My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Every year I post at least one image of an ornament on my tree. Not sure this is one of my traditions but I do enjoy some evenings when I just look at the simple little tree and take a few shots. So, here is my Christmas tree ornament image for 2012.
When Paul was out here a couple of weeks ago we encountered this stoic character while walking the streets in Golden, Colorado. He never said a word but just stared straight ahead, nor batted an eye. It didn’t seem to bother him as two photogs started putting their cameras in his face and snapping photos. We found him to be on the quiet side.
“I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. And by seeing we also begin to understand ourselves.” –Â Anonymous
I sometimes find is difficult to understand myself. We are complex people, in a process of changing,
This image is not just about the subject or my attempt to confuse the viewer. It’s about what I saw of the subject, it’s environment and the light. And, what is it? It’s a coffee table in a hotel lobby with beveled glass inserts and the reflection of window lights and curtains.
One more walk around my hotel and I see something I had not seen before. Missed it. Strange what each of us will see as we walk around with a camera. So many factors determine what we will find in our viewfinder. How rested we are. Are we present to the moment or lost in thought? Our health. Our spiritual state.
Art is not to be found by touring to Egypt, China, or Peru; if you cannot find it at your own door, you will never find it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’m not one who travels to Africa for wildlife images, the streets of Bangladesh, or the mountains of Nepal. However, if the opportunity presented it’s self I’d be there. Nor do I have a 1,000 square foot studio for portraits and commercial work. I’m one of those photographers who goes on walks and hikes with his camera finding my studio and exotic lands just around the corner or in my hotel room.
Faye had a sweet post on her blog yesterday. Her image and story awakened some forgotten memories of my childhood. Just like her story, we would gather with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for a summer evening meal. I remember the grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, pork and beans and of course chips. What I remember most was the homemade ice cream. My uncles would take turns hand cranking the White Mountain freezers. Man those were good times. So, Faye’s image of the watermelon is to blame for the indulgence in some good old watermelon last night. It’s all gone now. 🙂
We photographers seem to find the darndest of things to place in our viewfinders. It’s a matter of looking.