Coat Weather

The crunch of leaves beneath my feet as I walk across town -- the sidewalks my path. Notebook in my pocket, light chill in the air, and my well-worn black leather jacket on my back. Thoughts run the gambit from teenage memories to observations of my surroundings.

High Plains Drifter

Days spent in the saddle riding beneath the wide open skies. Nothing says you can’t be fashionable about it.

It's Fall

Fall, freshman year of college. Returning home Friday evening for the weekend to see friends and go out with my girlfriend. A slight chill in the air, leaves coming down, and Punch Bug still the driving game of choice. The anticipation of spending time my best girl, perhaps taking in a new movie at the UA Twin at the Camp Hill Mall, and late night trips to Pathmark for 3-liter bottles of strange flavored fruit sodas.

Why We Do

Why do we do anything? What motivates us? Why are we compelled by various pursuits or to react in the face of what we perceive to be injustices? The reasons vary from person to person. Mr. Keating (of Dead Poets Society) might say “to woo women”. For some it is about self-enrichment, a sense of community, or concern for the environment. Money, power, and fame are three big driving forces -- for examples, reference Wall Street, politics, and Hollywood. Interest in, desire for, or love of an individual can be strong influences, as well. Furthermore, friends often give of their time and selves to help each other and support one another. Additional incentives include patriotism, achievement of ideals, and career advancement, while for some it is a need to connect with someone or something…to feel alive…to feel anything. Some wish to advance the quality of life, solve the mysteries of the universe, or seek adventure. Others find themselves bound by strong ethics no matter the consequences they my incur by adhering to them. When faced with a question of what to do where the decision affects more than oneself, it comes down to one’s personal values and beliefs; do you put your own needs and welfare ahead of that of the world around you: whether it be a person, animal, place or thing?

Pumpkins Abound

It’s that time of year. Darkness descends upon us earlier, clouds fill the sky, and there’s a bit of a chill in the evening air. Soon small children will take to the streets beneath the light of a full moon in search of candy. Trick-or-Treat Night. Store bought and homemade costumes will fuel imaginations of the little ones and entertain those whose homes they visit. Waiting on the sidewalk, parents will watch with smiles as no masks can conceal the little faces lighting up with excitement as handfuls of candy are dropped into their bags or plastic jack-o-lanterns after uttering those three magic words. Cheering and laughing, groups of ghosts and goblins, superheroes, wizards and princesses, and cartoon characters run from door to door as they make their way up one side of the street and down the next.

Dancin' Machine

Now, we never had anything this swanky, but 20 years ago next December, a crew of creative, imaginative teens (mostly from the south side) of Camp Hill always in pursuit of Big Fun thought it would be a good time to put on their own semi-formal dance. Anyone who was there will tell you it was not as lame as it sounds. Thanks to six strings of multi-colored Christmas tree lights, a completely cleared out high-ceilinged basement with tile floor, and some well mixed music, we converted the space into a place that would make memories to last decades. From the moment everyone started showing up in their flashiest threads and dresses, the lights dimmed and the speakers came to life with Quiet Riot belting out “Cum on feel the noize” -- that…that was just the start of a great night. Everyone took turns busting out their best moves in the circle; we had slow dances where, of course, the guys fought over the beautiful women who graced us with their presence that evening; and everybody had fun that night. And, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the full cast production of Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. To all of you who were there, “Thank you”. Now, let’s do the Time Warp, again....

Racing Stripes

This brings to mind one of those scenes in a television program where there’s an illegal street race with two muscle cars. Whether they’re drag racing for pink slips or trying to impress a girl, the guys running on testosterone overdrive likely will drive them the way the engineers intended. No doubt the police will show up, sending the hordes of onlookers scattering while the drivers make a run for it on the open road.

Mercury Marquis

My family had a Mercury Marquis from the Eight-ies, so it was a bit more modern than chrome-companion here. It could transport my entire soccer team, got my date and I to the prom, and was aptly named Blue for its navy color. With police grade suspension you never felt a bump in the road. Maroon interior, pick up like nothing else on the road, and a trunk big enough to carry a Le Car.

Spring Time

Nestled in Acadia a few miles south of Bar Harbor is the Sieur de Monts Spring. From there the “Wild Gardens” are a short walk. I found the location to be filled with wildlife, small water dwelling creatures, and flora. Peaceful, relaxing, and most enjoyable.

Bedford Bottleworks

I like that red and yellow Royal Crown label; and while I prefer the taste of Coca-Cola, you have to admire that Pepsi logo. Before it closed down, the antique shop Treasures Thru Time in Bedford was always a guaranteed stop on visits to my mom’s hometown. At the top of the steps on the second floor, a vendor had shelves stocked with old bottles. There were a number of companies and varieties of pop, including Nehi, that were bottled in Bedford. Water from the Springs also enjoyed quite a market for a good number of years from which I have found several different sizes and designs of bottles.

Get Your Goat

Another aspect of the Dillsburg Farmer’s Fair: the animals. Llamas, goats, cows, alpacas, chickens, a rooster, a calf, and a wooly bull of an animal from Norway, I believe. All very friendly and a lot of fun for the kids. Anyone familiar with these types of animals could read the signs of distress at times -- not that they were in any danger, but they were quite nervous in their small enclosed pens with lots of people around them and trying to pet them. Several adults found the cries they made funny and entertaining -- I was not one of them. However, my concerns for the animals’ well-being were alleviated by seeing that their owners stayed close and comforted them.

Off the Beaten Path

I work at carrying my camera with me. One might not think of interesting subject matter presenting itself on the routine daily trek to work each day, and for me that theory holds true 99% of the time. However, when that 1% crops up…and I don’t have my camera, I am disappointed in myself. There was a day a few months back where on my walk into work in the morning a white egret stood in the water not 30 feet away from the Walnut Street Bridge I cross on foot; then in the evening in that same spot a blue heron. That is two separate shots I missed in one day. Another thought to keep in mind -- one I knew, but an actuality reinforced the last few days -- is that natural lighting conditions rarely present themselves in the same manner with any regularity. In general terms with regard to bright and sunny, perhaps. But with regard to specific subject material in a given location, taking into account all surrounding conditions, not so much. Yesterday, I tried to recreate the shots of the mums out front of my house, with little success. The quality of light was inconsistent, fluctuating moment to moment with the rolling clouds. Also, the rain -- even though relatively light -- the night before weathered, damaged, and displaced positioning of the mums. Even if the light had cooperated, the flowers themselves had lost integrity. I can try again next year. The point is do not give up. The image above is from an antique shop back a side street in Bangor, Maine.

TACS Remembered

While different in every way, this visit was good in it’s own right: one of remembering. Harkening back to those carefree, idealistic days when the word was bright and cheery. Fresh fallen, vivid yellow leaves coated everything in that little valley while still more slowly drifted down. Have you ever watched a leaf journey from high above, tracking all its movements ‘til it reaches the ground? We laughed, carried on, reveled in the spirit of creativity, and made the most of those trips. I miss those times and the friends I shared them with.

One if by land....

Some look for signs, others make their own way. Those who lead by example generally aren’t the ones you hear chatting up any grand plans -- they’re too busy “doing”. Who wants to be labeled as having “potential“? Not me. I’m shooting for being “accomplished”.

Day of Reckoning

There is a quote in one of my favorite books The Alchemist which says, “When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.” Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, it feels like the all the universe is conspiring against me. I told you of how I recently returned to TACS. I spent three hours there, photographing. On the walk back to my car, I spotted a flag rising and falling in the wind -- backlit, of older natural fiber design, and with a backdrop of an understated stone house. I patiently waited a good fifteen minutes for the wind to stretch out that flag just so. That evening when I tried to download my images from the day, the memory card was inaccessible. A message popped up that an error had been detected. The computer took it upon itself to initiate “a fix”. The sector errors were repaired, but in the process all of my pictures were wiped clean. I lost everything. My frustration almost unbearable, two thoughts came to mind. The first a comment from one of my best friends - Tom. Not long after I started my blog, he wrote that my writing was “different”. When I asked for clarification of his statement, he explained that in comparison to my previous daily 100 word submissions for our writing group those of my blog were “positive” and he liked that. I took that to heart and made it a continuing goal for my blog entries. The second thought -- a sentiment from another of my closest friends, Tim. Posed in the form of a question: in the face of something I have no control over, do you let it eat at you and consume your time and energy…or move on and accomplish something (whether it be starting over or starting something new)? I paused for a moment, “cleared the mechanism”, and made the conscious decision to pick a new task to focus on and be productive with for the remainder of the evening. In an effort to wax the positive, I will say that I am thankful the first memory card of that day (containing the Dillsburg Farmers’ Fair and a classic car show in Lemoyne) downloaded just fine, so I have those images to enjoy and share. Thank you both for your helpful words and support.

A Return to TACS

It has been five years since I set foot there and some 17 years since its incarnation. TACS was tucked away in the back Seibert Park in an area rarely traveled…by others. Heavily wooded with a babbling brook running from one end to the other, tranquil, and a creatively inspiring hotspot. Four of us founded the group as an exclusive artist colony, taking the first letter from each of our names for its moniker. Tim, Adam, Chris, and Susie. Later a fifth member Alison joined, fortunately, her first initial mirrored my own. Every day after school we’d meet at Tim’s and drive up to the park. Photography, reading poetry, painting with watercolors, and writing were all activities enjoyed by the members.

"Dark Room" Photograph

The back room of the house sat off of the kitchen. I would venture to say that over the years more conversations took place in that room than the whole rest of the town combined, but I digress. We’re talking about the family room with a worn, comfy couch and a table where a future children’s book author spent a great deal of time drawing and pouring over photographs. In the evenings it was the social hub of an ever growing and changing group of friends. If one knows the players, it is possible to see a pattern and recognize those with the strongest bonds to the artist who lived there. I like to think of myself as one of them. Looking back, a great deal of conversations took place in the late hours of the night among those who visited. Discussions of important revelations with regard to people we were seeing, questions and plans for the future, and self-deprecating tales one only shares and laughs at with the closest of friends. The house is gone now and most of those conversations take place in email or on a cell phone as most everyone has scattered to different states across the country: California, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio. Others still remain in Pennsylvania but are separated by distance. This photograph was taken in that room on an evening of experimenting with lighting.

Fall Foliage Festival

I have been visiting Bedford all my life. The first two weekends in October see the streets of the small Western Pennsylvania town transform into a bustling celebration of crafts and food stands. An antique apple cider press churns out freshly bottled nectar on the Square, calliope music plays in the background, and stalks of corn are strapped to every signpost and parking meter. Down by the water children can take pony rides, tours of the fort are available, and a juried art show takes place in the Historic Anderson House. Over the years I have found pieces of pottery, wrought iron candle holders, and paintings of local landmarks. As of late, I spend less time at the festivities on the main strip, choosing instead to walk the less traveled surrounding streets.

Solitary

Creative endeavors are not generally geared towards a group dynamic. The end result may be -- the enjoyment, but not when the actual work is being done. Writing, drawing, inventing, wood working, and, of course, the taking and printing of photographic images. It is possible to share these activities with others, but generally it takes like-minded individuals of shared skill sets. Also necessary, a thorough understanding not just of the artistic approach of the individual at the helm, but their work ethic, vision, and spirit, as well. Long standing, close friendships are the best example. To be successful one must know how to be present without interfering…how to be supportive without overstepping…to function as a sounding board…to exist in the periphery…and at times be invisible or all together not there so as not to inadvertently interfere with the process. Those who can achieve this state of being are invaluable to us; they are also quite rare. The rest of the time we are on our own -- by necessity. Whether it is physically separated from the rest of the world in a place of our choosing or in a mental “zone” of sorts, we must achieve and maintain a state of focus to function at the best of our abilities.

Proud, Noble, Majestic

A whirl of emotions. When in the presence of individuals operating at such a high level of excellence in the field or activity they are passionate about, I find myself a bit in awe. Witnessing the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and training reminds me that nothing worthwhile comes easily. Natural talent is a resource from which to draw inspiration and confidence, but it also comes with the responsibility to embrace one’s abilities to the fullest extent of his or her capability. Utilize them: engage in activities that encourage development, challenge limitations, and educate. Then share it all with the world. Help them to see what drives you, what interests you, what you have to offer.

Seeing this horse and being in the presence of my friend at this show reminded me that I still have a lot I want to accomplish. I appreciate Elissa taking time out of her day at the competition to teach me a bit of what she knows and for opening my eyes to a world I knew nothing about -- her generosity of spirit truly is a gift.

Desert Triangle

Orange speckles highlight the triangle and deep dark break. Tiny lines like blade marks emanate from the tidal pool‘s red water.

Triple 10 Water Lily

Longwood Gardens. My parents have encouraged me to visit for years. I made my first trek just last month. Among the wondrous sights, the water lilies. The delicate pink petals look painted to me -- the shading immaculate.

The Rothschild Perspective

Spend enough time looking at something in a particular way and that’s the only way you’ll see it. To do so is to miss out. Observe: be conscious of your surroundings and perceive them from all angles. Examine objects not only for what they are, but how they interact with one another. These relationships tell the full story.

Land of Light

From just the brief amount of time I have spent in Maine I can see why so many artisans are drawn there. Not just to visit, but to make a life; not just to experience the light, but to live within it. Through photography, I paint with light; and I prefer natural over artificial. Over the years, the universe has revealed to me conditions, places, and times of day in which the sun illuminates the world in such a way that certain details stand out.

Fragility In Yellow

Nature’s flair. Colorful, bright, fleeting. Something so delicate resting atop something so seemingly permanent. The imperfections give it character, the texture its gleam, and shadows reveal depth.

Hailey

She makes me laugh, has a swagger like John Wayne, and loves to play ball (especially if it’s with one that jingles). She is a very smart kitty and in the morning when I reach for my glasses on the nightstand, she will very carefully stretch out a paw and slide them to my hand -- understanding that if I can’t see, then I can’t feed her breakfast. Favorite spot: perched at the window that overlooks the back yard to watch all the wildlife that comes in for seed and water. Doves are her favorite, and a distinct chattering lets me know when they arrive. From time to time neighborhood cats stop on their way through the yard to visit with her for a bit or sun themselves in the mulch bed.

Elissa and Blue

My friend invited me to see her and Craving Blue compete Labor Day weekend. This was my first horse show. Fun, interesting, and educational. Elissa explained various aspects of what to look for in both the horse and rider’s body position and movement as they make their way around the arena, responding to instructions via the loudspeaker. There is still a great deal for me to grasp, but I look forward to making some more progress at the next show.

Splash of Orange

A bit of color to spruce up that damp New England rock that overcast morning. As a child I spent many an hour beachcombing, searching for and collecting shells with my parents, my sister, and my Grandmother. The Florida shores of sand were quite different than the rocky ones I found in Acadia National Park. Still, thinking back on those outings, the experiences each have their own charm and hold fond memories.

Oars in Autumn

The yellow wood siding with its small shadow lines makes a good backdrop for the worn oars’ multi-colored remains. Beat, broken, patched up, jerry-rigged, and algae covered. New England comes to mind: thoughts of boats leisurely rowing across small lakes or fishing trawlers returning to port. Jacket weather.

Another Cog

Some would consider it antiquated machinery. Yet another piece of the “if it isn’t modern, it’s flawed” logic. Thinking that everything has to be new and on the cutting edge to have worth -- one reason we have an abundance of empty retail space in abandoned strip malls while new free standing super structures go up one after another or why entire forests are being clear cut to make way for new developments and McMansions. “Bigger is better” -- another great mantra. There are perfectly good homes with character and charm available, but some can’t settle for less than a 40 room domicile for…2? Ask yourself, “What do I really need? What do I value?”

On the Road Again

Note the strong light. I spent the day out photographing and it felt good. Granted I’ve got a headache the size of O-klahoma from having my eye to the viewfinder for hours on end, but it was all worth it. I haven’t finished reviewing all of my images from the day, but a cursory review has more than a few standouts which I am very pleased with.