Doors

Week 10

Doors

March 12, 2011

Sometimes doors are opened to us when we least expect them, and the trick is deciding whether or not to walk through. This door, located at Mission San Jose, was not open. It was locked. And we would have likely been arrested had we gone through. But this isn't the door I'm talking about....

The type of doors I'm talking about lead to changes in a job, a relationship, or some other significant life event or path. The opportunity, for better or for worse can beckon from the portal, but in the end, we make the decision based on where we feel we are in life at the time, and where we want to be.

Dreams, desires, and even loyalties can impact which doors we choose, and aren't in and of themselves negative things. What we have to be careful of, is that in the end, we are honest with ourselves about what these doors really lead to, and whether or not they align with the priorities in our lives. I suppose that's the tough part.


image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lense, 1/400sec @f2.8, ISO 400

Blue Jay

Week 9

Blue Jay
February 27, 2011

On a shoot at the beginning of last week, we were finishing up and heading back to the car when this image presented itself. It's a lone Blue Jay atop the yet-to bloom branches of a tree overlooking our shooting area. One of my subjects commented "it's like my Dad is looking out for us".  I presume his father has passed on, and seeing that we were shooting an engagement session, his comment was to imply that "Dad" was looking over the upcoming wedding in approval. How awesome is that?

Conversation on what happens to our loved ones after they leave us can and certainly would go in many different directions should that be the purpose of this post, which it's not. The imagery is powerful, however, whatever direction you take it, and while the details can be debated on the "if"s, "how"s and "why"s, I think it's undeniable that those we cherish do indeed live on, within us and in our memories. Whether you believe that is the only place they exist, or that they themselves can and do look out for you, or perhaps if you believe they are with One who does, it's comforting, reassuring, and somewhat humbling to consider.


Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 100 2.8L Macro lens, 1/100th sec @f 3.2, ISO 400

Lucky

Week 8

Lucky
February 24, 2011
    One day last week (well, the week before last now), I came across this barbed-wire enclosed field of horses grazing lazily as the sun began to set behind them. I liked the way the ranch-owner (presumably) had inserted some horseshoes into the the twisted barbed wire, almost as a decoration. Now I have no idea if this is common, or if this is in some what traditional, or actually has some usefulness, but the image intrigued me, and got me thinking about luck. (Horseshoe - Luck... come on, it's not that far of a leap.)

Then I thought, "why do we say 'good luck?'" Maybe it's easier than saying "may the events and forces of the universe coincide with what you want to happen." I can see that being cumbersome to say every time you wish someone well. It's also less stiff than "may you perform at your best to ensure victory", and less gloomy than "despite that fact that odds are pretty slim, I hope you succeed anyway."  

What is luck, anyway? The idea that things will occur that aren't lined up to occur is somewhat... well, foolish. Whether you believe in an intentional grand plan or some sort of chaos theory, things are going to happen the way they are tee-ed up to happen, right? Maybe, maybe not. I suppose we won't solve that riddle this week. But isn't perceived fortune more about how we process events, rather than the shape of events themselves anyway?

Maybe luck is serendipity, maybe it's providence, but luck is really a subjective thing. Lucky to one is unlucky to another. It all depends on how you choose to view things, right? And how we view our experiences is a decision, not something that happens to us. So maybe the phrase "making your own luck" isn't so oxymoronic. After all, if you control how you perceive experiences, then every experience can be lucky in some way or another. Ok, that's a stretch. But we do have the opportunity to shift how we view and process events such that something positive is gleaned. It's a choice we make dozens if not hundreds of times every day. Try it sometime. Maybe for a whole day. Force yourself to think about the potential positives that have or could come out of what you're experiencing, and be thankful. Joyful even.



image taken with Canon 5KMII, 24-105 4L lens, 1/1600 sec @ f4, ISO 400

Just Because

Week 7

Just Because
February 19, 2011

A couple of weeks ago, now, I was driving through my neighborhood, right past this flowering, (what I believe to be) cherry blossom tree. There are several right in a row along the drive just a few streets away from home, and I couldn't help myself but stop. With the car running and rain starting to sputter down, I took more than a few photographs, getting somewhat lost in different angles, and thanks to a macro lens I had on loan, some close up's of these striking blossoms. I'm fairly positive the few kids that had just pulled out of their driveway next to where I had my face literally stuck up in and amongst the branches of this tree thought I was some weird old dude, but I'm ok with that. I got some good shots, so it's worth a sideways glance or two.

Nothing more this week than an image I enjoy, and a few words on how I came to create it. Hope you enjoy!







Image taken with Canonn 5DMII, 100 2.8L Macro lens, 1/800 sec @f4, ISO 2000

Rorschach

Week 6

Rorschach

I captured this image standing in the middle of a redwood grove on a shoot last week in the Santa Cruz Mountains. For some reason as I reviewed this set of images from the day,  Rorschach came to mind. According to Wikipedia, the Rorschach test, administered by asking what the test subject sees when looking at a series of random ink-blot patterns is intended to analyze thought processes, personality characteristics or emotional functioning. I've always heard of it in connection with trying to see how someone perceives their world, or what currently preoccupies their thoughts. The abstract nature of the image above led to the association with the Rorschach test, but it wasn't long before I started to notice meaningful images and shapes. The longer I stared at it, the more complex the image became, infused with all kinds of references to current events, etc. that I'll spare you from, but even I was surprised.

I think with anything, both literally and conceptually, when we look at something long enough, different patterns and connections will emerge, something more than that which is represented at first glance. That item of scrutiny can be a picture, similar to the one above. It can be a work strategy, social or political topic, even a worldview. I believe we are built to deepen our understanding. We want to make sense of things that at first glance don't seem congruent with what we already think we know, and we want to verify that how we perceive things is indeed right-thinking. Whether you believe the results of these analyses are constructs based on predetermined thoughts or revelations as a result of the search itself is a topic for another conversation, I suppose. I do think, however, we are misguided not to engage in this type of analysis. To cruise through life without the opportunity to broaden and deepen our understanding of others, of ourselves, and of our higher power is a service to no-one.

Don't get me wrong. We can't walk around in an introspective fog, not moving forward with our lives and plans, afraid to take action because we haven't "thought about it long enough". We have to make the best decisions we can based on the current understandings we have. But to not be open to re-interpretation, fresh perspective, and indeed, correction, is to close the door to deeper understanding and wisdom. Who wants to do that?





image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/60 sec @ f8, ISO 400

Contrast

Week 5

Contrast

February 5, 2011

Sometimes looking at an image in stark contrast leaves an indelible impression, a more lasting and clear memory of what is being beheld. I'm no color or visual arts expert, but it seems that boldly contrasting colors, or contrast provided by light & dark (as with the image above) simplifies, lends clarity, and enhances the image. The components of the image that oppose one another also seem to give vibrance and attention to their opposite elements. The tree seems to point out the interesting cloud consistency in a manner it may not have if there were more color and detail in the hillside. Likewise, the boldness of the silhouetted tree and hilltop would not be as prominent if the sky were darker and less dynamic.

I think similarly, moments and aspects in our lives can be more vivid when viewed in relief against the events and circumstances in the lives of those near us, or in our own changing environments. Our appreciation of the small studio apartment we live in shifts when we are exposed to the corrugated metal and cardboard shanty shared by a family of 5 outside of Manila, Kampala, or Port au Prince. The 60 hour work week or underpaid position that we bemoan is mourned when lost and replaced with joblessness. The beauty of human relationships emerges with clarity when conspicuously absent through loss, and conversely grief is more poignant the greater we love and value what is no longer ours.

Diversity, breadth of experience and cultures... contrast... these things lend a richness to our human journey that I, for one, am thankful for. It's a richness and depth that is a gift, one I don't think we can be truly aware of until we experience it, and that is worthy of being sought after.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 70-200 2.8L lens, 1/1000sec @f11, ISO 400

Books

Week 4

Books
January 27, 2011

Last week I was hired to shoot a corporate event for a large Bay Area organization. Held at The Mountain Winery in the hills of Saratoga, the event was certainly at a beautiful location, and would be memorable if for that reason only. What stood out to me, though, and was refreshing to witness was the choice of activity for the night. Now I'm no stranger to team-building events, having been in the corporate world for over 10 years, but this was different. The company chose Impact 4 Good, a "socially conscious corporate teambuilding company" to be the central focus of the evening. There was no falling into each others' arms, no cheesy trust exercises for these seasoned executives (who have likely done hundreds of teambuilding events over the course of their careers.) Rather, this group of VPs and up played games. Cool games like tower-building with Jenga blocks and team-scrabble. They had trivia contests and book balancing races, where teams literally balanced books on their heads in slalom-like contests against their colleagues from around the world.

  Even more impressive than the unique activities they participated in, was the purpose of the night. These teams of professional men and women competed in these games to earn building materials; materials they they would use that night to put together bookshelves. These bookshelves would hold among others, the childrens' books that these executives contributed towards the philanthropy - a local school - benefiting from all of this effort.  

To me it was an interesting choice of philanthropies, literacy. I confess, it's not one that I think about very often, and yet one that has a huge impact on an individual's life... as well as the lives of the literate surrounding them. A few statistics* to think about:

• 50 percent of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth grade level. 
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• 20 percent of Americans are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level. 
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• 3 out of 4 people on welfare can't read.
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• 20 percent of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage. 
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• 3 out of 5 people in an American prison can't read.
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• 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems reading. 
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• Illiteracy has been proven to cause children to drop out of school. Dropouts cost our nation $240 billion in social service expenditures and lost tax revenues.  

*taken from Education-Portal.com


There are many worthy charities, and this isn't an endorsement of one over the other, but rather a positive statement about the impact individuals and organizations can have on their neighbors, on their local communities, and worldwide. This organization and these individuals chose to build needed bookshelves and contribute books to a local school, and I think that's pretty cool.

 

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 50mm 1.8 lens, 1/40 sec @ f1.8, ISO 640