• landscape,  mountains,  National Parks,  Smoky Mountains National Park,  sunrises

    Sunrise at Foothills Parkway

    November 14, 2019
    Sunrise on Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains

    In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy skips and dances down a yellow brick road in hopes of finding the Wizard of Oz who will help her return home to Kansas. Traveling that yellow brick road lead her to new horizons, discovering her gifts of wisdom, courage, and love. I like to think of Dorothy’s yellow brick road as a metaphor of our spiritual journey to new horizons.

    Some of us live in the shadow of an illusionary self, a false-self that alienates us from reality, much of this world and a Creator. We can be blind to the possibility of the horizons yet to be discovered, paralyzed with fear, failing to venture forward on our yellow brick road and discover our gifts of wisdom, courage, and love, which I choose to call our true-self.

    “May we seek this inward path to encounter the true-self, the essence of who we are, and allow ourselves to be embraced by love.”

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  • Plants,  quotes,  trees,  winter scenes

    Vision

    November 13, 2019
    A small scene of winter weather.

    To those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful. To those who speak with tender voices, life is peaceful. To those who help with gentle hands, life is full. And to those who care with compassionate hearts, life is good beyond all measure.

    Those with a vision of new horizons are never lost. I have found myself wandering aimlessly because I was without a vision. At this stage in my life I’ve come to believe those who have found a spiritual path become the mentors, the spiritual guides of those lost.

    There is a joy in this journey of life that comes from encounters with new experiences. These experiences can always broaden our horizons, presenting new visions. For me these inner horizons are a vision of hope and have been part of my journey towards transformation. Each day is an unknown journey and an absolutely free gift. Set no expectations about tomorrow’s journey and do not deprive yourself of these gifts.

    “May we each find our vision and pursue it, becoming mentors who will help the lost find their vision.”

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  • Black and White,  Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    Making her smile

    November 12, 2019
    A young couple at the Lory Student Center

    I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them. At the same time, they are symbols. The people in my pictures aren’t Mr. Jones or Mr. Smith or whatever; they’re someone that crossed my path or I’ve crossed their path, and through the medium of photography I’ve been able to make a good picture of that encounter. They have a life of their own, but they are also are symbols. I would say that I respect the viewer, but I don’t want to tell him everything. Hopefully, there’s an element of mystery involved. I like him to look at a picture and say “Well, that that reminds me of someone,” and make up a little story in his head, make him smile, brighten up his day. I think this is what I’m trying to achieve with my photographs. – Bruce Gilden

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunsets

    Magic and Wonder

    November 11, 2019
    Sunset reflection at Deadmans Lake

    “I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful… an endless prospect of magic and wonder.” Ansel Adams

    This was taken last week. This morning we have a dusting of snow and cold. Stay warm!

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  • Albert Einstein,  fall season,  leaves,  Plants,  quotes

    I’m impressed…

    November 10, 2019

    This time the artist, Nature, used the tools of leaves and freezing rain to create these two images. I’m impressed. I can’t do that! However, I can take a digital copy of it.

    “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” 

    Albert Einstein
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