Dreams of Flight

I'd fly with you, if I only could
said the little porcelain bird

to deep blue pools and far off sands
in dreams we'd never land

I'd fly with you, if I just could
my one true feathered friend

I realized again today why I enjoy making photographs so much. Yes its the beautiful places but so much more as well. I was wrestling with and image I was trying to take. I'd been thinking about it for a while and was trying to make it work and it wasn't. I read a quote from Marc Chagall recently and it hit home again.

"If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing."

Once I let go of the wrestling, something else came in. A story, a line of poetry a bit of whimsy. As I took down this bowl to dust it I rediscovered a found feather and the little transfer ware bird began her story. I wish I could describe what happens when a story begins. I'm sure you creative folk have similar experiences. As you create from the heart something extra gets added and passed on for others to see and appreciate. This image is another reminder for me to let go and let the stories take flight and capture them if I can.

Worlds Collide

I spent the night in the country indulging my love of the night sky. I could see the metropolis I lived in on the horizon casting its glow like a rising sun. Each small town nearby had its own small dome of electric light it sent into sky, as if it announced and protected them from intrusion. I sat in the dark, harvested field waiting for just such a meeting. I sat in deliberate darkness waiting for my world to meet deep space. I wanted to see the meteors blaze across the darkness, their brief fire frozen by my lens. As I sat there in the noisy darkness. I could hear dogs barking from miles away. Donkeys guarding their flocks, braying at predators. The light, the dogs, the donkeys and the atmosphere protecting their little bit of space from any intrusion. How did one tiny bit of comet dust stand a chance against such vigilance? Worlds aren't allowed to collide.

Happy Holidays

The holiday season in San Antonio usually involves a trip down town to stroll the riverwalk and take in the lights on display. A chance to quack at the ducks, eat, drink and be merry. This year was no exception. I'll be spending the holidays with family and couldn't be happier about that. I hope this season you are able to be with the folks you love and love you. Peace my friends.

December Mists

As a photographer you are always looking for that sweet light. A light that does more than just illuminate. It becomes a part of the photograph. Foggy,misty, pea soup mornings do that for me. The damp turns my mundane often over looked neighborhood into a place full of possiblities. Who knows what could walk out of the mist with a story to tell. So I spent this morning within a few miles of my home enjoying what a little moisture does to the landscape and my perspective. The flickr link in the right column will show you some of my other favorite images from this morning. This particular tree for many years held a hawk's nest at the very top. The limb finally broke and I guess they decided it was a bad risk to build again. That doesn't keep me from scrutinizing it every time I drive by, which is fairly often, just in case they move back to The Hawk Tree.

Fall Reflections

I spent yesterday tramping through Lost Maples State Park with a group of fellow photographers. Lost Maples is one of the few places near San Antonio with naturally occurring Fall color and draws huge crowds when the colors start to turn. Despite the large groups of Fall color fans there was plenty of room for everyone. We each had plenty of room to kick some leaves and take photos. We stayed until well after dark. I had forgotten how gorgeous the sky could be in remote areas. Despite the sore back (from lugging camera gear) soar legs (need to get working on those lunges again) and two lungs full of cedar (no ill effects, thank you very much) I really feel like I need to make a point to get out to the far beyond more often.

Vacation is Over

I had a wonderful time. I saw a whole new place I'll return to again I'm sure. I got to hang out with some of my favorite people on the planet. We'll have stories to tell for a long time. Next time, Pietown!

Candy Corn Etiquette

It is almost the Halloween season and that can only mean..... the return of Candy Corn. That pressed sugar, kinda corn looking candy that appears every year. There some candies I can't pass up. Sixlets, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Butter Mints. Candy Corn isn't a favorite but that's not to say I don't have some etiquette I follow when I do snack on the faux corn sweetness. Naturally the segmented colors pratically demand that they be eaten in three bites. First nibble off the white tip, then the somewhat larger orange middle then finish off the bright yellow bottom. Never place Candy Corn in a pocket for later snacking. They should make lint brushes from Candy Corn. Don't refridgerate the candy. You really need room temperture for optimal munching. Please don't ignore the noses that got knocked off in the bag. Do save them for the end however as whole candies must be eaten first. Okay, I think that's all my freakish Candy Corn rules. Enjoy!