Beauty

"It is the mind which creates the world around us,
and even though we stand side by side in the same meadow,
my eyes will never see what is behold by yours,
my heart will never stir to the same emotions
with which yours is touched."
George Gissing (1857-1903) England/France

Well, after conducting my five day photo workshop, spending 3 1/2 weeks in Yellowstone, and then trying to catch up after returning home,  I think I can finally start doing this blog again.   I hope you've missed my posts just a little bit.  :-)

I think this quote is so true.  What one person finds beautiful, and what stirs emotions within them, may not effect another person at all.  We're all different and what effects us depends on our past, our emotional screens, etc.  As a photographer, I try to photograph not only what moves me, but also what I think stirs the same emotions in my viewer.  One way to do that is to look at publications, fine art, etc. to see what is being produced and, more importly, what is sellnig.  Determining what will sell is one of the biggest challenges for any kind of artist, because it's an ever-changing target.

It's Your Life - Live It!

I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.  I don't know who wrote this, but I saw it on Facebook today and thought it was worth sharing.

Are you living the life you want?   Are you proud of what you're doing?  Do you wish things were different?  Do you think you can do a better job?   Only you are in control of those things.  Only you can change your life and make it want YOU want.  If you're not living a life you're proud of, only you can make a difference.   If you're not happy with the way things are, why not start making changes today that will give you the life you were meant to live?  Until you do, nothing will change.  So, if you need to make changes, start making them today.  Live the life you want.  Don't settle for anything less! 

I wish these things for you and hope you have a wonderful day.

I Am

"I am the dust of the sunlight, I am the ball of the sun.
I am the mist of morning, the breath of evening.
I am the spark in the stone, the gleam of gold in the metal.
The rose and the nightingale drunk with its fragrance.
I am the chain of being, the circle of the spheres,
The scale of creation, the rise and the fall.
I am what is and what is not . . . .
I am the soul in all.
Jalil al-Din Rumi (1207-1273), Persia

Good vs Evil

A Native American was talking to his grandson about how he felt.

He said:
"I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.
One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one.
The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."

The grandson asked him,
"Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?"

The grandfather answered,
"The one I feed."

Native American parable

We all have internal struggles.  Whether the good or the bad wins out, depends on which one we focus on and which one we "feed".

Emotions Out of Control

"Emotion turning back on itself,
and not leading on to thought or action,
is the element of madness." John Sterling (1806-1844), Scotland/England

Do these clouds remind you of a world gone mad?  Is this how you feel when you don't deal with your emotions?  Do you feel totally out of control & subject to whatever the world wants to dump on you?   When you have negative feelings, or positive ones for that matter, deal with them.  Don't hide them away or at some point, when you least expect it, they'll re-surface and bite you in the behind.  It's better to deal with emotions when we initially experience them and may be better prepared to deal with them.  Emotions seem to build if they're repressed, so deal with those feeling when they arise.  It may be difficult, but you'll be better off for it in the long run. 

Reflections

Reflections can make very interesting subjects for pictures, but you have to make sure that the subject itself is interesting.  Sometimes something as simple as these rocks will work to bring the viewer into the picture.  There was too much distracting information in the background here, so I eliminated it to focus on the rocks and a few of the weeds.  I hope you enjoy it.

Yellowstone Traffic Jam

Yes, they even have traffic jams in Yellowstone.  They're usually caused by bison who think they have a right to walk down the middle of the street.  Since we're invading their space, I think they're probably right & that we just have to wait until they decide to move.  It does slow things down, though, because you really don't want to pass them.  They can be onery and are apt to ram your vehicle if you get too close. 

If you want to see Yellowstone up close and personal, join one of my workshops this year.  We'll have a great time.  Send me a message if you're interested.  :-)

Only This Moment

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."

                                                         Marie Beynon Ray

Dedication

Today's post is dedicated to my dear uncle who passed away yesterday.  He was 92 years old and lived a good life.   He'll be missed by all who knew and loved him.  I used this photo, because he always loved my pictures of the Yellowstone elk.  I hope these words give some comfort to my aunt, my cousin (who's more like a sister to me than a cousin), his grandchildren and other relatives.

Please don't mourn for me.
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day.
And within your heart I long to stay.
My body is gone, but I'm always near.
I'm everything you see, feel and hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart
As long as you keep me alive in your heart.
I'll never wander out of your sight -
I'm the brightest star on a Summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach -
I'm the warm moist sand when you're on the beach.
I'm the colorful leaves when Fall comes around.
I'm the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flower of which you're so fond,
The cool clear water in a quiet pond.
I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the Spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine.

And you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking that there's no one to love you,

You can talk to me through the Lord above you.

I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees

And you'll feel my presence through the soft Summer breeze.

I'm the hot, salty tears that flow when you weep,

And the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

I'm the smile that you see on a baby's face,

Just look for me, I'm every place.
Author Unknown

Follow Your Heart

"What your heart thinks is great, is great. The soul's emphasis is always right."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think we often question ourselves, wondering if what we're doing is right, is the best thing for us, for our families and perhaps even the world.   If you follow what this quote is saying, though, if you truly follow your heart, you can't really go wrong.  So, next time you're making an important decision, weigh all the facts, consider the alternatives, but remember to follow your heart.

We saw this family in Yellowstone and I liked the interaction between father and daughter as they were standing in front of one of Yellowstone's hot pools.  I'll bet he got a great pic of his little girl. 

Swirling Waters

"Beauty is God's reflection in the swirling waters of the universe." Lourdes Mallo (b.1930), Gran Canaria

I used NIK and Topaz plug-ins to improve the focus on this image.  I thought it was worth saving because I liked the splashing of the water and the fun the ducks appeared to be having.  I hope you enjoy the picture as much as I enjoyed watching these delightful creatures.  Have a great day!

Perfection

"When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."  The Buddah (c.563-c.484BCE), India

I Am

"I am the dust in the sunlight, I am the ball of the sun.
I am the mist of morning, the breath of evening.
I am the spark in the stone, the gleam of gold in the metal.
The rose and the nighingale drunk with its fragrance.
I am the chain of being, the circle of the spheres.
The scale of creation, the rise and the fall.
I am what is and is not . . . .
I am the soul in all."
Jalil al-Din Rume (1207-1273), Persia

Foggy Morning in Yellowstone

"To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle.  Every cubic inch of space is a miracle."  Walt Whitman (1819-1892), USA

As you have probably figured out by now, I love fog pictures, especially when the fog is above a river.  To me, it creates a magical scene which transcends me to a peaceful place, a place where I can relax and be one with nature.   I hope this image gives you a peaceful feeling and adds joy to your day.

Enjoy Nature

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, alone or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."  Anne Frank (1929-1945)  Netherlands

Harmony With Nature

"All things are parts of one single system, which is called Nature; the individual life is good when it is in harmony with Nature."  Zeno of Citium (300-260 BCE) Cyprus

This vegetation was growing in one of the hot pools in Yellowstone.  You'd think that would be impossible but, apparently, it's in harmony with Nature and, therefore, able to live in this environment which, to us, would appear to be hostile.

With all of today's conveniences and gadgets, it can be difficult to be in harmony with Nature.  In past generations, I think it came easily; today we have to work at it.

What is life?

"What is life? It is the flash of the firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." Chief Crowfoot (1830-1890) his last words, Canada

Bison often stand next to hot pools in Yellowstone to warm themselves. Using a long lens allows photographers to get good images without endangering themselves or the animals. Unfortunately, people are injured every year because they ignore the guidelines regarding maintaining appropriate distances from the wildlife. Bison may look like they're slow and sluggish, but they can move very quickly when they want to. Always remember that they're wild animals & animals are unpredictable. They can be quiet and calm one minute and denting the side of your truck the next minute. Enjoy the wildlife when you visit Yellowstone, or any wildlife area, but be safe.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

"The glories and the beauties of form, color and sound unite in the Grand Canyon - forms unrivalled even by the mountains, colors that vie sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrops, from cataract to bubbling fountains." John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) USA


I know this isn't the Grand Canyon. I haven't been there for many years, and don't really have any good pictures of it, so I thought I'd share this picture of the Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Although it isn't as large, it is still a beautiful place, one that makes you realize how powerful and majestic nature can be. One of these days, I'm going to get up early enough to be there at sunrise, when the light brings out the magnificent colors of the rocks. That would, of course, require getting out of bed at about 3:00 a.m., since our motel is not close to the spot. If I ever make it, I'll be sure to share the images on my blog. If I were you, though, I wouldn't hold my breathe.

Ansel Adams Quote

"Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution." Ansel Adams


I know this isn't an Ansel Adams picture, but it has a similar effect which I created using PhotoShop and Topaz. Some people object to the digital manipulation of photos, but did you know that Ansel Adams did extensive work on his photos in the darkroom? Many people think his wonderful pictures were created solely in-camera, but they weren't. If you compared the original version with the altered one, you would see a tremendous difference. Manipulation of photos is not new, only the method used for the manipulation has changed.

Eagle Chick

This is Yellowstone's Madison River eagle chick for the year. I don't know if they only laid one egg or if this is the only chick that survived, but there's only one this year. As you probably know, eagles don't get their white heads and tails until they're about 4 years old. They can hide better that way, so it helps them survive to maturity. We had the opportunity to observe the eagle family several times while we were in Yellowstone on vacation last week. The chick, which is 3-6 months old, is nearly as big as the parents & is a very scrappy little critter. The parents are still hunting for it, but if they come back to try to eat some of the food, which they caught, the chick tries to run them off. It doesn't succeed, but it tries. In this picture, it was sitting in the tree waiting for its' parents to catch some fish. As you can see, it was squawking at them. In addition to being scrappy, it's also noisy and impatient. I guess it has to be that way to survive, though. Anyway, we enjoyed watching them and got several good pictures. I hope you enjoy the pictures almost as much as we enjoyed watching the activities of these wonderful birds. I've posted several pics on my web site, but will be adding more, so be sure to check back often.