My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
… put your camera around your neck along with putting on your shoes, and there it is, an appendage of the body that shares your life with you.
Dorothea Lange
I’m always looking for doors and church doors are even better. So while walking the streets of the towns I travel to, I make sure to keep my eye on doors.I took a bit of a different approach for this door by placing it in the background rather than the foreground. It doesn’t matter what church it is or what flower it is we just need to have our camera and be open to the muse.
…with most of my photographs, the subject appears as a found object, something discovered, not arranged by me. I usually have an immediate recognition of the potential image, and I have found that too much concern about matters such as conventional composition may take the edge off the first inclusive reaction.
Ansel Adams
Street names are used for landmark purposes but house numbering was implemented by the postal system to aid in the delivery of mail. Throughout the world there are different schemes for numbers housing. In the US we primarily place odd numbers on one side (usually west or south) and even numbers on the other (usually north or east). I wonder how long they debated over that issue. We find them near the front door, over the garage and on our mailboxes. I would venture to say that mailboxes are another one of those subjects photographers find in their viewfinders.
Today’s another birthday for me, which means I’m getting closer to those Social Security and Medicare woes years. This birthday is number 61 so I can start collecting a bit of cash in another year, if I wanna. I must admit I struggled last year when I turned 60 because I felt like that number was still another 10 years out and so was retirement. However, with a year in the 60’s under my belt, I’m more comfortable with this one. I’m looking into what all this retirement hoopla is all about. How much will there be? When do I want to start collecting? Do I still want a “Sugar Mama?” How many more years do I want to work? Do I want to work and also collect social security? Questions, lots of them.
Actually the book I’m reading, “The Complete Idiots Guide to Social Security and Medicare“, I’ve found to be quite interesting and informative. So, for another year at least, I keep on working and putting money into that fund and figure out what I want to do. I start a 4-day trip today and will be in Santa Barbara tonight. We will be getting in about 11 pm so I’ll be resting my eyes then. I like the hotel and they serve up a mean breakfast on their patio in the morning. After breakfast I’ll get a walk in, maybe down to the beach and then back in the air.
The birthday boy offering everyone a wet kiss. Mwah! Happy Birthday Mike! Love you!
I almost posted this image but wasn’t sure I wanted to embarrass you or me. Aaah what the heck, it’s your birthday. Hope we’re still friends after this. 🙂
I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner. – Alex Webb
Morning walks are good exercise for us, plus they get us out of our four walls. We then have the opportunity to see, smell, feel, hear the natural world we really live in. Each time I put my belt on I’m reminded of the need to get there. Each time I feel like something is amiss in my life, I need to be out there. Morning walks are good.
One thing airline passengers struggle with is letting go of their portable electronic devices. The attachment to these devices can prevent them from being present to the moment at hand. On every flight we see passengers come on board the aircraft attempting to get in as much airtime before we get in the air. Or, maybe they have ear plugs stuck in their ears or multi-colored headsets that prevent them from hearing you welcome them on board. Or, maybe they are so intent with text messaging they stumble when stepping on board or run into the person in front of them. These antics are so symbolic of our unhealthy attachments to our things.
We all have attachments. Some are essential such as oxygen, food, water, chocolate and our cameras. On a personal note I find I’m attached to my quiet times, my dreams, my walks, my laptop, my lattes, my journals, my pen, my iphone, chocolate, my camera and now a Kindle. I am also attached to my spiritual journey and hopefully that is a positive attachment. If you don’t think I’m attached to things just read back over this paragraph and see how many times I wrote “my.” That suggests a pretty tight grip on things!
Hopefully, I’m learning to “let go” of some of my attachments. As I’ve grown older, my list of attachments has decreased. A quick list would include the following: I’ve attached myself in relationships with hopes of not losing them when in reality I only strangled them. I attached myself to a career until I realized I was far more than an engineer trapped in an 8×8 cube. I attached myself with alcohol until I accepted the fact it had attached itself to me. I clung to my opinions with the assumptions they were right rather than accepting them as only one view in life. I attached myself to my fears which immobilized me. I attached myself to religion, a church and dogma until I realized I had allowed them to become an obstacle rather than a tool on a spiritual path. I’m working on all of these to release the attachment I have with them. We are so much freer to fly, create, live life when we do. When I’m honest with myself, I always seem unfulfilled when clinging tightly to these attachments?
I venture to say my primary attachment is my “camera.” It has for the past 7-8 years always been at my side. In fact I’ve purchased at least a half dozen camera bags in an effort to find a comfortable way to keep my camera attached to me. I’m always looking for a bag that fits my camera with a second lens, my journal, a book to read and chocolate.
As a final note, with the small bonus I received this past year I bought another camera bag, just to make sure I have one of my attachments attached with a new attachment. 🙂
I finished a trip yesterday afternoon and felt exhausted. After unpacking and getting a bite to eat I wandered around the lake. There were a half dozen pelicans cruising the lake. I sat the edge of the lake on the grass and watched small fish darting among the rocks. Egrets were wading on the opposite side and probably dinning on the small fish. Mallards were everywhere but all of them quiet. I wrote, took in all the sounds and smells of the lake. The sun was setting in the west presenting a wonderfully soothing sight for the eyes of my soul. An enjoyable evening.
My parents are out here for a visit for a few days, staying with one of my sisters in Loveland. I will be heading up that way so may not be on line for the next few days. Hope everyone enjoys the upcoming weekend.
The day started as I walked from my apartment to my car and made the half hour drive to the employee parking lot. I then jumped on a bus which took me to the airport. We only had one flight for the day, ending our day in Omaha by mid morning. Our van driver informed us they were having an arts festival in the Market Area, so after changing clothes I grabbed my camera and headed that way. There were plenty of booths with artist selling their wares, and some really nice work, and of course plenty of food. I walked it twice and took several photos, visited with some of the artists and enjoyed the music by a group called Brule.
After returning to my room I felt uneasy, with wandering thoughts and unable to focus. Restless, I felt the need to get out of the hotel, so more walking. Around the corner of our hotel is a sculpture park and that was the direction I headed. The sun was setting, casting long shadows as I found an open grassy area and sat down to take in the last of the days sun. It was at this time I realized I had not physically touched the earth since yesterday. With all the business of the day I realized I had been isolated me from the earth, always separated by a sidewalk, the pavement, a bus, the airport, the hotel. As I sat on that grassy area. everything in my soul again found rest, a little more serenity. I’m one of those people who really needs to spend more time on this earth.
Again I’m going to mention how I enjoy the ease of the macro mode on the G12. In a matter of a couple seconds I can switch into macro mode and move in close to see the smaller details of nature, in this case the stamens of a tulip from my sisters flower garden.
