• flowers,  Metro Parks,  Plants

    Music from Within

     

    Iris
    Iris

     

    I sure don’t sing very well. Practice would probably help but I doubt I could make a living at it. I would most likely loose a few friends if I sang too often. I also do not listen to much music since the radio in my car and my home stereo went “kaput.” I have an iphone but have not music on it. The music I enjoy at this place and time in life is sounds of nature: wind as it blows through trees, birds sining their morning song, water flowing in a stream, leaves crunching under foot, rain falling and even the quiet of snowfall.

    But there is another enjoyable music in my life. I find at times while riding in my car or on a walk, that a song will rise up inside me and my spirit will quietly sing. There are those songs from the past, stored in my memory, that rise up and every once in a while a newly created song will flow forth. So when my spirit wants to sing, I do. It’s music from within, not from my ipod.


  • Art/Design,  writing/reading

    Not a Rock Star

     

    Not a Rockstar
    Not a Rock Star

    I was either in grade school or junior high when I took guitar lessons, which was a long time ago. If I remember correctly it didn’t last too long. The cost was beginning to be prohibitive, I was starting to lust for an expensive electric guitar and my parents had had enough of my slow developing talent. So, I never made it as a rock star and that probably was good thing. 

    I will admit to enjoying it while it lasted and probably wasn’t too bad. I remember the pain of acquiring calluses on my fingers and wondering if my fingers would ever stretch to play some of those chords. Later on in high school I jammed with my best friend, Lyle, who was quite good at the guitar. Then sometime during my marriage, my wife wanted to take guitar lessons so a guitar was purchased.  I kept it after the divorce and would strum a few chords now and then. But, I never made it as a rock star and that probably was good thing. 

    Our newest roommate is learning to play the guitar. She reminds me of those early attempts, talking to myself when I screwed up while those around were listening and learning what patience really means. One day I picked up her guitar and strummed a few chords. Surprisingly I remembered some of those chords and I smiled. 🙂 However, my fingers quickly became tender and I remembered those feelings also.  Ya know, I never made it as a rock star and that probably was good thing.

  • Candid Portraits,  Travel

    The Piano Player

    The Piano Player
    The Piano Player

    Centrally located in the food court at the Charlotte Airport is a piano. While waiting for a flight we listened to this man play a few songs. His music was relaxing and comforting especially in the hustle and bustle of airport travel. I really liked the setting; how he was dressed (love the cap) and especially the light. With all the busyness of the airport it was difficult to just get him and the piano. I tried to get as many images as possible, looking for angles to remove disruptive background and yet include both him and the piano. This is the image I selected to post because to me it shows his enjoyment of playing and his focus. He seems so relaxed. I also thought he was pretty good.

  • Candid Portraits,  Travel

    Music in Nashville

    Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar
    Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar

    We took a taxi to downtown Nashville on one of our overnights last week. Dana suggested BBQ so we found a place on Broadway called Jacks Bar-B-Que and put down some ribs, brisket and all the fix’ in. After a few good burps and belches we took to the streets to walk it off. It was my first time in downtown Nashville and found Lower Broadway area to be very interesting. The streets are lined on either side with bars and lounges, souvenir shops, western wear shops and restaurants. Many of the bars had open doors where the live music poured out into the streets, inviting you to come in and enjoy. What else would you expect in Nashville.

    Tom had a high school friend named Jim who was playing in place a called the Big Bang, a dueling piano bar. So we made our way over and listened to some pretty good music. Lots of energy in that place. As I had my camera with me I took a few photos to see how the D300 would do with high ISO. I shot with and without flash and was not too pleased with my results, so I converted this image to B/W. This is Jim with his reflection in a mirror as he gets into the music.