm up preparing me to be ready when the right moment arrived.

I saw the blue-shirted man go into the installation. The cool color of his shirt worked well with the warmth that filled the rest of the frame. I planted myself against the railing, put my eye to the viewfinder and waited for him to come out.

I only took one frame. It felt right. No amount of staging or direction could have made it more perfect. I loved everything about it: the color, the position of his arms, his mass in the space, and the delicate pirouette of his toe at the edge. Mostly, I loved his stride, his confidence while moving from one world into another.

I thanked him and the scene, and the museum. Took another deep breath and practically floated down the stairs to the next floor to see what art was forming for me.