send them to me ... :-)

Heat and humidity getting you down? I've found a little "secret" to get one through till Autumn: I just refuse to complain :-). It works. And besides, I've 'promised'...

storm clouds not uncommon ...

This time of year has its downsides for sure: hot sticky weather, the need for constant AC inside, parked cars heat up everything left in them - just to name a few. But on the bright side, those grand cumulus clouds building up in the sky - laden with moisture - are, to me, a feast for the eye and one's imagination. Constantly moving, constantly building - they are the 'summer ballet' in nature's grandest outdoor theater... And, I count my blessings.

possibilities ... even on a hazy day

Though I think the haze that occasionally masks the horizon at the end of a hot summer day is unfortunate, this image (with framing added) seemed to speak to a lazy, hazy day befitting a little 'slow jazz' ...

looking beyond the surface ...

This is one of my favorites. Walking in the woods in Umstead Park nearby one fall day, I noticed that the filtered sun from the west was illuminating the bottom of a stream in the woods. At the same time, as I refocused my eyes on the reflections of the surrounding trees and glimpses of the sky that illuminated their intricate surface textures in the rippling flow of water in the stream. I wondered if my camera would be able to focus on both at the same time? After some experimentation and "preview", I managed to get this photo ... and I was very pleased. Not only did I 'see' what most would see as the obvious - that of the 'body' of the woods, stream, and reflections, but in addition I feel the photo captured the 'soul' of the stream - that of its 'bed' otherwise overwhelmed by the beauty of the 'obvious'. Since then, I find myself looking deeper - for the less obvious in most all of my photo exploration. In a way, it has somehow ... "set me free".

Jockeys Ridge ... quite unique

Even as a spectator .... Jockeys Ridge State Park has something for everyone ... always active ... always changing ... always amazing ...

some things are easier, given time ...

... like "seeing" things from others' points of view. When I was younger (considerably), I had my own view of virtually every situation, every "problem" the world faced ... In short, I was sure that I could 'fix' anything and knew most 'everything'.... 'Tis funny (or maybe not so funny) how the benefits of formal education, intuition, and youthfulness tend to subside with the passing of time... And then, as many years go by, is all slowly but surely replaced ... with wisdom and an increased understanding of one's own weaknesses ... You find yourself beginning to 'see' the world, not just from your own often-mistaken point of view, but from that of others'. It becomes an easy thing to do ... and infinitely more peaceful...

fascinated by textures ...

As I sit here tonight processing photos from a recent trip to the coast, I realize that a large number of my images from that trip resulted from my fascination with "texture". I'm not sure why that is the case, but I find that looking for texture and / or pattern in potential images is just a natural draw - particularly if the texture is one created or acted on by nature...

soaring at sunset ...

The sunsets along the harbor frontage (Battery Park) in Charleston offer those with a camera frequent opportunities to "catch" images that are memorable. There the unique sounds and sights are diverse and numerable ... and always worth the visit. This photo was taken during a visit with family in December of 2003.

ever present "to do" lists ... ??

I have spent the last few days catching up on routine 'stuff' around my place, cleaning, fixing, filing, checking things off my ever growing "to-do list". The "faux dilemma" I (we all) have is knowing that when someday we pass, it will be with an incomplete "to do" list :-). But ... I have 'learned' to worry not about such things ... My friends and family are confounded often at my 'amusement' when asked how I am coming along with my list of "to-do" items. I have to smile and recall that I've placed such lists in my will, and express confidence that I know they will then be in "good hands" :-). But, for now, I'm having too much enjoyment in life to worry about such trivialities. My son (for one), as a result, has learned how to laugh with me.... And, that is such a good thing. Had I only learned much sooner! .... :-). I won't complain, though ... because I HAVE learned, and each day, each sunset, each smile I see on a friend's or grandchild's face, each year, each decade - is such a sweet and magnificent "bonus"...

day's end can surprise ...

Not always, but sometimes a cloudy day sunset can surprise. If your camera is handy, you might catch the sun in a parting glance through a break in the clouds on western horizons of the sounds along the North Carolina coast. This one at Duck, I had just about given up on when the sun came through and cast a spell on the calming expanse of Currituck Sound...

shadows on the sky ...

One of the neat things that one finds in Duck, NC is the presence of quite a few Osprey both in the air and on the nest. Along the Currituck Sound there are numerous man-made nesting towers to which the usually very shy Osprey have taken. This time of year, it is quite special to see these nests "occupied", and to see the flights of the parents as they gather food for their young.