... and a joyous New Year

This time of year has its ups and downs for so many, but the fact that a new year is coming always gives me hope that, perhaps, the new year will give all disappointed souls a new slate upon which they may carve their successes and their legacies...

"So ... this is Christmas" ...

I don't have to look all over the world to find loneliness and despair. Along with happiness, there is also loneliness and desperation all around us. I can't justify closing my eyes to it. So many unfortunate folks are looking for anything to feel "safe", and are seeking shelter wherever they can find it. With all the cutbacks over the last year in mental health, it is bound to just get worse - until some sanity is returned to the legislature and governing bodies. Except for the very wealthy, everyone else seems struggling in one way or the other to make ends meet, physically, financially, and mentally - and, mental health systems have become a major victim. We're now at "war" with a figure of speech, people's minds, and religious teachings. One could say it's not a very good time for the country or the world ...

And yet thankfully, we still feel ... "Christmas". While we hopefully celebrate the joy of Christmas in some way, we still get lonely, still have compassion for old friends, family, and those who are struggling or suffering. But, those feelings too are a good thing - a saving grace for the human race. It means that we have not lost our compassion or capacity to love and to "forgive". Along with the "foundation" of Christmas, it is also a kind of "peace" ... that we all need in some way, regardless of our faith.

"So this is Christmas" (a great song) comes to mind .... and there is hope: for 2007 and beyond - many happy new years - "without any fear" ... and there is "hope"... always. It is there - somewhere within us all. That, I "believe".

... don't have to travel far

I find (more so as time passes) that you don't have to travel far ... to
really "see" the "world"... It is infinitely within us, all around
us, great and small, and without price or lavishness. The true
"beauty" in this world is "free" to the seeker. I think it has
always been so, just not always "visible" to those who may have
become "distracted". And, from time to time - we are all distracted,
because we are ... so very human. If somehow we never "knew" pain,
struggle, doubt, fear, sorrow, worry, empathy, and sacrifice - then
we couldn't ever know or be content with "peace" as it holds our hand
and takes its place at our side.... Such, I believe, is the pursuit of
happiness in our lives, and such then ... is our legacy.

Cut's like a knife ...

I went to see "Bobby" at the late show - had
my own private showing (only one there :-)... For some crazy reason
- I like having the entire theater to myself. I'll have to say that
that movie was so well done - it took me back to that era, and I
relived every raw emotion of that historic time in our nations'
history. It was so real to me - and raw emotionally. I felt it all
over again. It was loaded with stars - all of whom worked the movie
without compensation of any kind. And, the music was great - all of
it matched to the time and feelings of the movie. I remember that
time so well... I feel as if I was a part of it all - amazing! The
movie ought to be declared a "national treasure".

I downloaded a few of the songs from the movie (iTunes)... I'm
really accumulating quite a personally tailored music library. I
also backed up my entire itunes library to a DVD disk as a precaution
(only took about 10 minutes) - thought it would be a good idea.

One of my favorites from the movie: "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever
Afternoon)" - Moody Blues, and "Season of the Witch" - Donovan. Then
found some more of my old favorites: "Knights in White Satin" -
Moody Blues, and "Yellow River" by Christie.... Later ...

No longer center stage ...

... are the leaves of autumn. Getting into December soon means that the vibrant colors of autumn will be but memories to me for at least another year. But that said, I am happy that the leaves were at their peak and I had ample opportunities to capture their glory ... this year. Each season is filled with surprises and discoveries, and I hope to be 'ready' :-) ... for many more.

Winds of change ...

... are upon us ... Will the "left" once again be "right"?

Late colors ...

of the season are evident. With fall limited now to mostly walks near home, I still find alot of pleasure in doing just that - and capturing the leaves that have fallen already and a few just about to fall. We're certainly now past the height of the seasonal colors, but they still change ... and reveal slightly more subdued tones as they meld into a carpet of leaves - getting ready to insulate the ground somewhat from winter's coldest. But really, its good to be alive and able - no matter the time of year. It's funny how I seem to appreciate that so much more these days ...

There are lessons ... in nature.

I guess as far as the election results go, my emotions right now are
similar, in some ways, to the same emotions I have when I see new
buds on a tree in the spring coming from an old tree that appeared to
have died in the previous season. That "new bud" on what was thought
to be a dying tree is very encouraging to me, of course. However ...
I'm old enough to know now that "that tree" is still struggling to
overcome it's past infestations of "parasites" eating away at roots
in the ground on which it stands. I can not know or determine
whether that old tree, with the surprising and unexpected "new buds",
will sustain new growth or not. I can but hope the best ... for that
old tree - and for all the new trees that are spawned each year -
which bring, and have brought, beauty to our lives throughout the
seasons. For those who now expect all trees to flourish, they will
be disappointed and rebuked. As in nature, it simply can not be.
But, there is still hope. I believe there is always hope ... for the
future - within and without us. And, I believe it never "sinks", but
rather "floats"... It always floats, as does our spirit and our
faith.

Being creative is sometimes ...

... an experiment. I got a lot of nice comments on this image. It was achieved on Skyline Drive, VA by intentionally blurring the image with camera setting - f/22 exposure and moving the camera during the last part of the open shutter. Then adding watercolor and poster edge filters while processing. I love experimentation. Sometimes ... it creates a nice surprise...

Infinite detail ...

... like most things in nature is simply infinite, because of the phenomenon: "the closer you look, the more you see" :-).

Sky portals ...

... to me are awing views one comes across while riding down the mountain parkways and byways. It is a "pause" that refreshes...

New York - rural ...

... is surprisingly scenic - especially within a few miles of Ithaca, where goldenrod glows in the fields...

Waking the soul ...

... of the rivers and streams surely must result when they reach the precipice and plunge to the levels below. It's almost more amazing to process the photos later and find the detail that rumbled by me as I stood close - to capture the moment. I think it's more than luck that I have found a way to "seize the day" with my camera... Even though I can remember standing there and the grandeur of the falls near Ithaca, NY, I'm sure I could not recall the magnificent "detail" of the experience without the trusty "shutterbox" and the world of digital photography.... It's funny, but when I'm reviewing these photos - I swear I can "hear" the roar of the "falling waters" ... And, it wakes my soul as well.

an oft hidden touch ...

... of sunlight deep in the autumn woods reveals the secrets of beauty, color, and nature's wonder. It's not that one may not be looking for this phenomenon. Rather, the question should be ... are you prepared to "see" it? What a shame it would be ... if we were not "prepared" for the rewards of autumn - in our lives ...

... the right timing

... was apparent on Wednesday (10/18/06) to catch the peak colors and clear skies at Hanging Rock State Park (near Pilot Mountain and Mt. Airy, NC). Waters in the high elevation lake were crystal clear, and the colors were vibrant! Didn't get up to the "rock" yet - maybe I'll go back again ... soon.

"tall falls" ...

..., are Taughannock Falls (near Ithaca, NY). In this photo, the folks (in the lower right corner) are about 150' in front of me. The "falls" are about 250' beyond them.... I doubt that I'd want to stand at that overlook after a drenching / flooding rainfall... The falls "fall" 215 feet straight down from the crest to the basin - a magnificent sight!

Mountain intimacies ...

... come to mind as you climb (or descend) the steep indigenous trails and steps along the cliffs formed by nature over countless years and the wonderful, close-up and touchable, plants and rock surfaces near Lucifer Falls in Robert Treman State Park (close to Ithaca, NY). If you go during the week as I did, you may find that you have the park pretty much to yourself. To me, there is no better way to explore. There are some risks of course, but the experience places you in touch with yourself ... Rather than feeling isolated, it is times like these ... that I feel "whole" and at peace - with a heightened appreciation for the 'grace' ... that set me free.

The nostalgia ...

... of the folks who live along the eastern shores of Lake Erie is 'charming' to say the least. I stopped by this little town (Barcelona Harbor at Westfield, NY) on the way back. There were some of the older residents picking 'Concord" grapes from the vines just in front of this old ship (where I stood to take this photo). An obviously life long resident told me a bit of the ship's history. It 'sank' in Buffalo harbor many years ago and had been 'salvaged' from there, brought down to Westfield, and was in the slow process of being 'restored' ... to someday set sail again. He said it was very time consuming, but he hoped to have enough time left to finish it before he "departed" this world to "sail other seas". He must have been close to ninety years old, yet still agile and in possession of his dreams. The folks who live along this stretch of beautiful shoreline seem to "live at a slower pace". And, I like that ...

Elephants ...

This "article" and artful commentary (Charles Siebert) was published recently (NY Times). It is particularly close to those of us with a "history" of associations in one way or another - with animals, both captive and in the "wild".... It is a good read, thought provoking, both personal and global, and represents a challenge to us all - that is every bit as important as any "human" issue we have ever faced - it is a challenge to our abilities in empathy, compassion, reverence, and understanding. It is part of the "battle" ... for our souls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08elephant.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087 &em&en=17a965f053ff1803&ex=1160625600

One of the seven wonders ... and,

I think, of the many photos captured on my recent roadtrip, this one captures, better than any, the tremendous power, expanse, and scale of this major 'wonder of the world'... 'Click' on the photo for a larger version. Look in the lower left corner for four people wearing rainsuits, and in the river for one of the 'maid of the mist' tourist ships carrying about 150 people out to 'horseshoe' falls, and at the huge clouds of mist from the falls that shows why they wear raincoats on those boats. The only thing missing is the 'roar' of the falls that is almost deafening as I stood there taking this photo :-). The falls are unforgettable. There is 45 million gallons/minute of water flowing over the two sections of Niagara falls (American and Canadian sides)... Nothing else like it in America (or the world - really). Well worth the trip to see it!

Above "Lucifer" ...

from high on the canyon rim trail, I took this shot of Lucifer Falls within the Robert Treman State Park near Ithaca, NY. The sun bathes the upper falls and tree abundant canyon cliffs to offer great glimpses to the falls and openings to the dark and narrow basin below... Got caught in a rain shower on my return (ascent) from the basin, and for a half hour or so - I tucked myself under a cliff ledge to keep my camera dry ... Still a great hike and fascinating "adventure" ...

Lucifer's Falls ...

... so named (I believe) for the absence of direct sunlight at the base of the 150 foot falls within a narrow, twisting gorge. Had to shoot this with wide open aperture on a monopod. Shutter speed was slow and resulted in slght blur - hence the application of wc filter to gain some abstract contrast/sharpness. There are a series of 212 steep steps down from the canyon rim trail to enable those who wish to descend to the base of the falls (where this image was taken).... And of course, there are the same steps by which to return :-) - tougher on the "old knees" (still "kicking" after all these years :-) ...

One of the tallest ...

... falls east of the Rockies is this beauty, Taughannock Falls near Cayuga Lake and Ithaca, NY. Hiking the gorge trail (which is fairly level from the parking area on State Highway 89) is about 1.5 miles round trip. The reward is worth "ten" :-) The falls drop 215 feet vertically from crest to basin.

Ithaca ...

... has a lot of neat 'contrasts'. Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, it is a "college town" nestled at the southern end of Cayuga Lake in mountainous terrain of the "Finger Lakes" region of New York State. A short drive to a number of State Parks where one can hike, explore, and find up to 150 waterfalls in several canyon gorges. Trails into the gorges or along canyon rims reveals striking natural beauty. Rain had been forecast for most of the time spent there, but in reality the weather was very pleasant with only one or two very brief showers. Overall - a nice trip! Lots of photos to process :-)

A multitude ...

... of both small and large gorges with trails (both canyon rims and lower gorges) and with many (over 150 different) waterfalls can be found by exploring the area around Ithaca, NY. This one (pictured) can be accessed easily (and is one that invites the use of one's camera). I had no idea that the 'Finger Lakes Region' was such a bountiful destination - especially for those who like to explore ...

To live again ... another summer,

... to visit each and every friend, every quiet place, every "holy sanctum" far from the maddening crowds, on mountainous hilltops above the fray, in cool breezes on summer evenings, beside both still and falling waters, to walk along deserted beaches with endless horizons ... ah yes - always endless horizons - always in some form or way to be ... to give ... to forgive ... to share ... in spirit and in mind ... to love, always to love, to see and be one with the beauty of the earth ... this, I wish and pray for all of us, and those to come .... With soft and gentle footsteps we proceed to each 'tomorrow' ... with care.

Shenandoah solitude ...

... is felt when one scans the many wonderful views from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park- first "side trip" on my latest roadtrip (to Finger Lakes region - NY). This one was taken on the "last" calendar day of summer...

Falling waters ...

... are probably best exemplified by Niagara Falls in the US, and are the largest by far of the many "falls" I visited. Well, I'm back from that ten day road trip, and yes - I have a load of photographs to 'process' / edit and post. Was tired, when I got back last night, having completed a road trip of over nineteen hundred miles, and I'd have to say that I'm sure I walked/hiked way over twenty-five miles in and along the way (with camera - of course) ... through Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York State - never traveling the same road twice. The trip produced over five gigabytes of digital images that will keep me busy for quite a while. 'Twas a nice trip though, with weather much better than the forecast had been. Soooo ..., now that I'm back, and in addition to photo processing, I'll try to catch up on email, etc. and chores around here as soon as I can. More later ...

Florida's "power & light" ...

... provides electricity to most of the state. Their clients include a vast number of 'paying' customers and then, of course, some who don't ... :-)

taking the coastal "high" way ...

... from NC to FLA in the spring of 2004, I traveled the byways of #17 and #1 through "just inland" coastal waters, marshes, swamps, and 'low country' in NC, SC, GA, and northern Florida - taking my time, stopping where I might, wandering, and wondering .... a trip through distant 'past' to 'roots' that were planted there ... in the mind. The days flowed by, the visions: they were 'captured', and the skies that were cloudy ... became clear, if only to me.

You never know ...

... when you might find yourself in church ... Know what I mean?

drifting ...

... into the mystic. I find photography and 'photoshop' the perfect tools for creative dreaming ...

shipwrecked ...

... , which reminds me that my brother's birthday is next week. I need to call him. We haven't seen each other much these days.
This photo was taken on a visit there a couple of years ago ... a previous visit.

test for signs of life ...

... later, maybe. But for now, I'm still driven by curiosity and knowing what's at the ... end of every untraveled road. That curiosity and the effort required keeps me feeling very much 'alive' ... :-)