• lake,  landscape,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    Ladora Lake

    November 15, 2011
    Ladora Lake looking South

    “My goal as a person and, consequently, as a photographer, is to witness, participate in, and hopefully share the delicate beauty of wilderness – those moments in time when nature and spirit transcend the make-believe world of politics, economics, religious squabbles, fleeting fashion, mass “entertainment,” and other means of wasting the precious gift of thought and inspiration we are each endowed with.” – Guy Tal

    I just observed a young boy, maybe 6 years old, walk into this coffee shop with his eyes glued to a smart phone or game boy? He never looked up. Unfortunately, he had been sucked into that small box with its dings, dongs, chimes, bells and whistles, blasting away to kill as many opponents as quickly as his nimble fingers could move. It was obvious he was no longer “witnessing or participating” in the world around him. His mother sat passively beside him with no attempt or chance of a conversation and I’m not sure she even wanted any of that. I wondered what that conversation would be like. Could he even have a conversation with her? Does he have, or will he ever have, the precious gift of thought and inspiration? Just watch our children, and unfortunately many adults, as they walk through life looking down at their handheld devices. Addicted?

    Anyway, I wanted to share the above quote from Guy Tal. His words so resonate with my heart and soul in this misguided world. If you have a chance to visit his website and blog, I highly recommend it. He’s a very good photographer and very much in touch with the world around him. I enjoy his little quips called, “Just saying.”

    Read More
  • Plants,  trees

    The Quaking Leaves

    October 30, 2011
    Cottonwood Tree

    A few days ago Mark Graf had a thought provoking post entitled The Passinate Observer. His post caused me to realize something about myself, and therefore this post. I believe photography has helped me develop into that Passionate Observer he talks about. Even though I am getting older, I am seeing things with newer eyes, that Passionate Observer. I dont just see a tree anymore but I take the time to look at the leaves, the bark, the bent and twisted trunks, the broken limbs, the birds nest or the raptor perched in search of prey. I walk up and touch it. Silly as it may seem I even talk to them. One morning I watched a couple intently walking the trail around Lake Ladora at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. Their heads were down, focused on their stride and the conversation, yet never looking up at this tree. They ignored the yellow quaking leaves calling out to them.

    So, I agree with Mark and his quote by Diane Arbus, that in order for us to “capture some emotion” of what we felt we must first be observers, even simple observers. Then when we’re passionate about what we see, we have something special. Maybe this couple will be able to see the beauty of this tree, the art in nature, if we present it to them through our photography.

    And today is my moms 80th birthday, So, I’m in Phoenix to celebrate her special day.

    Read More
  • Plants,  trees

    Cottonwoods at Sunrise

    October 28, 2011
    Cottonwoods at Sunrise

    This past weekend I spent a couple of hours at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. It’s been a while since I paid a visit. I arrived 40 minutes after the gates were to open but found the gates locked. Another photographer and I waited for about 30 minutes before they showed up and found they had changed the time to 7:00 AM for the Fall season. I walked the Lake Ladora tail and was so enthralled by the colors of the cottonwood trees. As some of you know my eye does go towards trees, usually isolated ones. I’ve read where photographers need to know their subject so I’m in the process of learning more about these cottonwood trees. I’ve always wondered what the pioneers saw as they crossed the Great Plains on the Santa Fe or the Oregon Trail. Most of the short grass prairie had few native trees so they often went for a long time without seeing any trees. The prairie was frequently seen as a very foreign and hostile environment to people from the forested east. No trees meant no wood for cooking. Dried bison dung was used for cooking fuel instead! No trees also meant no shade, which can be very precious on a hot day in summer.

    Read More