My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Had dinner at a BBQ place the other night and sat outside on the patio. It was cloudy but the temperature was wonderful. I ordered the ribs and thought they were good. I loved the colors of these Chinese lanterns with the flame in the background. So as any serious photographer would do, I put my fork down, wiped the sauce off my fingers and took a few shots, then finished the ribs. By the way, I was stuffed the rest of evening.
Simple. Fuel efficient. Healthy. Many think of bicycles as an older way of transportation. Even though we have riders who commute to work on their bicycles, many people ride for exercise or sport rather than an alternative to their cars. Fuel prices are high, incomes are going down or even going away in some cases. Our highways are congested, structurally needing repairs and frustrating. Is the bicycle a thing of the past or something for the present?
If your into knowing why we take the images we do and why the images have an impact on us then David duChemin’s book Within the Frame is an excellent read. It was one of those books where I made sure I had a pen ready to jot down little snippets of good information and underlined some really good stuff. He has some great images that are worth spending time studying to see what his vision is and how he presents that to us.
I like the fact he does not go into much technical details but really touches home with his emphasis on our vision and the emotion photography can create. His interest is in street portraiture. This interest in people goes deep and shows in his images. His writing has a spirituality tone mainly because of his spirituality, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it. He also has a wonderful blog with some interesting writings that lead to even more interesting commentaries. I highly recommend this book. He also has a new book coming out soon called Vision Mongers: Making a Life and Living in Photography.
When his book arrived I headed to one of my coffee shops to sit outside and read. Isn’t that what all of you do with a new photography book? Anyway, I bumped the table and splashed a small amount of iced coffee on the book. 🙁 I quickly wiped things up and only messed up the edges of the book. As a suggestion, please don’t do the same, move the coffee farther away!
They are everywhere. They love picnics and sandwiches. Hundreds will show up for these picnics. If ya wanna know why read this interesting article about ants and how they have a way of communicating among themselves.
I also wanted to share this email sent me by a friend: When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised, “mine says I’m 4 to 6.”
Have you ever found yourself holding a cup of coffee, or maybe reading a book, waiting for a friend who is late, quietly sitting in prayer or mediation, and found your mind has taken flight to another place and time? I have been caught in those state. I’ve also caught others in those state, just staring out the window. They are no longer present. Gone. Bye-bye. They are some place else. Yep, I must admit to all of the above. I do not always stay present to the moment. I’m learning to be more aware of those times of departure and gently come back to the present.
One reason I rise early and take my camera is to experience nature at its finest. The scenes created by nature reach deep within me and touch some part of me that is connected to nature itself. These scenes are not something created by Hollywood but are created by a power greater than man.
Early one morning I drove out east of Loveland, Colorado searching for one of natures scenes to lift my spirits. I found one.
In the past when asked if I was a professional photographer I responded with the statement, “Well I’ve made money with my photography by shooting weddings and portraits and selling a few framed prints. But, I do not make my living at it.” I feel differently now. When I can create an image that moves me and someone else then I feel I’m more than just a photographer. I’ve moved into a newer stage of my photographic adventure. Maybe that’s professional, I’m not sure only time will tell. As I develop my photographic eye and practice my skills, I’ve begun to see portraits with newer eyes. I see how important it is to bring out the personality of the person, showing both their outward and inward beauty. Hopefully, I’ve accomplished that in this image.