• writing/reading

    One Foot in Front of the Other

    Moving Forward

    “Most fears arise from uncertainty. When we’re stuck in fear, we can’t put one foot in front of the other unless we know what lies ahead. Our life doesn’t even feel like our own life, it’s so controlled by fear”

    Dzigar Kongtrul

    Fear is paralyzing. I have many regrets in my life, those unfulfilled dreams and plans, because I did not try. As I’ve grown older it has become apparent how much of a role fear played. I may have feared failure itself or the effort it may take or the time it may take, the list could could go on forever. Yet, I know from experience how fulfilling it can be to step forward and see where my steps will take me. My dreams and plans may only be the tip of a larger iceberg where bigger and better things will unfold.

    And, to follow along on this theme, I ventured out and changed my theme on this blog. Another photoblogger uses this theme and I think it would work better for me. It has flexible width and allows for larger images to post while still keeping three columns. Please let me know if it is appealing in content, color, size and speed.

  • Art/Design

    Shadows

    Flower Shadows

    While walking through the hotel lobby I noticed these small vases with flowers on each table. The morning sun was coming through the eastern windows and casting these wonderful shadows across the table. There were many colors and types of flowers but the subject of my eye was the shadows. I focused and pressed the shutter. Now I have a visual image of that shadow knowing it could be used on photoblog. Shadows are a subject my eye is drawn to, why?

    Checking out Wikipedia I found that from a mythological view an unattended shadow or shade was thought by some cultures to be similar to that of a ghost, a flicker of a life unable to end for some reason. It is also believed as an alternative construct that shadows are in fact a representation of God’s presence around an object; like a halo. Early eastern beliefs also play to this theory. For example, Vishnu (a prominent Hindu god) would appear to help followers by assisting with tasks by lending some of his extra arms to assist the burden of the person. Well, maybe but I’m not going to go there.

    I believe nature to be the greatest artist we will ever know. It creates and recreates continuously. Shadows are one of it’s greatest forms of art. It is created when some object blocks the rays of a light source and creates a two-dimensional silhouette. When the subject blocking the light source moves the shadow changes and , likewise, when the light source moves the shadow also changes. Nature at its finest.  A shadow can create the feel of mystery to an image.

  • landscape

    The Beauty of the Badlands

    The Badlands

    The badlands of South Dakota is a type of arid terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resembles volcanic  rocks.  Canyons,  ravines,  gullies and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often difficult to navigate by foot. Badlands often have a spectacular colour display that alternates from dark black/blue coal stria to bright clays to red scoria. When you add blue skies and slowly drifting clouds you can get some pretty awesome images that show the beauty of the Badlands.

  • Avian

    Mine! Mine!

    MIne! Mine!

     A few years ago I saw the movie “Finding Nemo” with my grandchildren. One of the scenes in the movie my mind has kept stored is the reaction of the seagulls as they hoover over something edible and start calling out the word “Mine! Mine!”. It is so real as you walk along some pier and see them following people looking for handouts and calling out “Mine!”. It has ben one of the few movies I’ve enjoyed.

  • People/Portraits

    Lunch Break

    Lunch Break

     Finding quiet in the busy world around may seem like a monumental task but for some it can be done. I like how this image shows the man sitting in a meditative state  while the young woman sits in a quiet posture.

  • Avian

    Perched

    Yellow Breasted Blackbird

    The chirping sounds of these birds and their cousins the Red-winged Blackbird lets you know you have discovered one their favorite breeding habitat’s; cattail marshes. I enjoy finding these marshy areas with cattails where I can setup a tripod and long lens and shoot away. They forage in the marshes, in fields or on the ground and will sometimes catch insects in flight. They mainly eat seeds and insects.