Tiny spots of cheer

While on a family outing down the hill behind or home to see some Hurricane Irene flooding along our creek, I spotted these tiny, tiny mushrooms on the way back up the hill.

If not for the bright, eye catching color I would have easily missed these underfoot for their small size. Immediately getting down on my elbows and knees, I made a few exposures trying to maintain some sort of light and focus on this cloudy, wet day with such a small subject, all the while hand holding the camera and macro lens at 1/8 second, to get at least a small amount of depth of field. The excursion out was my wife's idea (I would have preferred to stay inside and dry), but in the end well worth the effort. In the second photo, you can see the scale with my finger tip in the frame.

They really did give me a sense of cheer and for the small, but beautiful things of our world.

Mountain Light

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the passing of a great friend and mentor. Galen and Barbara Rowell along with pilot Tom Reid, and Reid's friend Carol McAffee, were killed in a small plane crash just outside of Bishop, California. The Rowells were returning from a photography workshop in Alaska. During his life, he was a world class climber, innovator and the pioneer of adventure photography. His photographs are known the world over, as are his climbing and outdoor accomplishments. In short, he was truly an amazing individual.
You can read for about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen_Rowell

I first met Galen at the Maine Photographic Workshop as a student in one of his classed and we quickly connected and became friends. His passion for photography and the process was infectious, his energy limitless and his generosity and care for our craft was deep. Over the next several years I met him at various places whenever I could, to photograph, climb and work together and I cherished every minute in his presence. His insight into my work was deeply valuable and the insight he gave to me in helping to form my eye, along with others, has largely developed the way I see, one that is still with me today.

This photograph, although not a great one, reminds me in a small way of him as for it's similarity in theme to the one shown on the cover of his most widely known book, Mountain light. It was taken at Oljato Monument Valley, Az.

He still is deeply missed when I am out photographing, but in a sense is still with me as well as I seek to reflect on his principals in looking through the viewfinder.

A self portrait of his:

Undirectional Viewing

Here is an image that I really enjoy. It is of some simple pond weeds ebbing with the flow of the incoming spring water as it breaks and slows into the pond after a trip down the mountain from it's source. Taken in Denver, Pa, it is one of my 'mini' favorite spots in that it always appeals to me with it's clarity and contrast. Ernst Haas, a mentor and friend, once said that a successful photograph will lead the eye in many directions, but never to an end point. He felt it's interest lay in always finding something new and fresh each time you viewed it, just like I do this water. I hope you feel the same.

Dot by Dot Dreams

This image today was one that I have always liked.
Traveling through Southern Spain by car alone many years ago, it was a wonderful trip of spontaneity and creativity as I had no timeline, no task ahead of me, just a general goal of direction and the finality of a return air ticket home ahead of me. Along the way, my route varied due to the landscape and traffic and I found many intriguing and surprising spots of interest..This sudden beautiful roadside view was one of them and I was compelled to stop and make a photograph of this olive grove grounded by a field of poppies.

Over the years I have liked it more and more and had once started to reproduce this as a painting (a skill I wished I possessed in a greater amount than I do) but as of this date, have never completed it. The style I wished to emulate in this work is of Georges Seurat, for the spots of color within the flowers are like dots on the canvas. Maybe this year, I will find the time for it, maybe not, but is still remains a dream for me to do so. If I ever do, I will be sure to post it for you as well. I hope you enjoy it.

Bugs in your teeth

Yesterday I lost a friend....We'll, not so much lost as turned her over to a new owner, also a friend. A new rider will now be catching the curves on my 1981 Yamaha Virago as I have since put on a larger two wheeled vehicle (2003 Yamaha V Star 1100). After 4 years of riding at every sunny opportunity (and a few less than sunny ones), it is another's turn now to ride this fine classic machine and enjoy the freedom and joy it brings. My new(er) ride is larger and faster and more comfortable for sure, but in riding this one yesterday for the last time, it was just plain fun as it was nimble, light and quiet, leaning it through the country turns on the way to deliver it to it's new owner.

Lots of memories have come through that machine and my kids first rides, the very ones that went from a bits of fear and uncertainty to thrills and smiles while on the back seat.

Anyone who rides a motorcycle has reached that moment when you just feel connected to the machine and it is as if your thoughts are translated through the rubber onto the road and the machine just goes effortlessly. It is within that moment that you can't help but smile wide. Sometimes when this happens this adds little flying insect type things that you might not want in your teeth, but after a particularly exhilarating and satisfactory ride, you know deep down it is really worth it.

The image today was taken when I first got the Virago on the way to work with the camera just around my neck.

Ordered Randomness

Here is an image that today popped up onto my computer 'desktop' as part of a 'slideshow' and I thought to post it. What caught my eye was the near perfect row of clover leaves running top to bottom on almost in the middle of the screen and how unusual that is in nature. Sure there are allot of straight things in the natural world, but more than often, curves and round shapes rules the day. Upon looking at it further, it made me contemplate the order that in fact holds all things together, whether it is obvious to us or within the hidden world of the atom sized realm..... things seem random, but as like this photograph, there is order and purpose behind everything.
I don't remember where or when it was taken, but if I were to venture a guess, I would say on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. I hope you enjoy this today as well.

The Color of Sacrifice

As we once again approach Memorial Day, for me after a long year, I wanted to get something up to honor those that have given up everything for the rest of us.

I might be biased, but I think the American flag is awesome. The thoughtful combination of the deep blue, bright white stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes just stirs something with in me, call it pride or just being sentimental, but I still get choked up every time I say the pledge of allegiance and even more so when joining a chorus of our national anthem.

Last year when I had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. with my son and his boy scout troop for the day, we squeezed in allot of activities in our few visiting hours, including a Capital tour (fascinating), a trip through the Air and Space Museum (a must) and a quick jaunt through a small part of the Natural History Museum, but the biggest thrill for me was to see the recently opened display of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag within the National Museum for American History. It was displayed in a room of it's own, at an angle leaning towards us, behind a large glass wall and dimly lit to protect it's fragile condition, but it was just majestic none the less. Photographs were not allowed so I have none to share (you will just go have to go and see it yourself!), but I could have spent the rest of the afternoon just standing and looking at it, imagining the things it could say if it were to describe it's own history. It was personally a very moving experience for me and I look forward to going back at some point.

In thinking on this upcoming day of national memory for our fallen solders and in looking at the red stripes of our national flag, I always think of the sacrifice of those that have given the ultimate to protect our freedoms. This image, taken at Liberty Park in New Jersey, I hope does the same for you.

Nuclear Cow

This one goes way, way back, to when I first starting working as a Professional Photographer. While driving to a friend's house one evening, the sky was getting darker and more ominous with each mile, then suddenly the sun broke through the clouds and created this beautiful light. I was in the countryside of New Jersey and came upon this single lone cow standing way out in the field. The position of it against the awesome sky drew me to stop and make an exposure of it as she was kind enough to look my way and pose for me. I had long forgotten this image until the other day as I was going through some slides and came to it and thought to post it.....and yes, the sky really did look like that. There have been few sunsets since, that would rival this one from that evening.