End Of 2009

Holy Cross Cemetery New Years Eve 2009, Santa Cruz

Saying good bye to 2009
a good year of learning
of growing
of love

Truth
Willingness
Chemistry
Context

New experiences of each
holding them all looser than before
breathing room from right and wrong
this or that
here or there.

Preferences within frameworks
the essence of what is meant
more important than
driving the nail home

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May each of you create the perfect year . . . as if anything you create wouldn't be so ;)

Meeting

Seabright Beach Christmas Day

Meeting at times brings up differences
They always smooth out one way or another
There will always be another wave
To ask us what we want

Every Year

Calla Lillies, Rodeo Gulch Road

I've seen them every year
making their way up and through
Seemingly endless in their abundance
as if they'd last forever

As the season turns
they fade as all else
Life reminding me yet again
Breath in the moment
and share it.

Never Crashing the Same

Wave about to crash on Crow's Nest Beach

They never crash the same, wave after wave
I feel this in myself, pounding the shore
uniquely each time
gently, fiercely, easefully, clumsily,
powerfully, at times breaking apart
what once stood for generations
other times turned away by a young ones
sand wall built with a plastic shovel
Regardless I am still the Ocean
Regardless I am still the Shore
I play this game with myself
over and over
until I am
sand and water and air
again

Not Trying

I was out learning about light today. Went to the Felton Covered Bridge as the sun was setting. There were a number of young people there and as I began setting up my gear they started talking about being photographed, by the time I was set up they were all leaving. I shot the inside of the bridge until this young man came along. Originally in a huge hoodie carrying a pack. I shot a couple of him and showed them, he went wild, loved it. Took off his hoodie then his shirt. Telling me stories of wrestling, of growing up here in the valley, of girls all the while talking a very tough game but still open to listening. Talked of not trying, of letting it all go.

What I appreciate about this image is he finally let it all go for the most part. Soon after this shot he told me of his best friend dying in a car crash a couple of days ago. He said, "you know when you meet someone and you can feel that their is something special abou them, that they have something to share with the world, this guy was one of them and now he's gone." He began tearing up. I smiled and laughed with him through his tears. He's got a great heart.

Leading

We never know where it all leads
even when we 'think' we know

Some would say we're following old paths
I say each time a path is followed
a new route is created
a unique destination attained,
for a moment.

Look around
smell the air
take in the view
enjoy Being

Down the track again
creating the next amazing
yet to be imagined
destination.

You can walk down the Trail

I'm remembering the beauty of my world,
I'm remembering I'm creating and destroying,
I'm remembering again and again it's my choice
What I leave behind for the next generations.

When I forget I leave all of 'it' to others
Make up that it's all perfect (and it is)
And I make a difference with my choices
my actions, my words.

The trail is getting brighter
I love this planet of mine
that's the story I'm making up
this very moment.

What makes a place home

Knowing a tree, how it reaches out to say hello, to shelter from a storm, to afford a place to sit in comfort. Watching over the years as it seems to sit still until suddenly a limb breaks changing the the countenance completely. To walk upon a trail knowing an old friend is just around the corner with open boughs, happy or not to see you, to feel you. These things make a place a home.

Special thanks to Deborah for catching the spelling mistake, seemed like the tree may have needed a pair of depends :)

Railroad Trestle

I went up Henry Cowell State Park two days ago to photograph the railroad trestle. Hadn't been there in over 13 years even though it's just up the road and a 30 minute hike from the park entrance to get to. I loaded up lots of photo equipment into a photo backpack and had a great time.

I love trestles, bridges and the like. The idea of creating something to get a train over a river out of concrete and steel piques my masculine builder mind. I also appreciate the slow but steady decay that is happening to this trestle built in 1909. The rivets, rust and spikes are all beautiful to me.

As the light faded I set up my speedlights and clamped them onto the struts and shot a self portrait. What fun!


Here's a link to see more images from that day, click here. You can also click on either image.

Spider for Boomer

Just saw your spider pics and smiled. I've been photographing these Orb Spiders every once in a while and just did so a couple of nights back. This girl is wrapping up a 'mosquito eater' and then she goes back to finishing her moth appetizer.

Voracious.