Cogito Ergo Zoom!

"I think therefore I go fast!".... a well spoken quote from David E. Davis, that became the tagline for Automobile magazine years ago and a personal motto for me in my somewhat younger years. He was the founder of that particular magazine, a must read in my earlier days and editor for Car and Driver, a publication I had the privilege to contribute to on a couple of occasions.

Although I would more often be accused of driving too slow rather than too fast on most days anymore, I have and still do enjoy a spirited ride now and again, whether it is on my motorcycle or as it is on some days, only in my minds eye. Always having been an enthusiast of fast cars, I have had my fare share of them and have spent some time both on the track and suitable roadways pushing the limits of any particular machine and on European Autobahn's have maxed out the speed of a couple of vehicles.

The selection of photographs today were all taken at local car shows, where one can find the rare, fast and truly exotic on display for close inspection or in friends garages. I always enjoyed finding the small details found in automotive design that truly makes the car beautiful. There are a number of breeds represented including a Ford F40, Morgan, Hudson, Lamborghini (my son's passionate preference) Porsche (who have always had my heart) and a beret topped 2cv, a slow, but personal favorite of mine. Even though, like high priced jewels out on the roadway, the supercar class holds a certain mystique, the humble, 2 cylinder base transport like the Citroen has always had a 'fun factor' appeal to me. 

I hope these perhaps these images today puts energizing thoughts into you today and maybe even will inspire you to get behind the wheel of one of these special machines for and energizing boost if you can.  

 

 

 

 

Vanishing Love

This iconic metal sculpture created by Robert Indiana, is found in center city Philadelphia in a small spot of respite from urban life officially titled JFK Plaza, but this special space is more appropriately, locally called Love Park. Placed there in 1976, day and night there are people waiting to take photographs and be photographed in front of this fun symbol of one of our most basic emotional and physical needs.

Several times over this past year, I have been blessed here with the opportunity to love others less fortunate than myself in the act of providing a warm meal, a kind heart and open ear to the many homeless people who 'live' in and around this park. Although I can clearly see that such a time of nourishment is greatly appreciated by those whose lives paths have taken them to a difficult place, when I have been there, I have always been the one that is more nourished....not in my flesh, but in my spirit, to offer up a small bit of my time for them. In the process, I have had many interesting and challenging conversations as to my faith, love and life in general with the people I have met. Obviously life's experiences form a large part of who we are and what we think and it is always profitably to talk with those of differing opinions as to how and why life has challenged us the varied ways it has.It has been me, when I truly have opened my heart, whose views have been altered in trying to honestly see things that my comfortable life has not presented.

While there, I have also challenged myself to keep my photographic eyes open as well. One one of those evenings, rain dampened us and with it, presented some spots to make some images. I love the rain in the city, for all of it seems to come alive in the reflections of the wet surfaces around me. Below are some images from that evening that are of the fountain in the middle of the park, the adjoining streets and buildings including the Suburban train terminal, City hall (a beautiful example of Second Empire architecture in itself) and some general photographs I made, all from within the confines of the park itself.

As to love, I am certainly no expert on the topic, but have found in this life there are many, many kinds of love waiting for expression within us, from the veritably romantic to brotherly love, to ones of deep care, others that are exciting, or tender, or fun and in the case of this ministry, sacrificial. After 53 years, I see there are many other more forms of this thing called love that I will never likely experience, but to know and feel any one of them is always a good thing for the soul as that is where the heart is allowed to grow.

Sadly, just the other day, I was told by a ministry partner that this wonderful park in the next few years is to be dismantled and replaced with 4 restaurants, to 'update' center city. This news struck me enough to find these images and make this post. If true, I am sure the sculpture will be relocated or integrated somewhere and the worn residents that now sleep in it's boundaries will be scattered elsewhere. It's a shame.... for the very nature... the name of this place and the meaning it has for me along with the care found there in which I am a very small participant, I am sure will change too. I hope that wherever this 'lovely' piece of metal ends up, there too will love be expressed to those with less than meaningful love in their lives, for to live life without love, is to not truly live... at all. 

 

 

"See you in the Spring"

... a phrase I have heard many times and one common among people who live in wintery climates, it carries allot of weight. With snow and darkness the mode of the season, without intentional contact between friends, often months go by without a friendly voice. With the age of cell phones and internet connection I know things have changed dramatically in even the far reaches of the globe, but in areas with limited access it is still often only by face to face meetings that people get to truly engage with each other. In these kinds of places, this phrase is a way of saying I hope to see you again soon, but it might be a long time....spring...until everything opens up and blooms and has life started again until we can spend time together.

With this seemingly endless winter we appear to be experiencing here in the S.E. corner of Pa, the frequent snowfalls, although very pretty, have in a way in spirit, cut off contact even as they blanket the earth with layer after layer of beauty. People stay inside and quiet down. There are not many folks out walking unless out of  necessity. All of the photos today were taken during the very latest snowstorm (not counting today!), which really varied in nature and intensity many times over it's course, my favorite being when it all got really silent and the golf ball sized falling flakes seemed to float about for a while, ever so slowly finding the gravity and a spot on ground to rest. In a day off from work, I slept in and was really taken by the beauty outside of the window when I first sat up in bed. I immediately grabbed my camera and opening a window or two, peeking my lens out and took these shots while still inside. I was pleased to see such things right from within my home and blessed to once again see this kind of beauty in the place where I live. The top image, taken outside my front picture window of the field we enjoy living in, just captures for me the feeling I had that day... of the comfort of being sheltered inside in peace and warmth. The ones below are of one of my favorite trees (an arching Cherry) in our back field, the bamboo grove I planted  being bent under the pressure of the season and a detail from the boughs of a stately cedar tree found there along the hedge row. The last is a detail of bamboo that reminds me of the delicacy found in nature and in our own relationships.

Even in this quiet time though on this wintery day, my sincere want for connection with the outside world is there. Electronic devices, no matter how convenient in their offerings within the myriad of ways to engage, will never replace a face to face talk.. of being able to look someone in the eyes and see the person behind the face...to feel the expression of friendship in the flesh. As a popular song I just heard now expresses, "say something, I'm giving up on you". A sorrowful statement indeed for the quiet, without the perseverance of friendship over time and hope of 'spring' again.

"See you in the Spring" is both a hopeful and sad phrase for it not only sets up this distance of both space and time ahead, but also a potential joy... a 'Vorfruede' so to speak (to borrow a word from my German friends), to once again share time together. In both emotions though. there is always the stark realization for me of perhaps never once again being able to unite in fellowship as is so important to my inward being. The world is always in change and we change with it. Relationships ebb and flow in a ever flexible dynamic and the realities of the limitations of physical life are ever present. I learned this with my Mothers death, as after her long winter hiatus in Florida, she passed two days before I was to see her again. With this and other experiences behind me, I am always aware of how fragile life really is, even my own. In the mean time, I am waiting patiently for spring, for a winter of isolation is too much to bear alone.

A heavy Stone

It is with sincere sadness that I place this post for you, for it is unlike any of the others I have done so far.

In originally setting out to create this little universe of expression, I did so with the mindset that it would have three purposes. One, it would be a place where I would be able to place images, both old and new that I have created as an outlet from my heart and mind in a photographic form. Another was that as I very much enjoy sharing this vision and tiny bits of myself with others here, that these images would find a home within other people who might enjoy them and perhaps inspire them to get out and make their own, or even just find something about them that might cheer up their day. Thirdly, that my thoughts coupled with these images would give the reader a little insight into who I am and maybe reflect on their own lives and become better people as a result of it. I thought all good goals.

Some of you from the beginning have 'signed up' and perhaps regularly check it out to see what I am doing or thinking or maybe just what the photo is. Others, from the analysis the blog provides, might have just stumbled up on it for what ever reason and took a look. There have been over 5,000 views from all over the world, for which I am thankful.

Today though, for a variety of reasons, I am just doubting whether the effort that it takes to shoot, or search my collection for images and then post and write about with careful consideration is really worth it...whether it really reaches anyone and makes any difference at all to them. Expression, in whatever form, whether it be a letter, or with words, a poem, or blo,g or even these photos, unless they touch someone... touch someones heart, is really meaningless in the end.

I really hope that whomever is in fact viewing these entries, enjoys them and that it is making a difference in their life. If it is, please take a quick minute or two and leave a comment on ones that might have caught you in some way, even anonymously if you must. Just a little note of encouragement for me to know this is not all done in vain, for without someone to share it all with, vanity is all that it is and that, is like a heavy stone on my soul.

Below is a self portrait I did a couple of winters ago along a favorite wooded path that I liked so you could see who is speaking to you now.

Thank you,

Ken

Frozen Jewels

This winter in the Eastern part of Pa that I live has been a really pretty one with fairly frequent snowfalls, many of them being lasting for a few days before they melt, which has offered some nice photo opportunities. Yesterday was one such day and I was able to take short bits of time to make some exposures. It was a really nice out, although very cold and as I was out doing chores with my camera in tow, the landscape seemed to be constantly calling my distracted mind here and there with "look at me... no look at me" thoughts popping into my mind continuously around me.

The few shots that are posted here this morning are from views around my own neighborhood as well as a couple ones of the local rivers nearby where I live. I am blessed with living in an area with a varied landscape and nice photo opportunities, but even so, I have found that living with your eyes open helps. Some images are of snow, others of ice, but all of them highlighting the world around me as if it was covered in this temporary jewelery for our momentary enjoyment. 

As mentioned before, I am always drawn to trees, especially as when light snow rests on the branches, outlining their form, I am particularly drawn to them and although I shoot them again and again, I never tire of trying to find new patterns and something always seems to emerge from these familiar friends, refreshing my eye anew. The top image is of the Perkiomen Creek, which runs behind and below my home, taken a few weeks ago early on a Sunday morning, when the trees were heavy laden with ice. The others were taken yesterday and early this morning.

There is allot of wintertime left around here I suspect, and new snow is forecast-ed again tonight, so I might continue to post as I shoot or not, but I hope you enjoy what I have so far.

 

Make me Dizzy

Here is an image that stands in stark contrast to the previous post. It is an upward facing view of the Comcast Building found in center city Philadelphia. This past spring, on a Sunday morning motorcycle ride into the city for breakfast and some time to relax, via a friend whom works in this complex, I was able to take a small tour of his television facility and gain a view of the city I had not seen before. This building, the tallest in my home state is a sight to behold and the engineering is beautifully done. A link that you might enjoy.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_Center_%28Philadelphia%29

Looking out over the city from above is always fun and although I was never really afraid of heights and in fact used to enjoy looking out from a cliff face, I am finding that that older I get, it is less so and in looking down from the this glass and steel structure to the street below, one can get a small sense of dizziness.

That same morning, the two of us traveled some gorgeous back roads into the city and along the route enjoyed seeing Historic Chestnut Hill College and the adjacent Morris Arboretum, a place to which I would like to return someday for a more in depth stop. Once in town, we stopped at had a nice Cajun breakfast at the Reading Terminal Market, a fascinating 1900's era marketplace where one can get all sorts of fresh meats, fish, pastries and other farm fresh items that are brought in from the local countryside and Amish communities. It is a gem to be able to visit and very fun place for strolling and sightseeing.

Here are a few additional images from that morning. One of our bikes on the roadside,  one  out over this historic city looking down at the Art Museum and one of the Market itself.

 

 

It is always fun to get out and spend time with good friends and I very much look forward to doing this again someday. I hope you have enjoyed the images I brought home and if a chance permits, to find yourself here as well.