Dao of Photography

Statement of Power & Purpose

2010-12-26T22:50:00.000-05:00

I was processing some photos from today's beach trip and listening to some old school reggae music and wondered why do Rastafarians revere Haile Selassie and decided to do a search. I found a wiki about the philosophy and in reading it came across the following statement which was a part of the address that Haile Selassie made to the UN General Assembly in October 1963:

"Last May, in Addis Ababa, I convened a meeting of Heads of African States and Governments. In three days, the thirty-two nations represented at that Conference demonstrated to the world that when the will and the determination exist, nations and peoples of diverse backgrounds can and will work together. In unity, to the achievement of common goals and the assurance of that equality and brotherhood which we desire.On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson: That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned; That until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil."

He concluded this speech with the words, "We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community." - Source

Now I have heard Bob Marley's "War" countless times but reading this statement, mind you all the while hearing the song in my head, was a moving experience. Having read this, I now have a greater appreciation for the reverence that Rastas give this man.

WaRm!

2010-10-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

Want to test your patience and skills with a manual camera? Try getting a cat's attention, manual focusing a Lensbaby and metering your exposure all at the same time. It wasn't easy but here is a photo of Asha warming herself by the heater. Shot with the Lensbaby Composer at f2 and Nikon D700 for 1/25 sec at ISO 3200. Cropped and adjusted in LR3.

Something to do on a windy day!

2010-10-17T16:05:00.000-04:00

I went to Newport, RI with a friend yesterday. It was a very cool and windy fall day. I saw this guy taking advantage of the conditions which were perfect for his sail buggy. It sure looks like fun! Enjoy the good weather while it lasts....

Cupcake Cookery!

2010-09-19T20:12:00.000-04:00

Cupcakes by Vernell. There is a secret ingredient in the frosting!

Delicious! If you can guess what the secret ingredient is, you can have one!

Refinishing a mask!

2010-09-04T19:38:00.000-04:00

I decided to refinish this mask that was given to me by a friend. He was getting rid of it and I thought that I would try and help the piece reach its true potential. The original paint job did nothing to emphasize the proficient carving wrought into the wood, plus the black was too dominant and created a depressing effect.

The original mask - the black highlights made this piece a bit depressing!

First a coat of white spray paint as a primer!

Next was a coat of gesso to allow the acrylic paint to adhere!

Layers of bright acrylic paint!

Finally, a light dusting with flat black spray paint followed by a coat of clear glossy lacquer! The brighter colors make this a happier piece!

I have been working on this piece for a solid week a few hours at a time and like the result!

Under my skin!

2010-08-23T21:42:00.002-04:00

I have been trying to pay attention to the way I create in an attempt to better understand myself. My most recent paintings caused me to really take stock of my complexities - I am unsophisticated but unique. I was trained as a scientist from high school and as an undergraduate. A biology major - life science! As a result I am very curious about the world; people; art; color; feeling - everything! It comes thorough in my art; and in so much as I hate the categorization of people - I have to admit that I am an expressionist. I communicate an emotion with my art - if you don't get it then you suck - lol. Phew! That was freaky! Anyway on to the work!

Frustrated

This piece reminds me of gametes - sperm and ova. A friend interpreted this painting and said that it felt chaotic/frustrating and she was on point. I couldn't paint what was on my mind and fought hard with this piece~

Baobab - Wisdom

I am particularly pleased with this piece - not that it is particularly good but because I was present as it evolved into what you see! This is not at all what I set about painting. I like what it became! I am in awe of this piece. I had been trying to paint a tree for weeks and was unsuccessful until now. Don't know where it came from but I am glad to see it. This piece exemplifies my creative style/approach to a T. It just evolved into the tree you see before you. This is not what I set out to paint at all. I used a sea sponge to make this - fah tru!

The poem reads -

"I bow to the All Creating Power from which I came, and to which I am returning." -LaoTze-

Convergence

This is my version of the big bang - or anti big bang. This is a snap shot of the universe as it returned to Tao!

Experimental Paintings!

2010-08-08T13:52:00.000-04:00

As always trying something new. Mixing and matching color with bold creativity! This pair of twin pieces were inspired by ink blot paintings!

Erupt!

Memories!

What a view!

2010-07-30T21:29:00.003-04:00

Today my wife and I spent the day in Plymouth. We visited Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. While touring the Mayflower II I caught a glimpse of what my ancestors must have seen from the bowels of the slave ships. Looking up through the grates at the mast, the sky and the movements above not knowing much about where they were going. Horrible!

The view from below

Looking out!

Plymouth Rock - I am a bit disappointed as I envisioned a boulder made of slate or granite. Not sure what it is indeed comprised of but it didn't appear to be any of these. We saw some very interesting sights and enjoyed a fun filled day in the sun.

Plymouth Rock

The Mayflower II

Click here for the entire gallery!

New Work!

2010-07-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

Been busy painting lately - the inspiration and ideas are overflowing. Luckily, I am on vacation until Thursday and will be creating freely. These pieces represent the new direction for my paintings and hopefully the view appreciates them.

"Journey into Color"

"Blessings"

If you look carefully you can always see - "The Way"

"Work in progress - as yet untitled"

Pause & Reflect

2010-07-18T13:41:00.000-04:00

As a photographer it is important to carry your camera as often as you can. You never know when something will catch your eye - if you are not prepared you will miss an opportunity. Lucky for me that I had my camera when I saw these!

Impartiality

Who understands does not preach;
Who preaches does not understand.

Reserve your judgments and words;
Smooth differences and forgive disagreements;
Dull your wit and simplify your purpose;
Accept the world.

Then,
Friendship and enmity,
Profit and loss,

Honor and disgrace,
Will not affect you;
The world will accept you.

-Lao Tze-

Fresh Paint!

2010-07-11T16:55:00.000-04:00

Just finished these twin pieces yesterday. These took days to finish and are pleasing to my eyes! I hope you like them too!

"Yin"
Acrylic on canvas board - 18" x 24"

"Yang"
Acrylic on stretched canvas 24" x 18"

Click image for full view of detail!

Image Restoration

2010-06-28T18:09:00.001-04:00

This is an old photo of my mother that I restored.

Before

After

This after photo still shows lots of small dark and light spots but most of the major damage areas have been repaired.

Sweet Repose!

2010-06-20T13:37:00.000-04:00

Repose:

1. The act of resting or the state of being at rest.

2. Freedom from worry; peace of mind.

3. Calmness; tranquility.

Stare!

2010-06-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

Caught Asha absorbing some sun on the stairs and she gave me this look.

My Happy Accident

2010-04-26T18:27:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I posted an image on my Facebook Fan Page that was created using a lomographic Holga 120 camera with a Polaroid instant back. I have taken responsibility for creating it but it really was a happy accident - to some degree. I had taken 4 shots of some candles in our bathroom using the Holga and scanned them into Photoshop. I took the images and extracted useful portions that showed the flames and parts of the candles and merged them into the best of the photographs. As I was doing this I was getting the "this is going to be a piece of crap" feeling. Any creatives reading this post should understand what I mean, but just in case, let me explain. The feeling I am referring to is one that, to me, means that I am doing something edgy that no one would appreciate - not even me (eventually), because this lack of appreciation would feed my insecurity as an artist! My hand hovered the cursor over the "x" to close the file with no intention of saving. However, as I started to process the image, adding layers, changing saturation, contrast and brightness, I started to see something interesting evolving but it still had an element missing. What was missing was at first a mystery but soon I noticed that the image had no message or feeling to convey and again thoughts of trashing it started to surface. I decided that all I could do is try to turn the image into a painting hoping the texture would save the piece. It looked horrible! DELETE! was my immediate response and it almost went bye, bye but I happened to notice the plastic wrap effect two selections over from paint daubs, one of my favorite artistic effects. I had never used it before so I had nothing to lose here. At the very least I would find out a bit about what it did. I applied the default setting for plastic wrap and boy was I surprised. Suddenly this image had a message; it became interesting. It had texture - texture that was relevant to the image. It looked like wax!

Bubbly

2010-04-10T19:09:00.000-04:00

Today Vernell went shopping and came home with a large bubble maker and solution. She tested it out and I chased bubbles with my camera. Here are a few shots:

Explosion of Blossoms!

2010-04-07T18:30:00.000-04:00

We have had a long and grueling winter but alas spring is finally here and with it the blossoms, flowers, insects and colors! I was in my yard a few days ago and noticed my plum trees were starting to come alive and produce some buds. This evening I went back into the yard and boom the blossoms were everywhere. What a difference a few days make. Spring Fever baby and hopefully I will have a bountiful harvest of plums like last year!

Fire Hydrants

2010-04-03T16:11:00.000-04:00

I went out for some fresh air with Vernell this afternoon and decided to bring along my camera. As we rode round the neighborhood I stopped to take photos of the wide and varied types of fire hydrants in the local radius around our home. I never thought there would be such variety. I managed to shoot 8 distinct types and we only went around the block a few miles.

Trying something new!

2010-03-30T19:06:00.001-04:00

Ever so often I discover an new way to expand the creative use of raw photographs as ingredients in a complicated recipe. A recipe for a piece of art. All I know when I start the creative process is that the chosen photograph will feature prominently in the final piece.

My recent discovery is textures. I was exploring the possibility of purchasing a Holga camera or lensbaby kit to create images that looked like they were from a bygone era or shot with an old school camera. Fortunately for me during my search I discovered textures and how they could be used to create wide and varied effects on photographs and the fun began.

I went even further by converting some of these textured images into digital paintings. (NB): I have been down with the flu and feverish for the past few days - hence the prevalence of darkness in these pieces! You have to look into these photos - if you just look at them you will miss everything!

A Difficult Choice

2010-03-29T12:29:00.002-04:00

I shot and processed the original photograph in this series and was pleased with the results. However, I decided to retouch it to appear distressed and then again to look like a watercolor painting. Which version do you prefer?

Original

Distressed

Watercolor

Line, Symmetry, Pattern & Oddities

2010-03-07T12:51:00.003-05:00

As an aspiring photographer I have made a conscious effort to notice the overlooked; the shapes and subtle nuances in the environment that make for interesting photographs. This is not always an easy endeavor since what you and I find interesting in a photograph may vary immensely.

The weather has taken a break from a consistent barrage of snow, rain, wind and cold to reveal a beautiful sunny day that is greatly appreciated. I seized the day and geared up with the intention of heading to Fort Taber in New Bedford. Since I have been recovering from a bout of the stomach flu I thought better of a long trip and opted to shoot at Battleship Cove - a few minutes away.

While there I decided to focus on line, symmetry, pattern and oddities as the subjects for my photographs and here are the results:

Need

Is the action of nature not unlike drawing a bow?
What is higher is pulled down, and what is lower is raised up;
What is taller is shortened, and what is thinner is broadened;
Nature's motion decreases those who have more than they need
And increases those who need more than they have.

It is not so with Man.
Man decreases those who need more than they have
And increases those who have more than they need.

To give away what you do not need is to follow the Way.
So the sage gives without expectation,
Accomplishes without claiming credit,
And has no desire for ostentation.

-LaoTze-

Some days are a struggle!

2010-02-09T18:30:00.000-05:00

How was your day? This guy's having a rough one!

Time Capsule

2010-01-12T17:49:00.000-05:00

Some of my greatest insights occur while showering, drinking or listening to music. Yesterday, I was having some wine with dinner when it occurred to me that a bottle of wine is like a time capsule. A record of the year of vintage! If you ask nicely and are aware, sometimes it will share the secrets with you - but only if you are aware! 1995 was good year in France!

Halo Wars!

2009-12-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

It was rather cold here today and fortunately I didn't have to be out for too long running errands! I did, however, manage to assemble some Mega Bloks Halo Wars themed character sets. The battle that ensued was quite the spectacle and there was much loss of life!

Snoopy & The Snow Flake Bokeh!

2009-12-13T16:50:00.000-05:00

The challenge in this series was to cut out a shape in a piece of card stock - black - cover the lens with it so that the focal point for the subject went through the cut out. I used a snowflake shape that my wife had - she made the cutout for me and helped me to figure out how to secure it to the lens. The lens was set to the maximum aperture (f1.8) and the shutter speed and ISO adjusted to the correct exposure for the desired effect. This was way more troublesome to accomplish than the simple description suggests but none the less I got some usable results...

Every King must have a Queen!

2009-12-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

How Deep Does the rabbit hole go?

2009-12-06T13:30:00.002-05:00

I had a choice - red pill, blue pill. I chose the red pill!!

Simba chose to take a nap on top of the DVR!

Violence

Powerful men are well advised not to use violence,
For violence has a habit of returning;
Thorns and weeds grow wherever an army goes,
And lean years follow a great war.

A general is well advised
To achieve nothing more than his orders:
Not to take advantage of his victory.
Nor to glory, boast or pride himself;
To do what is dictated by necessity,
But not by choice.

For even the strongest force will weaken with time,
And then its violence will return, and kill it.

-LaoTze-

Photo Restoration

2009-11-27T22:36:00.000-05:00

A request from a friend to scan and restore an old photograph, featuring her son, posed an interesting challenge. I scanned the photo, which was printed on what appears to be regular 81/2" x 11" paper that was folded for years. It was intriguing to see how well my Photoshop skills would stand up to this project. I must admit that it was far more laborious than I had envisioned. However, I believe that the final result is a vast improvement over the original. Take a look.

Before and After

2009-11-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

It feels like forever since my last post. Been busy will lots of stuff and lots of nothing. Anyway, I have still been shooting and had the pleasure of shooting a friend and his dog a few weeks ago. The dog, Boris, a red doberman pincer, was recently diagnosed with a heart problem and I thought it would be cool to get some shots of them together. Boris is about 9 years old and his age shows a bit in his fur which has a few bald patches. The night of the shoot he was looking and feeling good as the new medication was doing its thing. However, his bald spots betrayed him. Determined to turn back the clock and show Boris at his best, I used Photoshop to do some creative editing on these shots! I am happy to see Boris is doing better and look forward to another fun shoot with him in the future!

Before

After

Creativity!

2009-11-07T22:35:00.003-05:00

Creativity is defined as the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination. For me creativity takes a non-traditional route - it happens to me. When I create I have no specific outcome in mind all I have is a direction in which to start. The process evolves and takes on a life of its own. Many times, the results surprise me - I am not sure how it happens but I absolutely enjoy it! When I create I feel free; losing sense of time and space I become transfixed by the process and have to peel myself away to take the occasional break. As my biggest fan and biggest critic I am constantly working on new approaches and new pieces and digital media has made it possible to unleash my creativity in the most liberating ways!

In the series "Light's Ballet" digital photography is merged with abstract painting in a unique way (unique to me at least) and I am satisfied with the results. Check out the slide show below and let me know what you think!

Abstract Smoke Art!

2009-11-04T20:32:00.000-05:00

Thanks God for creativity, art, Nikon and photography because I would have gone insane by now without them. Still not feeling well I have been house bound for the past few days but with my trusty camera and creative mind I have been able to come up with some shoots. Today's shoot was intended to be the first in a series of abstract smoke art pieces - let me tell you that it isn't easy - at least not to me. Here are two finished pieces from the first run.

LiGhT pAiNtInG! How I shot this one!

2009-11-03T18:52:00.001-05:00

The beauty in this shot isn't the composition, nor is it the subject. The beauty lies in the technique. I had the hair brained scheme for the composition - leaves on a plate with a knife and fork as if to imply this was a meal but when I went outside I could only find a few awful specimens. Hardly any color at all - fall color would have made the subject more interesting. Since I had to settle for what I had (it was cold and dark) I decided to try a long exposure and paint the subject using a single LED flash light. I placed the camera on a tripod, set the exposure for 25 secs, ISO 400, the aperture to f22 and used a 50mm lens (the room was completely dark). I triggered the camera with a remote and walked around the table pointing the LED at the subject and here is the result after 4 attempts.

I have seen other photographers use a flash light to create dramatic lighting effects with long exposures but this is my first attempt and I have to say that I like this approach. It is perfect for still life but would be a bitch with a model. Click the image for full view!

Sleepy Kitties!

2009-11-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

I have been a bit under the weather for the last few days and still have the need to shoot, so once again my cats are the subjects. I know, I know - they are way too many cat photos out there but I can't help myself. Today I caught these two sleepy cats and here are the results!

Scary Cat!

2009-10-31T17:30:00.001-04:00

I got a new hand strap for my camera last night and while I was putting on, I noticed Asha milling around Vernell's scrap table. I shot a few frames and when I started processing them Vernell suggested a Halloween theme. Here are the results - Happy Halloween!

Light Modifiers

2009-10-24T12:39:00.000-04:00

If there is one thing to remember as a photographer is that photography is painting with light and like paint, light can be manipulated to create different effects. Today's self portraits were taken using my faithful D90 and lit with 2 SB 600s, one with an inflatable softbox and the other with a homemade snoot. The light modifiers were positioned to light my top left side and shoulder (snoot - focused beam) and the front of my chest & face from the bottom up. See the results below.

What's the next step?

2009-10-15T20:49:00.000-04:00

Ok, I have had a few successful gigs but how do I make it a regular occurrence? Marketing is challenging and expensive so I must choose the right medium for maximum effect. I have created a Facebook Fan Page and many of my friends have joined. What I need now is a medium/method to drive business to my services. I have purchased a domain name that should tie it all together but due to bureaucratic red tape, I have to wait for it to be moved from one service provider to another before I can start to use it. This would help to solidify the brand but I still need to connect with the local customer base. I am considering a marketing strategy using printed media (more to follow) but have to wait for confirmation on the domain name as it is a critical piece in the advertisement. Photography is an industry with room for growth - I just want to carve out my niche and grab my piece of the pie! Who do I have to shoot to make it in this business?!!

Wedding Bliss!

2009-10-10T15:18:00.001-04:00

It was my great honor to be the photographer at the wedding ceremony of John and Mary-Beth last weekend. The ceremony was held at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett, MA in the mid morning and the reception was the following evening at a hall in Fairhaven, MA. Shipyard Park featured a gazebo near the water with a nice view of the ocean, small boats and a lighthouse in the distance. The lighting was a challenge as the sun was beaming through one side of the building and the other side had hardly any light. The couple were a joy to work with and their guests made both events fun and enjoyable. Here are a few shots from both events.

Enso Drool - by Apophis

2009-09-28T19:52:00.002-04:00

After a long lay off, I'm back. I did my first painting in well over a year today. All that chat in the past few weeks about my art, circles and the Enso symbol got me inspired on the way home this evening and I had to create this piece. This piece "Enso Drool" is acrylic paint and sumi ink on canvas board 18" x 24". Hopefully, you can see the evolution of the piece from the photos. Can't wait for it to dry so that I can spray seal it and display it!

Wandering

What is the difference between assent and denial?
What is the difference between beautiful and ugly?
What is the difference between fearsome and afraid?

The people are merry as if at a magnificent party
Or playing in the park at springtime,
But I am tranquil and wandering,
Like a newborn before it learns to smile,
Alone, with no true home.

The people have enough and to spare,
Where I have nothing,
And my heart is foolish,
Muddled and cloudy.

The people are bright and certain,
Where I am dim and confused;
The people are clever and wise,
Where I am dull and ignorant;
Aimless as a wave drifting over the sea,
Attached to nothing.

The people are busy with purpose,
Where I am impractical and rough;
I do not share the peoples' cares
But I am fed at nature's breast.

-LaoTze-

Cool find at Flea Market!

2009-09-26T15:20:00.000-04:00

After working late last night I had to pop into work early this morning and on the way back home I took the long route. I happened to pass by a flea market that was just opening and on a whim, decided to stop in and see if they had any old cameras for sale. As luck would have it, there was one vendor with an old Agfa camera for sale for, wait for it, WAIT FOR IT - $5. Yep, $5! I feel like I stole something. I paid the lady what she asked and came home and cleaned it up. This camera seems to date back to somewhere between the 1930s and 1950s. Photos and info at Camerapedia.org seems to suggest that this is an Agfa Billy. It takes 120mm film and still seems to work. I doubt that it would take good pics but it is a nice display item. Anyway, here are a few pics -

Installation Service

2009-09-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday was a busy day both from a personal and photographic stand point. The day started with a trip into Boston for Dim Sum! It was sweet! The food and company were good and I had lots of opportunities to take photos both candid and posed. This post is really about the evening portion of the day.

I was hired to photograph the installation ceremony of Pastor Pajibo Kyne at the Union Street Baptist Church in New Bedford, MA. It was a most interesting experience. The congregation showed such appreciation for this new minister it was incredible. They presented him with gifts including a bible, a hymnal and a fabulous hand made robe. Those of you who know me know that I am not a son of the church but I was moved by the service and the ceremony. It felt good to be in an atmosphere where positive vibes were being directed at one family, specifically Pastor Kyne. He had an air of regalness about him which led me to believe that he will be an excellent leader and influence on the members of this church. Best of luck Pastor Kyne and congratulations! Thank you Union Street Baptist!

The Eye of the Beholder

2009-09-22T18:34:00.002-04:00

I had an interesting experience today that boosted my confidence as an artist. I was having a chat with a coworker and friend about art, particularly a series that I had done several months ago centered around glass marbles - I've Lost My Marbles. He really liked them because the he was able to relate to the circular nature of the subject. We chatted further and he indicated that he saw the circle as a source of inspiration and wanted to have a piece of art centered around circles to hang in his office. I showed him a painting that I had done last year (my first piece of art) that was really themed around circles - Circle Layers and he really liked it. I was shocked at his response. This piece has been hanging in our spare bedroom for over a year now and before that leaning against a wall in our old apartment. I was really proud of it when I first created it but as my art evolved I didn't like it as much. Seeing the response to the piece made me realize the truth about art being in the eye of the beholder. I create because I am inspired but I also destroy because of my perfectionist nature - I don't physically destroy but I undervalue my creations by judging them too harshly. For others, who perhaps wish they could create or are touched by my creations my purpose is fulfilled. I create for them, not for myself. As an artist it is my job to create and to present - finding the right eyes is the mission of every creation; to be appreciated by the right person/people. For this lesson I am grateful and move forward with confidence that my creations will find an audience, some day, eventually! Thanks Keith!

Tools

Thirty spokes meet at a nave;
Because of the hole we may use the wheel.
Clay is molded into a vessel;
Because of the hollow we may use the cup.
Walls are built around a hearth;
Because of the doors we may use the house.
Thus tools come from what exists,
But use from what does not.

-LaoTze-

Now and Then!

2009-09-15T21:40:00.002-04:00

My how the years have passed. My wife scanned and converted an old image of me as a baby and I spent close to an hour working on it in Photoshop. Reflecting on this old photo I recognize the person I have become. Everyday I try to learn something new and grow a bit more as a person, a human being, a citizen of the world... It is challenging, with all of the distractions and differing perspectives, to remain focused on what is truly important but as this journey continues it does get easier to say "no that is not my way" and be confident in the person that you are, the person that you have become. I grew up!

Experience

Experience is a riverbed,
Its source hidden, forever flowing:
Its entrance, the root of the world,
The Way moves within it:
Draw upon it; it will not run dry.

-LaoTze-

Film vs Digital

2009-09-14T21:41:00.005-04:00

I am not a big fan of film, not because I don't think that the quality is good but because it is expensive and time consuming to process. Unfortunately, I don't have a dark room to develop my own film and quite frankly, I don't think I ever would. I am a product of the digital age and with my instant gratification obsession, don't see film being a regular part of my photography. My apologies to all of the purists out there. I do agree that film produces a level of detail that my current 12.3 MP digital SLR can't. However, I will say that the development of images either via film or digitally is where alot of the art lays in my style of photography and when I take/send my film to be processed, a large degree of control over the final product is lost. With digital, I can do my own development. This is not to say that you can't post process scanned images from film negatives but if you are going to go to all of this trouble what's the point?

The images in the attached gallery were post processed from scanned film images developed at a local 1hr photo lab. Yes, I know that the best quality processing would not occur at a 1 hr lab but unless you are footing the bill for the processing - shhhhhhh!

The reason for these shots was to see how my photographic skills were coming along - composition, exposure etc. Well, the results weren't as bad as I had thought. I had to work hard on the digital files to get them to look decent but over all they didn't suck too bad. The prints were terrible! The use of the pop-up flash on the Minolta Maxxum 5 I used over exposed most of the images but that was reasonably easy to fix in PS. I have a shoot coming up and will probably take the film camera along just to see how the images compare to the digital images on the Nikon. I have to give it up to the pioneers of photography who shot on film exclusively and to the techies who were able to make digital a reality. Why? I don't think that I would be into photography to this degree, if at all, if I had to shoot on film alone. From film camera use I can appreciate the patience one must possess in order to choose the right shot at the right moment. I need more of that in my approach. Shot selection is important - however, I would rather delete an unwanted or unnecessary image than miss a great shot because I wanted to conserve film. Give me my 8GB SDCH card please!

Getting Back In Shape - Project Fitness!

2009-09-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

Boy, this H1N1 virus got me scared! Really though, the truth is I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. With the approaching change in seasons and the accompanying flu season, I know it is time to get back in shape. Not only do I want to avoid the annual flu but this year's comes packed with the swine flu to boot. No thanks! I am making a conscious effort to get my body and mind in good physical condition to avoid getting the flu or at least to shorten the duration if I do succumb. This means working out, eating right, sleeping right and taking the right vitamins! It seems inevitable that the outbreak will be severe this winter since so many factors favor the spread of illness this season - high stress, poor diets, poor health, not to mention people's failure to practice simple personal hygiene such as washing their hands after using the rest room - GROSS!!!

My climb back up the hill of fitness started a few weeks ago but today I am documenting it and will do my best to stay the course. If I fall off I will have this written commitment to refer to and hopefully renew my desire to succeed. Fitness is a way of life and to be successful at it you have to commit to a life style change. I have always been fortunate in that my body responds quickly to exercise but I have noticed that my cardio has been a bit weak of late - lifting is fine but I hate cardio - so working on this will be challenging. Who's with me on project fitness?! Anyone?

Here are some photos from today's workout - messing with the camera and trying to get the shots right kept me working out longer than planned - I will be sore tomorrow but that's ok! I tried to use a long exposure to record my lift using a flash frequency of 1hrz at 1/8 power and then went to 2 flashes at 1/6.5 power. Of course I had to replenish my electrolytes after the workout - Is it in you? Stay healthy!

Made for Walkin'

2009-09-12T15:22:00.000-04:00

Ever had a favorite shirt, pair of jeans, hat etc.? Well, I have favorite shoes. My Dr. Marten's boots are the most comfortable shoes I own (Brown & Black). The sole is made from a resilient but flexible rubber-like material that makes standing or walking in them easy on the knees, legs and back. I have had them for years and usually break them out of the closet when it starts to get cold. They aren't insulated but with warm socks they keep my feet warm and dry even in the snow. Why am I going on about my shoes? Look at the pictures and stop asking questions!

Indulgence

Straighten yourself and you will not stand steady;
Display yourself and you will not be clearly seen;
Justify yourself and you will not be respected;
Promote yourself and you will not be believed;
Pride yourself and you will not endure.

These behaviours are wasteful, indulgent,
And so they attract disfavour;
Harmony avoids them.

-LaoTze-

Touch

2009-09-07T14:29:00.001-04:00

Today I had the idea of recording the importance of touch as a demonstration of affection in relationships and once again our three cats became a part of the shoot. If you know anything about cats, you know that they do not take direction well. Actually, I believe that they are genetically programmed to do the complete opposite of what you want them to when it matters. Anyway on to the topic.

I have always wondered how cats came to live amongst humans. Some pets have a very specific purpose and you can see what led to them being incorporated into families; dogs offer protection, aid in hunting and farming; birds could indicate the presence of toxins in the air and perhaps could alert one to the presence of a stranger. Cats present a bit of a puzzle - keep rats and mice away. Maybe, but dogs could do that. Why would humans chose to domesticate cats? I would venture to guess low maintenance companionship. In our household our cats are a part of our family whose purpose is to produce stuff to cleanup - just kidding! They provide low maintenance companionship and love. All they want in return, apart from food, water and shelter, is to be touched. Asha likes to be touched and held, while Jessie and Simba need the occasional petting but require proximity - they always need to be near you if you are at home. Jessie is always right next to or a few feet away from Vernell and the same is true of Simba with me.

Studies suggest that petting a cat can reduce stress in humans but it must do something for them as well as they crave touch so much. Asha goes so far as to "auto-pet" on your leg or arm if you stop petting her too soon. Touch is important to us all - if you love someone or something, show it!

Mystery

Looked at but cannot be seen - it is beneath form;
Listened to but cannot be heard - it is beneath sound;
Held but cannot be touched - it is beneath feeling;
These depthless things evade definition,
And blend into a single mystery.

In its rising there is no light,
In its falling there is no darkness,
A continuous thread beyond description,
Lining what can not occur;
Its form formless,
Its image nothing,
Its name silence;
Follow it, it has no back,
Meet it, it has no face.

Attend the present to deal with the past;
Thus you grasp the continuity of the Way,
Which is its essence.

-LaoTze-

Selective Coloring

2009-09-06T22:34:00.003-04:00

The wife and I went on a city walk in Providence Rhode Island today and I was able to capture some shots that made for interesting Photoshop post production experiments. I used a lot of selective coloring in this series and was most proud of one result in particular. This manipulation took quite a while to complete but it was worth it - I think that the result makes the photo come alive and makes for some creative interpretation. The approach I used to create this effect was simple; I converted the image to monochrome and then used to the history brush tool to reinsert the colors where I wanted. I used extreme magnification to avoid "coloring" too far outside the lines.

The next example is use of selective color to draw attention to the subject of the image. In this case the guy sleeping on the park bench. Here I used B&W conversion on the image and selected the area around the subject to leave colored with a feathered effect that radiates from the center of the subject.

In this final example, I turned the sliders down on all the colors in Camera RAW except for the blue and aqua and voila! The sky and reflections in the windows remain colored while everything else is pretty much monochrome - there are a few areas where blue color cast can be seen around the fountain but for the most part this technique works!

Hypocrisy

When the Way is forgotten
Duty and justice appear;
Then knowledge and wisdom are born
Along with hypocrisy.

When harmonious relationships dissolve
Then respect and devotion arise;
When a nation falls to chaos
Then loyalty and patriotism are born.

-LaoTze-

Morning Coffee!

2009-09-05T15:04:00.000-04:00

This morning Vernell made me a double shot of espresso - yum! The foam in the cup was such a nice color I snapped these photos to share.

Coffee like wine, can stimulate many senses. Sight, taste, feel, smell and sound are all involved to one degree or another. But the stimulation doesn't end there - it wakes you up. Nothing like a strong espresso to get you going in the morning! Caffeine baby!

High Speed Flash Bee Photo

2009-09-01T19:04:00.001-04:00

I know that I have featured bees before but today I used a high speed flash to freeze the wings of this subject in flight. How fast do their wings move you ask - between 200 - 230 beats per second. That is fast! We apparently blink up to 5 times per second and the honey bee is doing that 40 times over with its wings! My flash was working with a shutter speed of 1/4000sec (50mm @ f/6.3) to catch this shot, which was the only usable shot out of about 30 that I took. Not only do honey bees beat their wings exceedingly fast but their flight pattern is very random making photographing them very challenging.

I like this shot because you can see the definition in the wings fully spread (click image to full view). What is my fascination with bees? None at all - there just happen to be around and are willing subjects for my camera. Actually, I have grown to appreciate them as an integral part of the circle of life. I have enjoyed three crops of plumbs this season and I am sure that the bees had something to do with that. Thanks little guys!

Community Service Day

2009-08-27T19:29:00.001-04:00

I have never ~~had~~ taken the opportunity to perform any kind of community service until today. I am both humbled by and thankful for the experience. We took a group of students from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to a local farm at the Dartmouth YMCA that is sponsored by local businesses, run by volunteers and donates its produce to local food pantries, food banks and soup kitchens.

Those of you who know me know that I am not the outdoors type and that gardening is on the bottom of my list right below a root canal but today you would have been proud of me for getting in there and doing some weeding, harvesting, washing etc for a good cause. It felt great - until my knees started to ache this afternoon from all of the squatting - it did and does feel good though that we were able to help out. The YMCA volunteer coordinator said that the weeding that we did in one hour would have taken her at least a week to do by herself. The fact that all of the food goes to worthy causes made our efforts that much more worthwhile and though I will be consuming some Advil tonight and headed to bed early, I am down to do it again next year with a few stipulations:

We get a great day like we had today - highs in the upper 70s with low humidity
We do not have to return to the office afterward - my God was I a mess
It is on a Friday so that I can sleep in on the following morning

Subtlety

The ancients did not seek to rule people with knowledge,
But to help them become natural.

It is difficult for knowledgeable people to become natural;
So to use law to control a nation weakens the nation,
But to use nature to control a nation strengthens the nation.

Understanding these two paths is understanding subtlety;
Subtlety runs deep, ranges wide,
Resolves confusion and preserves peace.

-LaoTze-

sAfEtY

2009-08-26T17:08:00.009-04:00

Oh, my creative juices are a bit dry! We have hit the really busy period at work, coupled with many changes in roles, expectations and leadership - the effect has been high stress and little motivation to do anything creative. That will come to an end today.

I shot this series a few days back but didn't feel the vibe to work on them until just now - the theme is safety. To me the theme is demonstrated by the care and protection afforded a child by a loving parent. For most of us this typically would be our mother. I can remember how safe and comforting my mother's arms would be whenever I felt threatened, sick or afraid. Those arms still offer me comfort today. When my parents visited this summer I remember how great it felt to get a big hug from my mum. For a moment everything was fine - even for a grown man that feeling of safety still exists.

This post and the accompanying pictures are dedicated to my mother and to all mothers out there for offering safety to troubled sons and daughters! Love ya bad!!

Of course I had to be an a$$ and throw in the dinosaur for good measure!

Soft Bones

Who is filled with harmony is like a newborn.
Wasps and snakes will not bite him;
Hawks and tigers will not claw him.

His bones are soft yet his grasp is sure,
For his flesh is supple;
His mind is innocent yet his body is virile,
For his vigor is plentiful;
His song is long-lasting yet his voice is sweet,
For his grace is perfect.

But knowing harmony creates abstraction,
And following abstraction creates ritual.
Exceeding nature creates calamity,
And controlling nature creates violence.

-LaoTze-

Beauty in B&W

2009-08-14T21:09:00.008-04:00

In photography, color can be of key importance in image presentation but B&W is king! I find B&W images, when done well, to be the most interesting mode of image presentation. I believe that only in B&W can you truly test the message of an image to the fullest. Now don't get me wrong, some images would never covey the right message in B&W but images that look better in B&W have power - power that is restricted by color. To me color holds a good B&W photo back. Those who can present great images in B&W are the photographers I want to emulate! Am I just blowing smoke - perhaps not! I find it hard to shoot in B&W because some images lack depth in this mode - to me this indicates that the color is just a distraction that obscures the truth about the image. B&W tells the truth, no distractions, no fluff, WYSIWYG with B&W!

I shot these photos of my beautiful wife Vernell as she relaxed in her favorite chair surfing the internet.

Calm

Gravity is the source of lightness,
Calm, the master of haste.

A lone traveler will journey all day, watching over his belongings;
Yet once safe in his bed he will lose them in sleep.

The captain of a great vessel will not act lightly or hastily.
Acting lightly, he loses sight of the world,
Acting hastily, he loses control of himself.

A captain can not treat his great ship as a small boat;
Rather than glitter like jade
He must stand like stone.

-LaoTze-

Estes Building - Plymouth Avenue, Fall River, MA

2009-08-12T20:02:00.005-04:00

This building's interesting architectural elements have appealed to me since I first saw it and I finally got out and shot it today. It reminds me a bit of the famous Morgan Stanley building in Times Square, New York that is located on 1572 -1598 Broadway. The Estes Building has a bit more character to me because of its location - Plymouth Avenue, Fall River, MA. The only information I was able to find regarding this building's history suggests that it was built in 1905 (granted I didn't look too hard).

View Full Screen!

"Trans P"

2009-08-11T21:19:00.005-04:00

After a very hot and miserable day in the office today (the A/c is broken and the summer temps have finally arrived) I got into my car and turned the thermostat to a comfortable 74 degrees F. The engine and A/c compressor obliged and in no time I was riding in style and comfort. In honor of my car's quick and reliable response to my need for cool air and not to mention its unwavering responsiveness to my spontaneity, I dedicate this post to my Trans P - my ride - my Subaru Legacy GT! Turbo charged, AWD, safe and reliable! Sweetness!!!

Dem Bones!

2009-08-09T16:53:00.015-04:00

After feeling like crap for the most part last week I was finally able to venture out of the house yesterday. Vernell and I went to do some shopping and ended up at Michael's Arts and Crafts. We were looking for t-shirt transfers and a few other items, but when I saw these guys I knew I had to have them. They were quite easy to assemble - I only broke one puzzle piece, which for an impatient person like me is a miracle. I used wood glue to hold the loose pieces in place and sprayed the finished pieces with matte finish. This morning they became props for a playful photo shoot. Here are the results:

In the midst of working on this post I have learned something new. How to embed a flash slide show of images. Heaven's be praised no more laborious uploading of individual images on every site. Hallelujah for technology!

Violence

Powerful men are well advised not to use violence,
For violence has a habit of returning;
Thorns and weeds grow wherever an army goes,
And lean years follow a great war.

A general is well advised
To achieve nothing more than his orders:
Not to take advantage of his victory.
Nor to glory, boast or pride himself;
To do what is dictated by necessity,
But not by choice.

For even the strongest force will weaken with time,
And then its violence will return, and kill it.

-LaoTze-

Flight of the Honey Bee!

2009-08-01T20:10:00.006-04:00

Today was yard work day at my house and what a beautiful day it was. The intense sun light completely wiped me out as I cut the lawn and trimmed the hedges around the house. While I was working I noticed these honey bees busily doing there part to keep my yard beautiful. Nuff respect little dudes! I know that there has been much debate regarding the effect of modern civilization on the proliferation of the honey bee. Specifically, there has been discussion about the effect of cellular communication on the honey bee with a noted decline in numbers of bees with the increase in use of cellular technology. Do your part to keep the honey bee busy - plant a flowering plant in your yard and encourage the honey bee to come around. That way we can hopefully keep them around and keep beautiful flowers in our environment.

Decay and Renewal

Empty the self completely;
Embrace perfect peace.
The world will rise and move;
Watch it return to rest.
All the flourishing things
Will return to their source.

This return is peaceful;
It is the flow of nature,
An eternal decay and renewal.
Accepting this brings enlightenment,
Ignoring this brings misery.

Who accepts nature's flow becomes all-cherishing;
Being all-cherishing he becomes impartial;
Being impartial he becomes magnanimous;
Being magnanimous he becomes natural;
Being natural he becomes one with the Way;
Being one with the Way he becomes immortal:
Though his body will decay, the Way will not.

-LaoTze-

Lord of the Wings!

2009-07-30T20:00:00.007-04:00

I went to Padanaram in Dartmouth, MA today with the intention of capturing some good marina shots. The wind was not in my favor and I had to settle for shots of some water fowl.

I found the seagull in flight to be a metaphor for freedom and inspirational - soaring to new heights. Now the other birds were a different story, so let's make one up.

First of all, the bird in front which appears to be larger than the others and of a different feather (we shall refer to him as the leader), is trying to convince the others of something. Come on in the water's fine - nah! Perhaps something more sinister. You see, they are looking out on to the water where there happens to be a marina and yachts docked. I postulate that the feathered leader was planning to commandeer a boat because he was too lazy or just plain tired of always having to swim in the water. He kept seeing humans having fun on the water without having to swim and he wanted in. Further, he figured that it would be safer for him and his pals if they were out of the water and out of the way of the boats. Unfortunately he needed to enlist the help of some followers and hence the speech. I caught him in the act of trying to amp up the ducks and convince them to join his cause. "Follow me - take back the waters! Death to Smoochy!"

They didn't seem too convinced but he was just getting warmed up. Perhaps there will be a yacht reported missing tomorrow in Padanaram.

Goin' Pro Nutz! Phase I - What can BROWN do for you?

2009-07-28T18:28:00.010-04:00

As an aspiring photographer I thought it wise to purchase a second camera and after much debate I finally settled on the Nikon D90. My Nikon D60 has been my life blood since I got it and has really built my loyalty to the brand so when it came time to make my second purchase there was no doubt that it would be a Nikon - which one was the issue. I strongly considered the D5000 but ultimately went with the D90 due to the better specs and the in body motor for Auto Focusing non-AF-S lenses.

D90 from Nikon

With my mind made up I went to my trusty amazon.com DSLR Store to seek out the best combination kit. After loading the cart with the most suitable options I finalized my choice and processed the order. Damn, that was costly but with my new investment on the way I felt inspired. The next day I received an email notification that my order had shipped - the scheduled delivery date was TODAY - 3 days later (order placed on Sat. - delivery scheduled for Tue.). This was exciting news until I noticed that the tracking information said signature required. Well, I am at work and the package is going to the house - I will not be able to sign. I get on the phone with UPS to see if they could hold the package at their shipping center, which is about 5 mins away from where I work. After a brief battle with the automated system I was finally able to speak to a living person who after consulting with the system, informed me that the package was out for delivery and that I would have to wait until the driver had made a first delivery attempt to try and have it held. Seemed logical so I waited. A few hours later, I decided to track the package again and saw that the driver had made an unsuccessful attempt at delivery. Called UPS again, fought with the auto bot system and finally spoke to a CS Specialist and made my request to have the package held. I was notified that the shipper had placed restrictions on the package that required UPS to deliver it to my home or to a designee at my address and to have it signed for. Further, they were required to make 2 more attempts before being obligated to return the package to the shipper - WTF!!! This made no sense - I will be at work I said over and over but to no avail. I was told that I could contact the shipper and have them lift the restrictions and then the package could be held. OK! Boy, for a company that only makes right turns as a part of its route for drivers to cut down on fuel consumption this particular aspect of the service seemed positively inefficient.

Dutifully, I found the number for the shipper, placed my call and vowed to get those stupid restrictions lifted so that I can get my package, save UPS from itself and win the day. No such luck - the shipper promptly blamed UPS for the restrictions, suggested that I call the local shipping center and hung up - WTF#@k!!!

Calming myself and finding the humor in all of this I called the local service center only to be immediately inform as before that the shipper's restrictions Blah, blah, blah!!! Sensing my frustration, the individual on the other end of the phone said, "could you hold on a sec?" - sure!

He comes back on the line and says "can you meet the driver at 653 Madison Street in 15 mins?" - Errrr, sure.... Where is that? "Do you have a GPS?" was the response. I do but its not in my car today. "The driver won't wait, so hurry"

I jump on to Mapquest and speedily find driving directions to the designated meeting spot. In my hurry I put in the directions from the destination to my current location - Duhh! I was rushed. The pages were barely out of the printer and I grabbed them and ran like the wind to my car - it was a brisk walk! I looked at the directions (which were backward) and struggled to figure out where I was headed (those of you who know me know that I have the worst sense of direction known to man and can see the irony in this situation). I broke every speed limit on the route as I made my way to the meeting point. I was quite proud of the fact that I was able to navigate the route backwards working out where a right became a left etc. But as I made my way down the street where I should be making my final right turn on to Madison Street and my now well deserved package I noticed with horror that there were absolutely no street signs on this street. I saw victory snatched from my grasp and shouted Noooooooo! As I drove hopelessly down the street. When I figured I had gone far enough I turn around feverishly searching for some one to ask for directions. Oh, a guy working on a bike in the street. I pull up right next to him - "excuse me, EXCUse me, EXCUSE ME!!!" I thought he was deaf. Finally he looked up - "Can you tell me where Madison Street is?" desperation in my voice.
"One street up - I think!"
"Thanks!"

I head up to the intersection and look right - nothing; I look left and there, in the distance, could it be? Yes, a brown truck - the UPS guys was still there! I race o meet him only to find him casually sitting under a tree reading a magazine. I rush out of the car and thank him, show my ID, sign the electronic thingy and get my package. I profusely thank the driver again for waiting and head back to work using the right directions. I look back in the rear-view mirror expecting to see the truck driving away only to see the driver return to his post under the tree with his magazine. Hey whatever, I got my package - D90 Babe!!! That's what Brown did for me!

UnMasked

2009-07-05T22:44:00.003-04:00

Unmask - to reveal the true character of; disclose; expose. It is time to expose our true selves; reveal our hidden character and live the lives we dream of. Are you stuck in a career or on a path that conflicts with who you truly are? Be brave - you are not alone. Many of us live servile existences because we lack the courage to take a risk and pursue happiness as opposed to fortune. No more; the cost is too great. The winds of change are upon us - walk to the precipice and fly...

Enlightenment

The enlightened possess understanding
So profound they can not be understood.
Because they cannot be understood
I can only describe their appearance:

Cautious as one crossing thin ice,
Undecided as one surrounded by danger,
Modest as one who is a guest,
Unbounded as melting ice,
Genuine as unshaped wood,
Broad as a valley,
Seamless as muddy water.

Who stills the water that the mud may settle,
Who seeks to stop that he may travel on,
Who desires less than may transpire,
Decays, but will not renew.

Sheldon Straker | SouthCoastToday.com

2009-06-30T11:14:00.001-04:00

Sheldon Straker | SouthCoastToday.com

Posted using ShareThis

Learning about light!

2009-06-28T20:36:00.007-04:00

Light - something that makes things visible or affords illumination: All colors depend on light.

I decided to do some self portraits today to improve my understanding of light, lighting and mood in photography. I had fun and moved one step closer to becoming a better photographer. These photos were taken by me, for me but I am happy to share them with you!

Lighting is key in photography, but nowhere is it more evident than in portraiture. I thought that it would be easy to shoot myself - boy was I wrong. I am satisfied with the results of the first try and am now more motivated to try again.

Mystery

An Artist's Evolution

2009-06-24T18:24:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since I have posted on my blog and a whole lot has happened. First of all, I entered and was accepted into a home design exhibit at a local gallery (Artworks!). I submitted 8 pieces which were all accepted and 4 were hung. The others are expected to rotate as the exhibit runs through July 17th. This was a tremendous accomplishment as I had never exhibited before and it felt great to have my work displayed along with more accomplished artists who work in various media - tapestry, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, woodwork etc. So far so good but I am really hoping that the exposure leads to some sales in the future and allows me to participate in more exhibits and grow as an artist.

I am now adding portraiture to my repertoire of photographic skills and have created a small studio in the basement - lights and back drop. Lighting is very intriguing and I look forward to exploring the creation of great portraits through the use of strategically positioned lighting.

Here are the pieces in the show -

Experience

Experience is a riverbed,
Its source hidden, forever flowing:
Its entrance, the root of the world,
The Way moves within it:
Draw upon it; it will not run dry.

-LaoTze-

Mi Familia!

2009-06-09T19:08:00.004-04:00

My parents came to visit yesterday (all the way from Barbados) and will be staying with us for a few weeks. It is great to see them and see that they are doing well. After the experience that we had this past weekend (see last post) I value this visit more than ever. First of all I get to share great meals with my parents and wife (my mum will cook Bajan food and does so very well). Today she made breadfruit and dolphin (the fish not the mammal) - delicious!!!

Seeing my family again reinforces my determination to see them more often and hopefully we will be able to make a trip to Barbados for Christmas this year... Here's hoping.

Neighbor

2009-06-07T19:11:00.006-04:00

Neighbor - a person who lives near another; a person who shows kindliness or helpfulness toward his or her fellow humans: to be a neighbor to someone in distress.

Last summer, after a long, exhaustive and invariably interesting search my wife and I closed on our first home and moved in. We were fortunate to be welcomed to the neighborhood by a friendly older lady from next door.

During the past year we have said hi to our friendly neighbor on many occasions and have had the opportunity to be helpful a few times.

Last night was different. It was around 9:30pm when we heard the door bell ring. A bit annoyed (we hardly ever get unexpected visitors) I proceeded to the door wondering "what now?". I was surprised to see our friend from next door standing on our porch sobbing. We invited her in and began to try and determine what was wrong and what we could do to help. Before I go on, I need to fill you in on a few things. Firstly, our neighbor is a widow - she lost her husband to cancer about 31/2 years ago after being with him from the age of 16 - I would say she was about 68 years old presently. Secondly, she is Portuguese and her English is very poor. Thirdly, my wife and I speak nothing but English. Finally, we never knew her name. In a whole year, we never took the time or had the opportunity to exchange names - good lord!

So, back to what happened... After a bit of probing, through her sobs she explained that she was missing her husband and was very lonely. She said that she had no companionship and really missed her husband. Of course this instantly broke our hearts and must have been particularly hard for my wife as her father passed away 5 years ago on 6/10 and her mother is all alone - in another country, no less. Our thoughts ran immediately to our families so many miles away from us and how we should appreciate them more and visit more often. As we continued to console our neighbor she said that she wished she could die - she admitted that she was on medication for depression and that tonight it didn't seem to be working. We asked her if she would like us to call someone for her - we knew that she had adult children, at least one of whom lived near by. She refused, saying it was ok. It seemed as though she thought that she was going to be a bother to them and didn't want to call. This was such a sad situation. We take so much for granted it is unbelievable. After sitting and talking for a while when she had composed herself she decided to go home - we offered her to stay as long as she wished but she said that she would go as the medication was beginning to make her feel sleepy (again all of this was based on our interpretation of her poor English so may not all be entirely accurate although I did feel like I was understanding most of what she was trying to convey). Before she left I made sure to ask her name and to provide her with ours. I walked her to her door and said good night. On my return, my wife and I promised to check in on her in the morning, which we did, and to invite her over and pay her a visit at least weekly, which we will do.

We get so busy and self absorbed that we miss the truly valuable moments and opportunities to have a positive impact on the lives of others. We also make bold assumptions about how people feel or how they are coping with life. I must say that last night was a valuable lesson that I will never forget. Being a good neighbor isn't about keeping up with the Joneses and the Smiths but about being there to offer a helping hand, a kind word, a pleasant smile.

In this fast paced, impersonal world, the challenge is to cease the opportunity to peak over the fence or cross the street and say hi to the people around you. You never know when you may have to knock on their door for help.

Complete

Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.

The sage places himself after and finds himself before,
Ignores his desire and finds himself content.

He is complete because he does not serve himself.

-LaoTze-

Freedom

2009-06-06T16:27:00.003-04:00

Philosophically, freedom is defined as "the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination".

On the 65th anniversary of D-Day I watched the leaders of the United States, Canada, France and Great Britain speak about the enormous sacrifice that the allied soldiers made to ensure that we would be able to exercise many of the freedoms we enjoy today.

To those brave soldiers I say thanks! Thanks for having the courage to do what was necessary; to continue to press forward even though you knew that the chance of even making it onto the beach was slim to none; for having the courage to overcome fear and the instinct for self preservation to carry out the mission. The brave men who stormed the beach at Normandy on that fateful day were superhuman. They were the sons of farmers, businessmen and the like from previously normal lives who rose to meet the call of their nations to fight for the cause of freedom. Let's remember their bravery and sacrifice with reverence and honor their spirits by acknowledging what they fought and died for; bask in the glory of sweet freedom and never, ever forget the cost.

I am free...

Self

Both praise and blame cause concern,
For they bring people hope and fear.
The object of hope and fear is the self -
For, without self, to whom may fortune and disaster occur?

Therefore,
Who distinguishes himself from the world may be given the world,
But who regards himself as the world may accept the world.

-LaoTze-

Power

2009-06-05T20:07:00.005-04:00

Power is defined as " the possession of control or command over others; authority; ascendancy: power over men's minds."

Do we surrender power to others because we are unable to realize that we can be the masters of our own destiny? Is it fear of failure; insecurity; lack of imagination or some other self imposed limitation that is the root? I say it is time to take the power back and resurrect our self confidence and conviction. To do this we must recognize that we have the power to shape our own destiny, future and ultimately the quality of our lives. If we leave it to others to decide we will never be happy. "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can save our lives..." - Bob Marley!

I am in the process of a mental emancipation and I feel great! Every day I feel better about myself, my life, my art, the world... I feel less vulnerable and more able to take on whatever this life has to throw at me. Bring it! The power of self is in effect -

The Way

The Way that can be experienced is not true;
The world that can be constructed is not true.
The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;
The world represents all that exists and may exist.

To experience without intention is to sense the world;
To experience with intention is to anticipate the world.
These two experiences are indistinguishable;
Their construction differs but their effect is the same.

Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way,
Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.

-LaoTze-

Sight & Vision

2009-05-31T21:57:00.004-04:00

Sight is defined as "the power or faculty of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes". Anyone with working eyes can see but do they have vision? Vision is defined as "the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be". As a creative person I credit vision with the results of the shot I take and convert into works of art. The ability to see the raw material of a photograph or shot to be taken and realize the potential is a product of vision. Creatives, follow your vision!

These photographs were taken at the naval and rail museums at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA. Yes, this is one of my favorite places to shoot!

Limitless

The Way is a limitless vessel;
Used by the self, it is not filled by the world;
It cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled;
Its depths are hidden, ubiquitous and eternal;
I don't know where it comes from;
It comes before nature.

-LaoTze-

I created something beautiful - now what?

2009-05-27T21:32:00.005-04:00

When an artist creates a piece of work and is pleased with it, naturally he/she feels as though buyers should be beating down the doors offering a great price for it! At least that is how I feel.

The challenge for me is not what to shoot or how to express it but rather, how do I get people who are in the market for art to see and ultimately to purchase my work! I am struggling with this challenge as I am sure many artists do - so what is the answer? Do I make prints, frame them and go door to looking for potential sales? Do I setup a table at the local convenience store and push my art there? Do I try unsolicited marketing like sending fliers or brochures to businesses? Arrrggg!! I am stuck.

Patience is a virtue with which I was not well endowed, so my need to see results forces me to find a marketing solution. I will troll the net and speak to any and everyone until the answer reveals itself...

Without Action

Not praising the worthy prevents contention,
Not esteeming the valuable prevents theft,
Not displaying the beautiful prevents desire.

In this manner the sage governs people:
Emptying their minds,
Filling their bellies,
Weakening their ambitions,
And strengthening their bones.

If people lack knowledge and desire
Then they can not act;
If no action is taken
Harmony remains.

-LaoTze-

Sheldon Straker PHOTOGRAPHY

Tranquility

2009-05-26T17:21:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, May 24th, while driving with my wife on our return from the Home Depot, I noticed that there were small sail boats and yachts in the water near Battleship Cove and thought "those could make for some interesting photos" and made a mental note to return with my gear. I woke up early (around 6am) yesterday morning (Monday May 25th), motivated and energized with the intention of capturing as many good shots in the early morning light as possible. Boy did I luck out. Not only were the vessels anchored, and the lighting great but the water was just glassy enough to produce the perfect effect.

Inspired by the chapter "Water" from the Dao De Jing:

Water

The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.

So the sage:
Lives within nature,
Thinks within the deep,
Gives within impartiality,
Speaks within trust,
Governs within order,
Crafts within ability,
Acts within opportunity.

He does not contend, and none contend against him.

-LaoTze-

Welcome!

2009-05-25T18:52:00.002-04:00

This is a Blog about the journey of an aspiring fine art photographer who is trying to improve his skills, market his work (which will result in sales - think positively), make people smile or feel something when they view his art and generally become a better human being!

My recent work has been inspired by the writings of LaoTze and hence the title! I have been reading various translations of the Dao De Jing and each one though slightly different, captures the same essential premise of simplicity and selflessness. I have started to create photo series that speak to a specific section of the text. The first series was inspired by Abstraction -

Abstraction

When beauty is abstracted
Then ugliness has been implied;
When good is abstracted
Then evil has been implied.

So alive and dead are abstracted from nature,
Difficult and easy abstracted from progress,
Long and short abstracted from contrast,
High and low abstracted from depth,
Song and speech abstracted from melody,
After and before abstracted from sequence.

The sage experiences without abstraction,
And accomplishes without action;
He accepts the ebb and flow of things,
Nurtures them, but does not own them,
And lives, but does not dwell.

-LaoTze-

See more in the Abandoned Gallery