Out of Focus

Week 26

Out of Focus

June 26, 2011

If you look at it for more than a glance, your eyes want to continually scan the image trying to bring it into focus. No matter how much you stare at this.. I promise it won't be sharp. It's not supposed to be. :)

Our minds seem to be built to want to make sense of things. To put things into categories that fit the perspectives we hold, knowledge we have and context we live in. I believe that sometimes things just don't make sense, and maybe they're not supposed to. Or perhaps they do make some sort of cosmic sense that we're not privy too. That sounds more likely to me....

See, while I believe we are built to discern and seek out the answers to things, I also believe we are built to not understand some things. Not that we should cease to try, but rather that just as much as clarity and truth should always be a part of our lives, so should mystery. It's harder to accept sometimes but I think it's an important and very real part of our existence. If we embrace this just as we do understanding... if we allow for the unknown, I believe it leads to more peace in our hearts, and a more forgiving and gracious existence among those that are outside of the perspectives and context we use to categorize our lives.

Under the Stars

Week 25

Under the Stars

June 22

My family has a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. As a kid, I grew up spending time each year at this cabin, and I have some great memories that come from it. One of my favorite memories, or collection of memories as it were, was of climbing the "steep way" out of our little hollow and up into a meadow that occasionally held my grandfather's cornfield. We would hike up there after the sun had set and lay in the grass looking up at the stars. Stars, mind you that many people that don't grow up in the country don't get the privilege of seeing. So many stars you found it hard to believe you were looking at the same sky that existed over our suburban Virginia home and the light pollution that comes along with living amongst all those homes, buildings, and streetlights.

I don't get back to the cabin nearly as often as I'd like, but I do like to get out and under the stars when I can. The image above is from a recent backpacking trip into Henry Coe State Park, one of the largest in CA, and a great place to retreat. You are looking at my tent, nestled in amongst a rock outcropping, happily watching the stars move across the night sky. It's places like this, away from the lights of the city that I get to glimpse again the magnificent fields of stars that I used to love as a kid... and turns out, still do.


Image taken with Canon 60D, 18-135 lens, 237 sec, @f8, ISO 100

 

Shade of a Tree

Week 24

Shade of a Tree

June 18, 2011

Some people seem to go through life at one speed: GO. Not that I begrudge anyone their productivity, mind you. I think productivity is fantastic. I do think that once in a while, it's good to find a shady tree and just sit under it. You know, take a time out. Not to see how many of the day's tasks you can walk through in your head, not to fret over that tricky family issue you have going on, and not to plan revenge on that coworker that did you wrong. Not to do any of the multi-tasking,work-load-sustaining, performance-enhancing, better-do-so-I-have-an-edge-over-the-competition stuff that you can do once you leave that shady tree. Rather, just sit. Sit and think about how nice it is to be right where you are. Sit and be thankful for a moment at the chance to remove yourself from all those worries, even if it is only a moment.

  It can be an actual shady tree like the one above, but it doesn't have to be (and I don't recommend this particular tree as it is in the path of many-a-wayward approach shot). Whatever similar, secluded and relaxing place that you can escape to will do just fine. It doesn't have to be a long stay either, a few minutes usually does the trick, and will leave you a little bit refreshed, a little bit better prepared to take on life, and most likely, a lot nicer to be around :). 

Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 50mm 1.8 lens, 1/8000 sec @f2.8,  ISO 400

History

Week 23

History

June 7, 2011

I was recently on assignment for Content Magazine covering an article being written about the San Jose Fire Museum. As the Content's writer performed her interview of the current president of the museum following a tour of the museum, I was given carte-blanche to wonder through the museum and photograph the equipment, trucks & engines as I pleased. The image above is from my time in and amongst these pieces of history.

As I wandered through the municipal warehouse that currently serves as the museum's facility, I was struck by the sheer volume of history represented by well over 100 year's worth of fire-squelching equipment. From engines to pumps to trucks and buggies, the history of firefighting is fascinating, and I'd venture to say under-appreciated as well. Before getting this assignment, frankly I had no idea there was a fire-museum. Tucked away on city-property behind rows of warehouses, and inaccessible by car, it's no wonder, and I can understand why they want to move, and hope they get the chance to.

I suppose a lot of history that way. Under-appreciated, that is. Most non-history buffs out there, when they think of the word "history", conjure images of thick, dusty, sleep-inducing textbooks and immediately want to engage in something else, anything else but history. Admittedly, growing up I was certainly guilty of that to a certain extent myself. The reality, though, is that history is a collection of incredible human stories. Stories of adventure, discovery and passion, ingenuity and triumph, as well as of cautionary tales we are best served by remembering. Just like our world today, facts and figures can be interesting, and are no doubt important, but are peripheral. The real meat of life is in the human spirit and our part in a much greater story. I believe we can learn to appreciate that more when we engage in the stories from our past. Maybe that's the history of our nation or people, but it can also be the history of our own families and communities, as well as those peoples and communities least like our own. 

Go check out a museum. Grab a book, or even better, talk to somebody that's been around the block a time or two and ask some questions. I'd venture to guess you'll be surprised at how intriguing it can be.

Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/160 sec at f2.8, ISO 1250

Individuality

Week 22

Individuality

June 4, 2011

Yep, it's another wedding pic. Can't help it...lots of weddings going on, and frankly, this was a great image. Scanning through my work from the week to pick the 22nd entry into 52,  I came across this photograph. I'm no aficionado on women's shoes. Not by any stretch. But dang, these are cool, and I immediately thought about the idea of individuality.

I believe we are all created as individuals, after the same pattern. We have many of the same drives, ultimately the same needs, and frequently the same kinds of reactions to life events. I also believe that part of that pattern itself is individuality, and that we have the need and desire to express that in our day to day lives. Sometimes we do it in a way that attempts to drown out the expressions of other individuals around us. Sometimes we do it as a unique contribution to a chorus of individuality. I always prefer the latter, and too often do the former, but that's true of all of us isn't it?

Go out and celebrate what makes you unique!




Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/25 sec @f2.8, ISO 3200

Bouquet

Week 21

Bouquet

May 22, 2011

It feels like it's been a while since I included an image from the weddings I am privileged to photograph. This one, as you can see is of one of the most anticipated moments during the reception... the bouquet toss. I love seeing this tradition play out, and it's always interesting to see how those single ladies, (some eager - some coerced) going on that dance floor and waiting for fate to drop that sign of future matrimony into their hands, will react. Some stand there out of obligation. Others jump at the chance, literally, to jockey for the best position and use every ounce of athleticism they possess to capture the prize.

The tradition is fun, and though not one I take much stock in for it's ability to predict or influence a girls chance at marriage any sooner than otherwise would come their way, is simply part of the celebration of the new bride and groom, and a way of enjoying the friendships that surround the marriage.

What it makes me think about is our desire for connection. Marriage, that symbol and act of committing to one another in a forever partnership is a manifestation of that desire, and I'd say need, for relationship. Whether your views on it are faith based or purely secular, its hard to deny the deep longing that humans have for companionship. It's a need for someone that can be trusted with the darkest secrets, the silliest ideas, the toughest challenges and the evolving passions we have as we go through life.

So here's to celebrating that pursuit... may you catch a bouquet (or garter) when you have the chance :).

Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/500 sec @f2.8, ISO 400

Beautiful Day

Week 20

Beautiful Day
May 21, 2011
 

Yep. That's a big dumpster. With just the beginnings of what eventually would jam-pack this giant trash can many times over throughout the day. This, a result of hundreds of volunteers spending their weekend serving a challenged neighborhood in our proverbial backyard, was part of a greater effort called Beautiful Day.

I sat down with Jon Talbert, Executive Director of Beautiful Day, and wanted to share some of what he believes makes Beautiful Day unique and important, and how it impacts lives in the Bay Area and across the country. A new approach for 52Photos, I've included excerpts from our conversation about this thing called Beautiful Day. Enjoy.

dg
 "How would you describe Beautiful Day?"

jt 

 "Beautiful Day started as an idea to immerse people in the concepts of compassion and justice, serving humanity with the resources that we have. It's turned into an enormous collaborative that is led by the faith-based community, and engaged through other entities in business, government, education, heath-care, media,  and entertainment to respond to the needs of the surrounding community. It's a concept to immerse people into the idea of compassion. The strength of it is collaboration, and the beauty of it is the creativity and innovation. We want to tailor make ideas, in response to specific needs and often times you need to collaborate to make that happen."

dg
Clearly, collaboration is a big part of BD. How did you move into that scenario instead of just a faith based service project.


jt
 "I think historically the faith based community has attempted to be the answer to everything, and we're recognizing that they are one channel of culture within the community of many different channels. Ironically, though, the faith community has this very influential role, because it interweaves into all the other sectors if its done correctly. We can do everything we do now, and just do it within the faith based community, and make it very exclusive. But that falls back into the stereotypes of a church that has isolated itself from community and says 'come and see and we'll give you the answers' vs. 'we're gonna go and work together to provide a solution.' The church becomes more validated for it's existence to the general populace when it stands alongside the issues of the city with people that aren't of faith and says 'this is our city too, and these are our problems, and we stand alongside you'.  When you stand off to the side and don't engage people, you confirm the stereotypes that already exist out there."

dg

Which are?

jt

"Ignorant. Biased. Prejudiced. Money Hungry. Better than Everyone. The truth is we are just one piece of culture. We feel like we have some spiritual guidance and influence and teachings that are valuable to peoples lives and we embrace that, based on our holy texts, our scriptures that we teach and hold to be true. The teachings of Jesus that center on compassion and justice and love and service... to teach those things and not actually live them, confirms hypocrisy in the church. The church is notorious as hypoctrites in the community because we've said and haven't done. We'd like to reverse that."

We went on to discuss some of Jon's favorite memories from Beautiful Day this year, including a young parapalegic boy getting a chance to dance, a PR-producing homeless man, and an unexpected reunion of long-lost neighbors, all through a gigantic combination of many small steps of service by hundreds of people who care about their city, and the people in it.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/2000 sec @ f2.8 , ISO 100