Photography has the potential to invoke happiness, love, compassion, fear and sadness. Like an old song from your past, it has the ability to transcend time and return us to another moment in time that captured an emotion stamped clearly in our mind.

The subject of the photograph has everything to do with the emotion that is generated. A nature scene elicits a feeling of tranquility or peace. When the subject of the photograph is place, we are provided with memories of a prior visit or a well needed vacation. But when the photograph features a family member, friend or favorite pet then the emotion is often love.

My wife does not quite understand me and my love of photography and my "photo friends". I don't blame her because to me it is something that can't be explained - it has to be experienced. Why would you want to get up at 4 AM to go out and capture a sunrise? Or run around in DC at night chasing shadows? Or drive hundreds of miles to get stuck in the snow?

There is an unexplainable bond between time and the moment we capture on film and the faces and places we capture within them. I hope it all becomes clear to me one day - but for now I happy to just enjoy the friendships that I am making along the way and the incredible synergy that photography has with time and peace and happiness, the sum of which is love.

Cheers

Not sure why the update to my blog code broke my gallery - but until I figure it out - here are the pics

I love photography. My favorite thing to do is to simply enjoy the act of making photographs. So every moment of every day I try to be aware of the light and how it affects the objects in my surroundings. My goal is to be able to learn through conscious practice and awareness to see with the eyes of an artist.

Last week I hit on what was a revelation for me. Every day I get up and get ready for work and all that is on my mind is when I can find some time to get out and shoot. I keep a point and shoot with me all the time and take a lot of grab shots when I see something that I want to shoot or use as a theme for a project. When I got off of the train and was walking to work the light was amazing and I decided to just take 10 minutes and do some shooting before heading into the office. In those 10 minutes my whole attitude changed from one of a woeful dirge into the office to a state of pure excitement. What a way to frame the day and to enjoy a few moments before engaging in other tasks.

I remember listening to one of my favorite pod casts from Craig Tanner from back in the Radiant Vista days "The Power of Play" and I realized just how energizing and centering those few minutes can be. Craig also was the inspiration for these shots as I remembered some great images that he took when he was out playing in a parking lot and just enjoying the day.

In any case, I am going to continue to start every day with at least 10 minutes of shooting and chasing my shadow and hope that it leads to a state of creativity in both the work place as well as my outlook on life. The shadow knows.

Cheers

There are things that happen in life that are often unpredictable. Events occur that are not under our control and go beyond reason as to why they occur. And when they do happen all we can do is hope and pray.

All my life I have believed in a higher power - a lord - a savior - someone that I can go to when all hope is misplaced. Time and time again - I drift away from my believes - only to come back with greater passion when I need strength or hope or encouragement. Again I find myself reaching out to find courage and hope.

I guess that it is just part of life. Life can be overwhelming at times and there has to be something that grounds us with reality. Something that brings us back to earth just when we think we have it going on.

When I made this image and ultimately when I began to process it I realized that it was missing one thing - the payoff. I did not think that I would use it but then I realized that what it doesn't have is exactly what it symbolizes. To me this image is an endless road similar to the walk of life. And like life it has many turns, parts of it which are unseen. As it turns out, life is really just about the journey, The journey shapes our beliefs and gives meaning to what we believe and what we can achieve. Beyond belief there is hope. There is love. There is kindness and their is compassion for others. To me the journey has become following my heart down the endless road.

Peace

There are many hurdles in life, some higher and harder to cross than others. Some times it feels like you come up against challenges that leave you exhausted and wondering how you ever completed what you started. I wonder that when you finally finish will you be able to tell?

I was fortunate enough to get out with the dog again on Tuesday afternoon. What amazes me is that as long as I have been exploring this area, he consistently finds new places for me that I have never been. I think it might be the freedom that he has to saying yes to every new direction and following it until it comes to an end.

While we were walking we came upon a beautiful section of an old half fallen fence. As we moved along the tree line, we carefully crossed over the barbed wire while exploring the light and the beautiful textures in the wood. For some reason, in that moment I had no problem raising the bar and crossing over into an amazing sense of presence that made everything else disappear bringing an overwhelming sense of well being and happiness. I don't know if it is the dog or the power that he gives me to be able to say yes to everything in life. But in any case I always come home with a smile on my face after a walk in the woods.

Cheers