• Family

    Congratulations Daryian!!!!

    July 13, 2023
    Daryian and I

    I was excited and proud when I heard that my oldest grandson, Daryian, was now a manager of his own PF Changs restaurant in Denver. However, I am going to confess that I also stepped into my fears and imagination as a grandpa. My first fear was for his safety in the big city. Next came the fear the store would fail, or they’d work him too long and hard, causing burnout, or having to handle difficult employees, or having a demanding manager above him. Then my imagination went the other way where the restaurant would be successful. He’d then permanently move to Denver, getting caught up in the success, venture into alcohol, drugs, and loose women. I wouldn’t be there to protect and guide him in any of this, as if I could. After a few deep breaths and some quiet time with prayer, meditation and my journaling, I was able to laugh at myself. What I learned from this is that as a grandparent it’s difficult to allow grandchildren the experiences and all the lessons they need in life to become healthy adults. We have no capacity to control another’s life or to interfere in their lives. I do wish him all the success he deserves. I couldn’t be a prouder grandpa! Congratulations Daryian!!!!

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  • quotes,  Self-portraits

    No Longer Just Fantasy

    March 27, 2022

    “You cannot find peace avoiding life.”

    Virginia Woolf

    There is a tendency for me to live in my head, that world of dreams, make believe and fantasy. It began early in my childhood. As a young man I would lay in the grass, gazing into the blue sky, dreaming of another time and place. I could also lay on my couch and fantasize of being the newest rock start or sports hero. We all dream dreams but none of us are able to live in those fantasy worlds because they only exist in our minds. Even as an adult dreamland can be a place I go when avoiding life, not wanting to face it. When I do, I find no peace. However, when I engage in life, face it’s challenges, put in the work towards fulfilling them, these dreams are no longer just fantasy but become reality. And, with that I find peace.

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  • animals

    Working Hard

    July 10, 2011
    20110701-115724.jpg
    Hard at Work

    This is Sky, my sisters cat, working hard at being a cat on a hot day. 🙂 And, so am I as I head back to the skies for another trip. Unfortunately, for me anyway, only the passengers get a chance to do this on the aircraft.

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  • Candid Portraits,  Cityscapes/Urban

    A Job or Work?

    May 20, 2011

    The Cake

    “The job is not your work; What you do with your heart and soul is the work.” Seth Godin

    I work as a flight attendant for a regional carrier. At this stage in life it’s not a career nor do I see it as just a job. I do not make much money, I spend half my month in hotels, and spend long hours with passengers, from every walk in life, in a long metal tube, a tubicle.

    My work history was in the high technology field. The last few years of that working career had more focus on the time clock than the tasks at hand. I was just doing my job, a cog in the system. Early on my career I enjoyed going to work. On those mornings I was bringing something to offer rather than taking home a paycheck. On those days I wanted to make something happen, make the day different. And, on those days I usually came home feeling good because I had accomplished something or learned something new. I came to work to give of myself and darned if I didn’t receive something in return. So some mornings I showed up at my job and some mornings I came to work.

    At the present time, I do not show up at the airport because it’s a job but because I want to come to work. The day it feels like a job to me, I need to find another place of employment. I believe that holds true with my photography. I do not want to get caught up in the struggle to make money with it as it may just become a job. My hope is to pursue it because I want to work at it, offering what vision and craft I can to this media. Hopefully I have something to offer. We all have the opportunity to use our photography to make a difference. If I can make money at it then that’s icing on the cake.

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  • lifestyles

    I Show Up

    December 15, 2010
    Office View

    In a conversation with a fellow flight attendant, Rhonda, she told me how much she enjoys her work. And, it shows through her works ethics, how she interacts with passengers and, most importantly, she is someone I want beside me if the stuff ever hits the fan. Working as a flight attendant fits her. It offers her something that tugs at her heart and keeps her coming to work. I can relate to all of that as a photographer. I’ve often asked myself why I spend time seeing the world through a cameras viewfinder then post processing those images. To some that’s a waste of time, yet to a photographer something tugs at our hearts and holds us as willing captive tin it’s grip.

    I’ve been at this flight attendant work for almost 4 years. I seldom share why I show up at the gate at 4:45 in the morning when it’s 20 degrees outside and then present a safety demonstration to passengers who would rather I shut-up and let them sleep. (Now that’s grumpy, Earl!) Well, I do it because of the people. It doesn’t matter their age, gender, color, culture, status or if their grumpy. They are people wanting to safely get from here to there and placing their trust in us. So, I show up.

    Another reason I do it is because of the views. As my conversation with Rhonda continued along I heard myself tell her how I moved from working in a cubicle to working in a tubicle. And, oh how that view changed dramatically. n all honesty the cubicle had no view while flying has breathtaking views that change constantly. I don’t always get a chance to check out the views but every once in a while I can take a quick peek out the window and let out a long “Aaahhh” along with those passengers (who are awake). The above image is an example and was taken with my iphone. So, the views are another reason I show up.

    I want to make sure you understand that I do not do this work for the money. I repeat I do not do this work for the money. The simple reason for that is because there isn’t any to be made. But, I show up anyway because of the above reasons and few others that I won’t bore you with now.

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  • insects

    Todays Work

    July 17, 2010
    Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains

    “All you can work on today is directly in front of you. Your job is to develop an imagination of the possible.”

    Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland

    While on a trip to the Smoky Mountains I dropped and broke my Nikon 80-400mm VR lens, a $1400 loss. Ouch! Needles to say I spent the last 3 days of our 7 day trip with nothing but two other Nikon lens, a 16-35mm and 24-85mm. Now my longest focal range dropped from 400mm to 85mm, what was I going to shoot?

    The first morning we were able to shoot in Cades Cove we were met with fog, wonderful fog. Along with the fog comes the heaviness of the morning dew, so needles to say we were pretty wet by the time we returned to the hotel. I noticed a barb wire fence covered with dew near the Tipton Place and wandered over to have a look-see. I discovered this grasshopper hanging upside down and patiently waiting for the morning sun to dry his body for the days activities. Since the 24-85mm also had macro capabilities it worked great for me to get some nice images. The fog was burning off and you can see the sun approaching in the background. This image was one of my first attempts at macro photography and spurred the purchase a nice macro lens. So, I ended up working on what was in front of me.

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  • Holiday Seasons

    Thankful and stuffed

    November 26, 2009

    Chocolate (Dark)

    It seems a lot of people come up with a list of things they are thankful for during this time of year. There are so many things I’m thankful for but I’m only going to throw out this short and sweet list:

    • Spirituality  – A lifelong journey of discovery for me. I’ve come to believe the search for God will introduce us to ourselves and I’m liking what I’m finding
    • Health – Physical and mental (which some may question) health. 2010 will be my 60th birthday so I do feel the stiff joints and hear the loud popping sounds from those same joints as I get up from a chair a little slower, but I still get up
    • Family – Grandchildren who are now driving, hard to believe they have grown up so fast. My children, sisters and parents who all are gifts in my life. I love them dearly!
    • Photography – At this point in my life, it’s a love affair. It’s one medium I use to express myself and helps me to see the world with new eyes. LightRoom 2 🙂 I’ll also include the community of photographers who enrich my life as a photographer and as a person, that’s you!
    • Friends – I am blessed to have many, some who have been there to help lift me up when I’ve fallen and some who I have helped get back up. Distance and time have not deterred those friendships
    • Work – Which provides a comfortable lifestyle and an extended family
    • Chocolate – What more can I say, one of my crutches. I guess you can also include Thai food

    I do wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope your day is filled with family, friends, turkey, stuffing,pumpkin pie and chocolate.

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