December’s Solstice

Fall and winter are my most prolific creative seasons for photography. December has not failed me.
To walk in our little wooded areas is like jumping through a time portal. I’m a kid again and everything inspires. Our fall colors are just now ending. There are leaf hangers-on spattered throughout the depth of the wooded areas that grab the falling light. These energy catching leaves will illuminate yellows and orange like stars in the sky. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Clouded evenings make for more available colors to include in multiple exposures. Even reflected artifacts have more punch.
This month’s moon has been very usable for several days and it makes a great addition to impressions on the fly. Until yesterday, my starlings have been all but absent. Their numbers have been down several years now.
I started including starlings in my impressions seven years ago. Back then there were some 1000-2000 birds (or more) that would murmurate. Now, I am lucky to see 30-40 at a time. They fly in with the red- wings….
People have told me they do not do that (multi-species flocking). I would believe their word, except I have seen so many of these starlings up close.
Last evening, a flock of about 300 birds murmurtated for a time and I was able to capture them with the colors of the falling sun and the moon, all on one frame.
Color me happy.
I have been thinking a lot of our little woods and the magic they hold. They do inspire me so much. I feel a little music instrumental comin’ on…soon.

Sandstone

Long walks on the beach
Are safe
If you avoid 
Vertical sandstone

Sandstone is unstable
Can fall apart
At any time
And smother you

So much better
To walk on it
After is has weakened
And fallen apart

Tread underfoot
All the little 
Broken pieces
‘Til properly in place

Never mind
The singularity
Of intent or will
N’er a thought to that

All things in its place
The surface smooth
Flat as glass
Flat, perfect glass

Waiting to break
To explode
Revealing the chasm
Under self-exiled steps
 



There’s Bears

“Careful when you go in them woods boy.
There’s bears.”
“Will they kill me?”
“They’ll eat you alive”
“Should I run?”
“No, that provokes ’em.”
“Can they climb trees?”
“Yep”
“Can I shoot ’em?”
“No guns.”
“So, why are we doing this?”
“It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”

Of Mountains and Islands

Strength to strength
Mountain crumbles slowly
Holding fast
Against the torrents
Of one-thousand millennium

Brother had lost all confidence
So many summers ago
Splitting off
In a rage so violent
The chasm too wide to traverse

All life rushes headlong
Into their abyss
Revealing the turbulence
Of a long held grudge

Chained to the wrist
Of its keeper
The other hand
Clenched too tight
With keys of redemption


I have no idea where this came from….but I do know that there are some things that will twist my life unless I remove their power and just set them free.







November’s Ambiance

Summer was squarely bumped
Unusual here in the southland
She was marked cool and wet
And in complete dark, freezing

It was a good month
With cloud and shadow
Displays of light and color

Here in this place of respite
Inspiration moves the hands
Daydreams control the mind

A few photos from November’s meditations. Includes a simple dark adagio.