Far and near…

 

I’ve often written here about the joys of discovery in your own backyard and neighborhood–and while I completely believe that artistic and visual creativity can be found under your nose, I’ll admit there is nothing so invigorating as exploring new and far away territory. Travel photographers have the ultimate luxury of making their living doing something they are passionate about–and the best of them certainly infuse their work with that passion. Many of us, however, only get to experience this sense of adventure a few times–maybe if we are lucky, a couple of times a year, when we leave our day jobs behind, pack up our gear, and go out to explore the world.

I recently did just that, on a seven-day excursion through the Western Caribbean, where  had the pure joy of exploring three new countries with my family. The image above was taken at Tabyana Beach on Roatan Island, the largest of the Honduran Bay Islands. The dramatic black rock, coral, and dense small palms, even a black iguana, certainly seemed exotic and were incredibly enticing to photograph. While it’s true there is no place like home–the yen to travel, and to find new inspiration through a lens… is pretty compelling as well. Hope you enjoy…

Postscript: I wanted to say I very much appreciate all the new followers and to all of you who like, share, and stop by with a comment. It’s gratifying to know that I am touching others with my work and my thoughts, and the continual addition of followers certainly helps keep me motivated and inspired to improve. Many thanks for your kind words and support!

Backyard birding…

 

I’ve written before about the joy of discovery right in your own backyard, and there is no better time to do so than spring. After months of cold weather, it seems both man and beast are equally delighted to be outside. Here are a few of my feathered friends who visited my little corner of the world this week. Hope you enjoy…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Spring visitors…

 

Nothing terribly deep this time…. just a little lighthearted musing now that spring is in full swing. It is such a delight to welcome all the new neighbors, furred and feathered, as they appear once again now that the spring temperatures are so inviting. Say hello to this little guy, who was nice enough to stop for a moment and let me take his portrait. Welcome spring! Hope you enjoy…

Lost at sea…

 

You never really get a sense of how vast the earth is until you are in the middle of a body of water that has no visible bounds. No landmarks, no sights, not even a distinct horizon. My family and I recently took our first cruise, so it was the first time I had experienced the phenomenon of feeling like I was a tiny dot in the middle of an enormous, boundless sea. The first couple of days we set sail in pea soup–gray, misty, and damp;  hour after hour of nothingness. Initially, I was disappointed at not experiencing the beautiful tropics touted in the travel brochures, but slowly, this gave way to a feeling that was  just as strangely exhilarating–the feeling of being utterly alone in the middle of “nowhere.” Of course, it wasn’t actually “nowhere”… we were sailing across the Gulf of Mexico and  the Caribbean Sea on our way to Honduras, but emotionally, it felt like nowhere. It was existential and spiritual at the same time–looking out over a sea such as this certainly makes you reflect on the courage of the world’s early explorers or of anyone who was ever  lost at sea, and even more so, how your own, singular life fits into this huge, vast world. Eventually, I began to use this time to relax, let down, and simply breathe in the moment, which is one of the best rewards of any vacation. Hope you enjoy…

Life as Art….

 

One of my favorite themes as a photographer is to try to create images that capture the artistic essence in the natural world. Art, as they say, truly is in the eye of the beholder, so  what resonates with me is completely subjective. Like any artist, I accept that premise and, while it’s a pleasure when I can strike a  chord with those who view or follow my work, it is not acceptance that drives me. Photography for me is an inner passion, an outward expression of thoughts, feelings, and emotions as I find them reflected in a subject or composition.  High minded? Perhaps. Is this image a picture of a cactus, or does it represent a beautiful symmetry of purpose, each geometric row of needles aligned in a perfect tactical position to defiantly defend this succulent life form against harm? The answer is, it is both, it’s more, and it’s whatever you see in it, as well. This is why I love  photography; this is what moves me to create. Hope you enjoy…

Up, up, and away…

 

When you are out on a photography assignment, it’s easy to become focused on the business at hand. But when you have a camera around your neck, the world is your oyster. This shot is an example of why it’s important to look up and around, and not just through the lens. I was out shooting a soccer practice at the fields close to our home, when I saw this blimp go bobbing by. It came closer, and closer and at first I didn’t react, but the more it sat there, in my field of view, I figured I’d see if I could take more than simply a grab-and-go shot. As it turned on its end to make a loop in the sky, I took my shot. In the end, I really liked the way it’s isolated with the dramatic clouds underneath, a small alien in a sea of atmosphere. Hope you enjoy…

 

Stretching my wings…

Sometimes you reach a point where you know it’s time to stretch a little. You know that feeling, when you sitting in one place too long, and the desire to move, reach out, and extend yourself comes over you? It’s a natural human reaction to confinement. I believe this is an apt metaphor for the artistic life, as well. I’ve been pretty comfortable lately–enjoying my own work, enjoying my blogging and the positive comments that occasionally come my way, and enjoying sharing my work and skills with friends, family, and work associates. But change is good, and challenges are good, and in these last few months, I realized I needed to step out of my nest, to push and extend myself a little more.

The photographs here represent three I submitted to a juried exhibit to be hung at our city library that was sponsored by our local photography club, of which I recently  became an active member. I have not tried to exhibit since my days at college, more than three decades ago, so this was an exciting prospect for me. The theme of the exhibition was simple “Books”–and being a lifelong reader, holder of a masters in literature, and owner of some “gazillion or so” books, I certainly felt the subject itself was not a stretch. The stretch was simply taking that first step, which I committed myself to do.

The image above was the one that I am happy to report, was selected by the judges to be included in the 25 final photographs for the exhibit. Those below are the additional two I submitted, so perhaps  my blog readers will have an opinion these as well.  I think the one selected was probably the more creative one, and therefore stood out from many of the others, so perhaps that was why it was selected. In any case, I am  thrilled to have had one chosen, and so proud to be among the 25 stellar prints that are currently hanging in the library’s exhibition hall. The entire process has done wonders for my sense of artistic development and my enjoyment of my craft.

So as spring is upon us, I hope the season breaths new life into whatever you enjoy doing, as well. Hope you enjoy…

 

The Camel’s back…

 

The desert is a fascinating place to me. Its timeless existence, its inpenetrable hardiness, its sheer rugged beauty provides such fodder for composition. Perhaps the fact that it’s just so different from what I see day to day that makes it seem like exotic territory, but still… you have to wonder when you really look closely: How does life survive in such a place? And yet, the succulent life sprouting up from these rocky crags proves life is ever-present. This view of the side of Camelback Mountain was shot at dawn’s early light, when the flickers and woodpeckers were stirring to life along with probably hundreds of other life forms I couldn’t see, but I certainly sensed. It was a pristine moment, alone,  in wonderment, in the chill of the February air. Hope you enjoy…

Good morning Phoenix…

 

In my day to day life at home, things are usually pretty busy in the morning. I have teens to wake, lunches to prepare, emails to catch up on… the normal flurry of activity in a family household–all usually before 7 a.m. So the opportunity to step away, pack my gear, and photograph a picturesque scene like the one above is usually a nonstarter. But last week I traveled on business to Phoenix and had the pleasure of finding myself at the base of Camelback Mountain just before dawn. I am sure this photograph has been taken before; it’s not unique or ground breaking, but all that mattered to me was being able to witness those rich pink rays as they struck gold on Camelback’s eastern side. It was a pristine, silent moment. The kind you live for as a photographer of nature’s wonders. Hope you enjoy…

Behind the lens…

 

I don’t often (try never) feature myself in my photos, but I had a unique opportunity for a quick self-portrait this week during my stay in Phoenix. I’ll be posting some of my more ambitious shots in the days ahead, but just for fun, I thought I’d show you what’s behind the lens as well. I had a wonderful vantage of the gorgeous Phoenix sunset from my hotel patio, and was shooting from all angles, when I noticed my own image displayed right behind me.  A couple of adjustments, and voila: Portrait of the Photographer. More to come from the valley of the sun later this week…Enjoy!