Ole' !!!

While on a previously posted about trip to Spain, I had the opportunity while on the Costa Del Sol to attend a Bullfight. It was in the small, but beautiful Dali designed Corrida de Torros Rejonao plaza on the Mediterranean along the coast in the tiny town Estepona. A warm sunny day, I remember being both excited and pensive about attending this ancient sport. Excited to follow in the footsteps of a mentor, Ernst Haas in that I was having this photo opportunity, but anxious for the blood sport of it all.

In one of the earliest color photographs, Ernst was covering such a fight with this new film, Kodachrome, which carried an ISO/ASA that he related to me was about 8 to 12. He had previously only photographed in B&W as had all his contemporaries at the time. With such a slow film, he was concerned about shooting a moving subject and after giving it some thought, wondered whether if he moved the camera with subject, he could maintain some sharpness and instil motion at the same time. With this though, he literally invented the much used (think auto racing) and accepted technique of panning and produced this iconic photograph below. 

With this in my mind, I wanted to try and 'reproduce' the feeling that he had captured that day as I entered the stadium. Far from the grand Colosseum type to be found in Madrid, the arena was small and had an authentic little town feel. The band of 6 or so musicians belted out lively tunes as who I presumed was the local 'bullfight queen' was paraded into the ring. It was all a spectacle and was very fun. Eventually the main event arrived and as things unfolded, my reaction surprised me. Originally thinking I would be repulsed my a manipulated slaughter, I was really struck with the courage, bravado and sheer guts that the young, up and coming matadors displayed right in front of these massive ragging bulls. Together, it was almost as if the two of them worked in concert in this beautiful dance as again and again, the young man with the waving cape eluded the beast. At one point, in what I think was to show his lack of fear, in a quiet moment, the young man even knelt down in front of it, leaving me speechless and breaking the wild cheering shouting Ole' with each pass that I found myself caught up in most of the time, along with the Spanish crowd.

When it was all over, I followed everyone down and out via a tunnel under the seats and as I did so, they drug the dead animals right past me into a side room. Sensing a photo opportunity, I followed only to discover blood and guts everywhere as everything was being freshly butchered to give the meat to the local poor. Seeing this, I saw the 'sport' for what it was and for the provision it afforded some needy local folks. I was deeply moved at he entire day and was glad I went. My mind had been transformed by the experience.

I did not make any image like his that day, but later spotted this young boy on horseback who was part of the post parade that went out into the town,.. his face filled with pride and dreams of himself in the ring one day.

I think today of a time when I once I had his youthful enthusiasm in all of life and especially photography, but much of it has waned while wading through life's trials and worries. On further reflection now, oh, how I wish to once again capture the cheering optimistic outlook I had that day... today.

Crisp as Winter

Another image today (can you believe I have posted so many days in a row?) from that 'walkabout' around the neighborhood last winter that I found the be interesting.

I remember the air was really crisp, a sting in your nose kind of bite to it but not enough to form ice on your hair tips kind, but quite cold none the less, much like these days that lie ahead of me now. I have photographed leaves like this in many seasons and they are always a subject that continues to draw me in, as do tree branches and trees in general.

There is something about a tree that fascinates me. I don't know if it is the way their structure expands into ever narrowing branches or the huge variety of shapes, or the way they shed their leaves (well deciduous ones anyway) or the fact that pretty much as a general rule, half of what it is to be a tree is out of site. The way they draw energy from both above the ground in the sunshine and below in water and minerals is just so cool. I seriously doubt whether many people ever consider this hidden world below our feet when encountering a tree, if at all. What is even more intriguing to me, is the vast properties that trees provide that we use to fashion all kinds of useful things from it, to firewood to keep us warm (stored converted sunshine in reality) to lumber, with which to build shelters, to simple things in life like cooking spoons to stir a favorite meal.

This particular leaf, a Sugar Maple I believe, comes from a specie that blesses us even further with a sap, when caught in the middle of it's wintertime rise and fall, then boiled down enough, yields a amazing, rich syrup that is a delight to the tongue.

When I think of my own body and the circulatory system that constantly sustains every cell within me, I think of it like the branches of a great tree, moving the needed elements, nutrition and oxygen to where it is needed and removing the toxins from me in return. Perhaps for me, this is like a little connection with nature in my small mind.

In this image, I love the way the edges carry a ever so slim layer of frost, outlining the rich brown tones with crisp white and really seemed to stand out among it's neighbors. I will continue at some point, to make photographs of these fallen workers of sunshine and if I like it, will share it with you. In the mean time, I will continue to love looking at trees in the winter and the beautiful silhouettes they show us when unadorned.

Brrrrrr! It's cold out there...

Here in the North Easter U.S. we are in a mid winter cold front and my local Pa temperature was down in the minus digits this morning. This image, taken about this time last year (just to be honest, I haven't been making any real, new images for a while now, sad to say) of some ice covering a small hole in the ground is one of those where I forced myself out on a similarly cold day as today to refresh and push my vision a bit. I made several nice images, none of them that captured me to the core, but many that made me smile inside my small, creative self, this one included. The ice, a very thin veneer here in fact on a neighbor's driveway and was able to flow as it froze with those always interesting patterns that nature provides.

I like photos like these, that are, but aren't what they appear to be. Someone might look at it and see one thing, somebody, something else. In making an image, i certainly don't define the viewing experience and I like subjects like this that are are left to viewer interpretation.

While it is always more tempting to stay indoors, warm in my slippers by a fire, sometimes it is good and necessary to get out, get a little cold and see something new, even if it means missing the comforts of home for a bit. It is always worth it. 

I hope you enjoy this today as I did that day.

As always, click on it for full view. 

Surprise Me!

This amazingly beautiful bloom, of which this is photograph has captured only a small portion of, belongs to the humble Night Blooming Cereus. I photographed this image a year or so ago in the middle of the night after a progression of exposures, where I was trying to capture the momentum of the blooming process.

This particular plant, received as a gift cutting from an old friend, is one of my favorites, even though it resides mostly forgotten in our laundry room. There is sits alone and slowly grows, unnoticed until in its own time, it becomes the star of the household for a night.

Humble in appearance, the Cereus is a curious plant and to see one, there would certainly appear to be nothing special about it to grab your attention. Gangly, long fleshy leaves grow in no particular pattern or attractive form, sprouting off of each other along side of long probing hairy pikes. In looking at it, it is hard to discern whether it is meant to be a vine or bush and having never having seen one in the wild, I honestly am unsure. Most people, I have found, would not have it in their home.

The one thing they don't understand though, is what is hidden in the patience of having one of these within your care. After what seems like an eternity, certainly years, and for no particular reason that I know of, they will bloom. This is no any ordinary bloom and within a botanical scale, I would venture to say it is one of the most incredible blooms I have ever experienced. The flowering process starts out as one of these odd spikes, only to grow and swell into a almost alien looking pod. This over a period of a few days to where it reaches a length of about 6 to 7 inches long. Then in one night and only for one night, starting around 9 pm or so, it will slowly start to open. Only over the next several hours, as the bud separates like the unfolding of ones hands, do you really grasp the beauty that is appearing before you. Eventually reaching the size of a dinner plate and releasing a scent throughout our home that is really indescribable, when it is fully open, it displays these most intricate, delicate of inward parts shown here. By morning time, all is gone.. the flower lying dead until another time when it sees fit to bloom again.

Over the years, I have rooted several cuttings for friends and family, some still cherished as members of the household, others that have perished, but the one I have had for about 30 years now, still is going strong, sitting silently unnoticed and waiting for its moment of glory once again to shine into the darkness of night. I can't wait to sense it once again when it does.

I hope that you might be able to find and have one of these curious plants for yourself. Although something that in the everyday is nothing to take note of, when the time is right, the beauty it quietly holds somewhere inside is worth every second of waiting for the bloom.  

Again, please select the image to view it full size. 

Safe Inside the Walls

This interesting detail shot is one of several I took of a Parador while on a journey across Spain several years ago. I had just finished a corporate assignment that took me to the Cost Del Sol on the southern coast of Spain and afterwards decided to take some well earned extra time to drive north across the quiet countryside to Madrid for a flight back home. It seemed a two week trip would fit the bill, so I loosely planned out a route and hit the road.

Trying to find interesting spots along the way, I sought out overnight stays within the Parador State run hotel system. Set up in the 1920s by King Alphonso as a 'days journey' stopping points for travel to promote tourism, Paradors are a collection of historic structures that range from old monasteries to ones like this 8th century castle located in the area of Alarcon. here is a link for more information: www.paradores-spain.com/spain/palarcom.html

I stayed in several along the way, but this one stood out as my favorite. The remote setting, the thick walls that surrounded the uber quiet, sleepy town and the structure itself was fascinating. I was blessed to get the room at the top of the tower, located up a very tight winding stairway of stone (which maybe was not so much a blessing with luggage and lots of camera equipment)  and thought it so cool. The room was tiny, with an arched ceiling and room just enough for a bed and spartan bath, but the window, which narrowed as it pierced the 7' thick wall captivated me. As i sat inside of it reading a book by the warm afternoon light, I imagined all the figures in history that have looked out it, perhaps for pleasure like I was or perhaps for a important vantage point to mount a defense during one of the many sieges this one endured.

Even though I only stayed two nights here while exploring the local area, the connection I felt to this centuries old fortification was profound. I didn't want to leave. Maybe it was the interesting history held there, maybe the massive feeling of safety, maybe the delicious meal of wild boar and almond sauce or maybe I just needed the time of rest, but it was difficult to drive off and move on. Whatever it was, I liked it there.

The very idea of a castle, a stronghold to shelter, protect and safeguard in times of old was essential to the well being and very lives of the local population that would in times of danger sequester inside its walls. Often, I think we too, figuratively and perhaps even physically, pull ourselves inside to protect, preserve and keep from danger our own hearts. Although at times perhaps even necessary as when we are hurt by those around us, many times, it is just out of fear or questioning of the unknown, or exploring the unfamiliar and different and as important as this might be at times, sometimes, as much as we might not want to, we just need to pull up and start a new path to see where life will take us again.

Again, please select the photo to view the image correctly sized. 

Multi Layered Vision

As I sat down to post today, I can't believe that I am doing so two days in a row. Although way back my intent on this blog was to contribute regularly, pushing myself to get images together and to shoot more. It has not always worked as I had planned, as many things in life don't and image placement has been quite sporadic, but it is what it is.

This image is unique among all those I have posted thus far in that although it is a in camera image that I indeed photographed, for it to be possible, I had to utilize digital manipulation.

Most of the images so far have been straight digital shots, or ones that started out onto film and were later scanned in to this medium. This one is a composite of multiple exposures that were digitally combined into one in a process known as HDRI, or properly, Hi Dynamic Range Imagery. It is a technique where many exposures are made at differing light levels, combining those all into one image allowing detail to be appreciated on a large luminosity scale. Although many shots I have seen using this approach are 'too dynamic' and look fake, some purposefully so, I was pleased with this one, as it encompassed detail both in the snowy path as well as the much darker tree trunks and shadows in the woods.

Our human eyes, are marvels of creation, amazingly adjusting almost instantaneously from light to dark subjects without any conscious thought, but in years past, film was much less so forgiving and one often had to choose which range to capture, setting the mood intentionally within this limitation. With HDRI, I could here more closely reflect what I might have actually seen that winter day a couple of years ago in a local woods.

Once again , this process and post today, has helped me reflect (which is part of the blogs purpose) on the nature of our vision and experience in life. Often, our experiences and even or willingness to engage in ones, are limited by our vision and how much of the 'picture' we see. Long ago, using film, my creativity was more limited, as was my youthful viewpoint on much of life, but in this present age, just as the digital world has opened up many more possibilities of thought and expression in my photography, my mind has matured and offers a much deeper thought process when I seek to engage in issues and possibilities in all areas of my life.

I hope you have enjoyed this today as much as I did when imagining in my mind the image that might exist within this new technique, while i was out on a cool, quiet winter stroll.

Please click on the image to view it full size. 

Round and Around

This image, again one of my first, taken many years ago (seems to be a theme lately) is also one of my favorites. I photographed these Lillies at Longwood Gardens, which is a Dupont family legacy, now a fantastic garden and conservatory estate located just outside of Kennett Square, Pa, nearby to where I live. A link to them: http://longwoodgardens.org/

It is very easy to make wonderful photographs here for the impressive displays they continually have on hand of the most exotic and beautiful floral landscapes one can imagine. The real challenge is to be selective enough to narrow your vision to the things that truly capture your attention. I have been there many times and I suspect will never tire of walking through the greenhouses or vast estate grounds and as many times that I have made photographs here, there will always be more than I can find I am sure.

This particular shot was one of a large indoor, springtime 'field' of flowers in their spring display. I remember trying hard to capture the nuances of the petals and other internal parts of individual flowers, then moving on to the relationship of the whole flower to it's environment, all the while trying to avoid the cultivated nature of this display. Eventually though, I widened my view to the larger landscape and made this image. I always liked it, but never understood why. Years later, when showing some of my work to my new friend, Ernst Haas, he really enjoyed it and asked me to make him a print. He pointed out that within the scope of the view for him, it led his eye around and around the image, always showing him something new, keeping it fresh. Until then, I never considered it that way and it inspired me to look for more 'randomness' in my vision from there on.

I guess sometimes we focus too often on the details, whether it be in a photograph or within problems of life we are facing, rather than looking at the solution and beauty that might be there in the whole. Even though I still tend to look for the small things that seem to capture me again and again, sometimes I just might need to step back to see a broader view.

Oddly, in this new format for the blog, you must click on the image to receive the larger view!

Close to Home

Looking out the window today at an early winter rainy, colorless kind of day drove me to find and image with some visual warmth. Although I had thought I had posted this one lone ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had not. Like a warm, honest hug from a small, cheery child, this one reached out to me and brought me the same cheer, contrasting the world before me.

I took this image when I first started to take photographs back in the 1980s and was not even a 'photographer', but always like it for the simplicity and graphic nature of it. It is simply one of the exterior frost and interior condensation often found on the window panes in the wintertime in our area. This one was my Mother's kitchen window with the sun setting one afternoon on a very cold day.

I always thought it reminded me of a desert scene somehow, kind of like the sun perpetually rising on the crest of a sand dune.

Over my many years, I have traveled a decent part of the globe, much of it in the effort and pursuit of finding images destined for some purpose or another, but all too often, the very best images, although maybe not 'exotic' in nature, are made right around the area in which I live daily, a place I can intimately experience with depth and familiarity. Like with anything worthwhile in our lives... family and good friends, treasures are usually found close to the heart where we live in the everyday.

I hope this image brings warmth to your eyes and heart as well today.

A view in the darkness

 

As fall turns into winter, soon to come are the longer periods of darkness, something I do not enjoy. Although getting out on sunny days with snowy trees is one of my absolute favorite activities, the extended nighttime hours wears on my heart.

This image however, was taken on a winter moonlit night probably about midnight of a Red Maple tree we planted in our yard years ago. I like doing nighttime exposures, for many reasons, one being the quiet and the challenge to do so, but also for the interesting quality of light that is expressed through the reflected light from the moon. After a long exposure, it is always surprising how much can be seen and captured and I think of the animals created for the night and how they easily see, and the color shift in the camera and luminescent quality is cool to me.

Sometimes, I wish I could see in the dark (how much more pleasant that season would be) both literally and in a spiritual sense for darkness is very wearisome to both the body and the soul and leaves me grappling for purpose sometimes, just like I would stumble on a dark winters night. This past year has brought me to many places of great interest once again in creative expression, some avenues that are very new to me, opening my mind to see the world differently and some reborn from the past,  but it has also brought some times of deep darkness, where it became a concentrated effort just to keep  moving ahead.

As winter approaches once again, I am hoping for some snowy treed days ahead to help push me through the season and give me opportunities to allow me to see through the night. Perhaps if so, my heart would also be lifted in the process and I would once again find my way until spring.

Focussing with the Heart

After another long absence and not allot to say through my imagery, I was finally inspired to  post something. So in thinking about it I do have something to say, but not through my work, but that of my daughter.

On occasion, she has been out shooting with me and it has always been a fun, interesting invigorating, learning experience for both of us as photography should be. More recently she has been making some images within her own own travel experiences and is always excited to share them with me. Seeing that she has an 'eye' for making photographs when we have been out together, I am always thrilled in seeing her search out that image that is before her  and pulling it out from within the big world.

This first image, taken of a Lilly, while on a private excursion together to Long Wood Gardens here in Pa. a while back, was a revelation for her. To see the small beauty hidden inside the details of just one flower amid the mass before her. We have a copy of it on our wall at home.

These three others. are from a trip she took to Puerto Rico this spring. When she was showing me her images, there were shots of broad street or garden scenes, nice photos on their own, but within them I could see more that would interest me. Little details or designs or pieces of graphics that drew me in. I refrained from saying "see this part here" in viewing them, but then was pleased a few images later, that they were there, captured from her heart, recognizing the part of the whole that really was the 'image' to her. I am proud to share these with you and to let her know that she really has learned to focus with her heart, not just her eyes.

Power of Fear and Love

This image, taken while on an assignment for US News and World Report on the growing impact of the Klu Klux Klan in America is one that has always haunted me. It has always been to me a powerful and intriguing image in the pose and attire that this man displays, but sickens me as to the world it represents. What he holds in his crossed arms and hood, is the power of fear, both for those whom he and his group would oppose and persecute, but also fear within himself of the very idea and people he condemns. He himself, is afraid to see his fellow man made in the image of God and to even attempt to accept him as such. His fear has turned into hate, the very opposite of love.

The power of fear cripples us all at times, in thought, action and even collectively as whole nations, as we seek defenses to protect against our enemies, who do likewise as they are also gripped in fear of us. It stifles and kills innovation, truth, risk, adventure, crushes the spirit and even can hinder love itself holding back our very souls from the one who created them. In all of this, we fail to see that the power held within His love can conquer any fear that is within us. Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear... The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

In looking back, I remember while watching and documenting that 'rally' event and seeing first hand, hate so graphically personified in right front of my eyes and lens (In fact I narrowly missed getting beaten, while in the illusion of my 'safe zone' behind my camera, in the middle of scuffle a foot or so away from me), the sense of fear that was there that day was so very real to me. There have been many times since when it has welled up in a variety of forms, pushing it's way into the consciousness of my mind, even to this very day, and continues to be a struggle for me, but given the choice whether to let it rise, crippling my soul for a season or to run to my God,  who I know loves me, the one who is love itself, I will always choose love and always chose Him. 

Power en masse

No one can deny the amazingly unfathomable power contained within the water that literally covers over three quarters of our planet, for in it is the power to enrich and uphold every living being, as we depend on it, very simply for our daily physical sustenance. Like the planet on which we reside, our very bodies have an equal ratio of this precious fluid supporting us. But also in it's grasp is the tremendous power to destroy and erode, both individually and in great numbers, man and the earth's many environments. Drop by drop, it has shaped endless shorelines, carved deep canyons and by use of it as a resource, man has forged political, social and economic boundaries. It has been used as a weapon, a tool and in a most direct way to create electric power for our needs.

Personally, living within a short distance of a coastline for most of my life, I have always been fascinated by and drawn to the surf and it's never ending push and pull at the ribbon like edges of of our continents, where water upon meeting the dry earth exchanges things of the sea with those from the land. It is at this junction of two dissimilar worlds, where both dreams and adventures, stories and fears are inspired, for hidden beneath the vast surface stretched out before or eyes, is a world which we have only begun to understand and which holds innumerable mysteries and deep fascinations contained within our imaginations.

This particular photo, I took while on a break from a corporate photographic assignment on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, not far from my first and only adventure on a surfboard, at the famous Waimea Beach, thanks to a photographer friend, Aaron Chang. In this shot, I always have liked the layers of depth and color, from the foreground reflection, to blue shadow in the curl and translucence above, to the mist peeling off the top into the various hues of deep ocean and sky on beyond the breakers.

Power Trip

Here is a photo of the inside of a jet engine intake, taken at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The simplicity of it's concept and design is amazing and it's power has literally transformed our world, shortening distances and made daily worldwide travel possible as we know it.

Although this form of power has taken me around the world many, many times and to adventures that richly fill my memories, it had appealed to me here purely for it's aesthetic beauty.   

Seat of Power

This image of a Rotunda ceiling of inside the U.S. Capital is the first of a series that I have been thinking about for a while on power. Nothing stirs the heart and patriotism like seeing the magnificent architectural within the buildings of our nation's capital. It is certainly the seat of great power influencing the lives of millions worldwide, for good or for bad, but power non the less.

Remembering the unkown

"Who is buried here?" my youngest asked as we were sitting in the gallery to the Gravesite of the Unkown soldier."shhhh!" I say trying to maintain the silence (they WILL reprimand you if you are disruptive),"no one knows". "Why not" he asks, whispering....... I will explain later.

I am sure there have been a few conversations, like this one that afternoon a few years ago, when kids try to grasp the solemn, reverence of this place in our nations capital. The 'soldier' honored there is in spirit, everyman that has ever lost their lives in the service of this great country, yet  the three who are actually entombed there, they are those who's names we do not know. Not only did they lose their mortal lives, but their identities as well, and in doing so, became an important symbol for a place of national mourning and remembrance to this day.

Every second of every day since July 1st 1937, this tomb has been under watch of a handful of guards that have volunteered and been selected for this solemn duty. Their time here is for only a short season built around this important task, but it is an honor that they will cherish their entire lives.

The tombs themselves are simple, granite slabs recessed into the platform overlooking the mall across the Potomac River and the over 400,000 surrounding graves of the fallen whom we know, with a solid granite monument behind inscribed with Here Rests In Honored glory An American Soldier Known But To God.

These three deceased men receive many, many thousands of yearly visitors, perhaps more than any other gravesite in the world, yet they remain in anonymity for it is only to God they are known. The very that God promises that He intimately knows each and everyone of us, even to the point of knowing the number of hairs on our heads, as recorded in Luke 12:7! Whether in life or in death, we are not a mystery to Him.... but Him to us, until we decide to live for Him, accepting His sacrifice as sufficient for us.

As we honor and remember the sacrifice given by these three men and the countless others to their country and our freedom on this Memorial Day, let us also remember the ultimate sacrifice of the One who created us and gave Himself up for us.

Surprise Sanctuary

This wonderful little winter scene is one that is probably no more than 5 miles to my home, yet I never went past it until this past year. While heading to work, a closed bridge (a common occurrence in our neck of the woods) forced me to detour onto a dirt road to find a new way. Along this hidden road, I discovered one of the most beautiful and well maintained farms I have ever encountered and made a note to visit again when the time was right. Well, one snowy afternoon was just that time and I ventured out to see what might happen. I shot from the road side as I did not want to disturb the snow, but was spotted by a caretaker who let me shoot, but with a promise not to reveal the location or use the images commercially. So this is for your viewing pleasure only> I hope you enjoy it.

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.

On Top of it all

This image, taken quite a few years ago while on a trip to Brazil, has always been a favorite on mine. I have seen many shots of this very famous statue, but few like this.

Before ever getting up to Corcovado to see this work up close, I photographed it from this high vantage point on the opposing Sugarloaf mountain. It's impressive stance on top of a 2,206 ft peak overshadowing the city of Rio de Janeiro is a wonder to see from anywhere in the city, but up close, is even more so. While occupying a tiny part of the landscape in the first, this second image taken from it's base after a super fun winding drive up the mountain will perhaps give you a more personal perspective of it's 130' height.

Another image I have of this ride up will perhaps find it's way into some future post (I am thinking about that now), but in thinking of this piece of concrete and soapstone, it's presence as a symbol of my creator and the open arms that He offers to all today, it makes me glad that He is truly 'on top of it all'




Here is a link to more information on the statue itself if you care to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_%28statue%29

Feast for the eyes

Once again fall has come and is slowly fading into the drab colors of winter, but there are still spots of extraordinary beauty around and this particular one I pass on a daily basis heading to and from work, with little notice.

One recent afternoon, I stopped because of the colors present on the opposite side of the street and en when getting back into the car, saw this scene confront me. The awesome mixture of greens, oranges, pinks and brown among many other colors was a visual tapestry laid out before me was inspiring and calming all a once.

I wonder how many people totally just miss this little gem of a spot on the side of the road, instead immersed in radio chatter, chats of their own or thinking of plans ahead. I was glad I pulled to the side that day and hope you also enjoyed my little roadside diversion as much as I did.

An Inside View

This image after a several month hiatus is an unusual one for me as it is not in focus for you. When thinking of this past difficult summer after my mom's passing and perhaps an unfocussed period in my life, this image makes total sense to me.

As I was having lunch the other day at a local park, I was looking up and trying to get an image through the sunroof of this large London Plane Tree that would capture the light that was streaming through it. After a while without visual success, I just about gave up with it all and took off my glasses to rest. Looking back up into the tree, the image I wanted was just before my eyes, not obscured by the lenses that are normally present between my eyes and the world.

Wearing glasses since I was young, they are a normal part of my everyday life, mostly annoying (especially as I am now getting to the bifocal stage) in that I don't have the freedom to wear sunglasses and such a regular folks, but once in a while, when I remove them, a scene is presented to me that makes me feel really blessed with poor eyesite. Sometimes the light just dances and sparkles and the unsharp spots of light and color are nothing short of dazzling and warm. In seeing this beautiful mix of greens, yellows, browns and blues above me, I knew I had to try and make a image that would be match for what I am seeing without the 'corrective lens' of the sharpened world. This is not some photoshop creative filter, but just me shooting and testing the image on the spot against what I could see with my naked eye. Sometimes when I see things in this 'blurry' state, I think of Claude Monet and his Impressionistic work and wonder whether he needed glasses and just didn't know it and actually painted what he saw in his world, I doubt it and am in no sense comparing myself with Monet, a true visionary and master of light and form, but I would like to think that perhaps he was also blessed with less than perfect eyesite as I am. It is a world and an image that perhaps you with perfect vision will not understand, but for those of us less perfect, we do. Perhaps my 'unfocussed' period is over, maybe not, but today I found perfect clarity in an unsharp world.

Soaking it up

Just a quick post today. I had another image in mind, but when I went to post it, it wasn't right and then as we are in the midst of a hot summer here, I thought this more appropriate. This image was taken down the shore at my folks place for a newsletter purpose, but I have always liked it. The cool things that I love about sunflowers is not only that they 'look' like the sun with the rays of petals flowing out from them, but that over the course of each day follow the sun to receive maximum energy and benefit from it's rays. Kind of how we are to also follow the Son.

Safe from above

.....and on the ground and below the deep. Our country's servicemen, on who's blood our freedom is built are once a year memorialized on this national holiday. As a former member of our armed forces, I wanted to make today's post a tribute to their courage, obedience and sacrifice for our freedom.

This photo was taken of the Navy Blue Angles team aerial performance during a Sea Fair celebration a number of years ago over Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.

All too often, we take this sacrifice and commitment for granted in our sheltered, comfortable lives and never think about the lives lost from times past or those who are currently serve, protecting us from those who want to take our freedoms away. I am glad for today and the prompt to our memory, lest we forget.

Turn back the clock

Today, it has been one week and a handful of hours since my mom, Joan Knott suddenly passed away. After a vibrant active life, she is just gone, along with her warm smile, encouraging words (she always left comments for me here...anonymously....but I could tell it was her) and loving care for my growing family and I.

I knew after it happened that honoring her life somehow would be my next post, but I really struggled with an image and what to say. I didn't want to use a photo I already had, (although she had her favorites of mine) and knew I had to create something new, but had no clue as to what. Then I thought about just posting a photo of her, but realized that after more than a quarter century of making photographs, I had never taken a personal 'portrait' of her. I guess it never occurred to me to do so as I never thought she wouldn't be here. Now it is too late..... lesson learned.

The image today is one I made yesterday from her funeral flowers. She liked yellow and the unique, bending form of the Calla Lily was attractive to me, so I set up a small arrangement out by our pond and you see the results.

I wanted this post to reflect on her life, but now realize that anything I could possibly say here is woefully in-sufficient to begin to adequately describe the person she was to many and what she meant to me. In spite of the evidence before me, I cannot in my mind really believe that the edges of her life have now been set. The heavy hole that at times takes over my chest now is all the description I need and for some moments it is as if a deep well of tears has sprung from within me, robbing me of my thoughts for a time.

This second small photo that I have included is one that a friend of hers took while they were in a bush plane flying over Mt.McKinley in Alaska. If an image can contain a thousand words as it is said, then this loudly witnesses to her adventurous spirit and the sense of joy she had in living every day complete.



In short, she was a wonderful, cherished and inspirational human being who was greatly admired. Many have testified over this past week to our family what a huge impact she had on their lives. In spite of this tremendous loss I am thankfully left with a lifetime of memories and a wonderful family to comfort me and I know the sadness will someday turn to joy in seeing her again, but as of today, I really, really miss her and just want to turn back the clock.

Hidden Treasure

Once again, it has been quite a while between posts and in the interim, I have my 'pre-post' images as a slide show on my computer desktop staring at me daily. Today, this one stood out at me and inspired a post. It was taken in the french Quarter of New Orleans. While walking down a street in search of a restaurant, we walked past this tiny alley that leads to one of the hidden courtyards that are tucked away in this charming part of town. This one however, made me stop, turn around and peek in a bit more. These large, awesome earthen jars and the light from the arched window presented an interesting composition that made me want to explore more in depth. In the interest of the owners privacy, I stopped at this spot and made this exposure, but was left with longing to know what was around the corner.

In thinking about it today, with the window illuminating this otherwise narrow and dark hallway containing these vessels, I was brought back to a Biblical passage, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 where it says: For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

As a Christian, I am also in essence a jar of clay, made from dust, simple and hollow of heart only to be filled with Him and His light. I hope you enjoy this image as I did.

Weeds like Flies

Much like the individual patterns of branches on trees, the natural architecture of grasses also has an appeal to me. This particular shot, even though I like it's random, gentle wispy-ness and the subtle colors of the background, the more I look at it, it unsettles me. The busyness of it reminds me of a swarm of flies and the more I think about it, I feel the connection between the fly and the weed....both too numerous and both largely unwanted. Maybe you will find a different interpretation than I did today.

Living in the 60's

This photo was taking last spring while on a trip to New Orleans with my wife. Early in the morning, hoping to get to the historic gardens district to see the stately mansions and gardens we set out aboard one of those charming old wooden trolleys that provide transportation service to various areas of the city and were on our way. Well into the trip, it became clear we seemed to headed in a different direction than intended and after a while we got off to re-board another one to correct ourselves. While sitting on the bench, a woman of color and her granddaughter heading to work and school sat down beside us and expressed the obvious that we must not be from from that particular area. We confirmed, had a nice conversation in the morning sun and in a little while we were back on track to our original destination. On the increasingly crowded ride back toward town, more and more we became the sole minorities in the car as it filled with folks heading to work and such. For some reason, when this young fellow sat down in front of me, I was mentally taken back to a time in my childhood when my daily racial experience was much more integrated than it is now, living in semi rural Pa. As a child, even though I was young and didn't fully understand the completeness of the civil rights issues as I do now, I remember hearing the speeches and the feeling of that movement during that uncertain time in our country. Suddenly in that moment, I sought to make a B&W image that would express that feeling for me. Leaning forward with a really wide angled lens, I was just inches from his back as I worked to frame the window, his shirt and the background as I waited for the right scene to pass by and for him to turn his eyes outside. In an instant as this classic building came into view, it all came together and as I pushed the shutter, I was for that moment back in the 1960's of my youth.

Bend your neck

Once again, it has been forever since I have been able to post something, so my apologies to those who like a more regular kind of thing, but that has just been my life recently.

This is a photo that has been parked on my 'desktop' for a while and I just thought I would steal a quick moment from life and get it onto the blog. To be honest, this is a rare photo for me, in that I although I remember taking it, I really do not remember where or when as it was during a time of lots of travel and not too many records. But I can narrow it to perhaps three locations. The most likely being maybe the Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, Fla, the Principe Di Saola in Milano, Italy or maybe a hotel on the Costa del Sol, Spain. Anybody care to help my memory out?

If not, I hope at least you enjoy the vibrant colors and patterns that was between me and the sky that day.

Frozen Gold

These two little leaves stuck out at me this past week from a beautiful beech while walking in the woods near our home. I like that Beeches unlike most other deciduous trees, keep their dead leaves through the winter only to push them out in the spring with the new growth. In doing so, their now golden colored foliage adds so much to a normally much more drab wintertime woods. I am glad i found this one and these two little leaves to brighten my day.

eyes without color

On this winter day....I am once again reminded that in the shorter days, allot of our vision is reduced to monochromatic landscapes. This image (shot literally out of my car window while on the way in to work) is a good example. A cool scene, but warm in a sense in the quietness and serenity of a woodland stream.

As light as air itself

O.K. Back to winter! After a mini snowfall and a larger on the way, I am continuing with the winter pics. This one , shot a few weeks ago in the very last light of the day, I took at the edge of our pond as some ornamental grasses were letting go of their seedlings. The wind was blowing oh so slightly but enough to throw them in and out of my razor thin depth of field focus. It took several tries in trying to catch the right balance of sharp and blurry and I really liked the color contrasts of the cool winter sky and the last rays lighting these delicate branches and wispy, airy parachutes.

The fast colors of life

As a break for the sporadic mini winter series, here is something warm to think about.
These two images from the Bahamas taken while out on my brother-in-law Steven's boat bring back memories of a great day out on the water with he and my son. We were set up to troll for Dolphin fish (or Mahi Mahi as some might know them), which provides for a very tasty meal. As they are largely surface dwellers and swim in schools, when you get into them it is a fascinating event. Although not a shapely, sleek looking fish like a barracuda, the coloration that they exhibit is nothing short of stunning. The almost neon like glow of their bodies while they swim by the boat is incredible and because of this, we were able to see them underwater at a good distance and depth. Once they are caught, they almost seem to flash in changing color right before your eyes. The most curious part of it though is that within seconds of their death, the vibrant colors leaves their body immediately, revealing behind mostly mute yellows and browns.It is a very dramatic change.Although as you can see here, the skin is still fascinating in that there are hints of it's former boldness, it is nothing in comparison to what it was just moments before.The particular one here was heartily enjoyed over several meals with family during a special time away prepared simply as pan seared with wonderful Irish sweet butter.

Hint of Warmth

Another in my much delayed mini series (sometimes life just gets in the way of the creative process you know?) from this winter. An early morning shot, the sun was just rising, getting ready to once again warm our part of the earth and ultimately melt this wonderful beauty. I was glad I could see it while it was here.

Long in the Tooth

This winter photo (the next in my current mini series of them) was hanging and growing in front of our kitchen window for a while. The title comes from the idea of age and that in some animals the teeth grow longer with age, which was certainly the case here. It ultimately got much bigger than this, but have to say it is gone now, due to youthful enthusiasm of taking down such things and young ones desires to eat them. It's a shame it is bad for the roof, as it is cool to look at. A testimony to our recent cold snap for sure.

I have got to Stop!

When traveling from a few hours away down the Pa Turnpike (this is a limited access toll highway for our international friends..,think Autobahn, but slower) a few weeks ago at day break on a Sunday morning, there was a fresh overnight snow and the closer I got to home, the more beautiful the roadside was blanketed in white. The opportunities to stop were very limited by the mostly narrow shoulder and high speed traffic and as I passed view after view I was growing anxious about missing these wonderful shots. Shortly, after crossing a long bridge, there was a small offshoot service road and I quickly pulled in. Not wanting to get ticketed at an unauthorized stop, I quickly jumped out of the car with my loafers on (my destination was church) into the deep snow on the edge of the pavement to make a few quick shots. In spite of the traffic whizzing close by, looking down into the quiet woods for this fresh image was soothing and invigorating at the same time. The downside was that for the rest of the way, I had to keep the heater on full tilt to dry my shoes and socks, but it was worth it!