Tree Trunk

Most artist will tell you that their ability to inspire themselves was the key to their success. Well I have plenty of inspiration but I’m lacking in “motivation”, which is preventing me from moving forward with those inspirations. I’ve little motivation lately. I hardly take the camera out for walks and when I do it’s for short walks. I could blame the cold but that will not suffice. Just not motivated.

Motivation can be activated in several ways. It can be caused by the influence of others, such as a shooting session with another photographer. Making a list of projects. Searching for new places for images. Shoot a different venue such as portraits rather than macros, or macro rather than portraits. Work on storytelling. Being invited to try a project such as Earl’s calendar. Or working new software for creating books such as Paul.

Something had to be done to get me moving. So, I decided to take a cold walk without my camera. I bundled up against he cold and took the treacherous walk as the melted snow was now turning to black ice. Without my camera I was seeing a lot of potential images. There was a lone Canadian goose just sitting on the ice, no other birds around him. It was so out of the ordinary I suspect the bird may be ill or wounded. The next thing to catch my attention were the cattails along the edge of the lake. The stalks are standing tall while in stark contrast their snow laden flat bladed leaves bend heavily downward. And then there were the rabbit tracks in the snow. They were telling of scampering feet looking for cover. Between the edge of the lake and sidewalk I discovered feathers that told of the demise of a bird. I wondered if death came from the powerful claws of a hawk or owl. This exercise was new to me, and it seemed to do the trick. What steps do you take for motivation?

The Paints Gone

We have a different hotel for our overnight in Kansas City. It’s not too far from the previous hotel and is just across the street from the Zona Rosa Mall, which has a pretty good BBQ place. On the back side of every hotel is an enclosed trash dumpster. Here is the gate for that enclosure. I knew you would want to see it. It looks used as the paint is wearing off.

Sunset at Prospect Ponds, Fort Collins, Colorado

“You’ve got a handful of years to do your work, don’t you dare waste those moments whining instead of creating something amazing.” David Duchemin

David was on a rant the other day which is where the above quote was taken from. Some rants will turn people away while some can be life changing moments. I enjoy his rants as they are not demanding of others but offer ideas where a quiet listener can receive enlightenment. It was one of those “Hmmmmm” moments for me, so please hear me out. I promise not to rant.

I want talk about the wasted moments not the whining. I’ve only been passionately shooting for the past ten years. Prior to that I shot to record family events such as birthdays and vacations. Some of those photographs actually were pretty good and of course some were throw a ways. Those good images prompted me to envision myself as a photographer. That vision fell to the wayside as I focused my attention on raising a family and pursuing a career in engineering. I have no regrets making those choices as I needed to be on that path, needing the family and the career.

But if I’m honest, I also listened to voices telling me I was not good enough or worse yet, I would never be good enough to make it as a photographer. I don’t believe I looked at photography as a creative outlet, either. I saw it as a career but for a select few. Nor, do I remember having a positive voice around me to offer support and encouragement. As an introvert I also did not share these dreams with very many but kept them inside. The world I accepted suggested I work for a corporation to make sure I had medical benefits, put in 40-50 hours a week, put away 10% in a 401k and take my 2-3 weeks vacation each year. Dwelling on missed moments will not bring them back, they’re of the past.

At this stage of my life I see it differently. I have learned of the gifts and talents I never suspected were a part of me and how to nurture them. And, . If nothing else I hope I can pass along encouragement for people to pursue their dreams, nurture their gifts, hone those skills and be creative.

So, before I watch my final sunset I still have the time to sharpen my gifts and talents, offering them to the world. I also hope to encourage others to pursue dreams or if they have none, seek out their own dreams. We don’t need to waste any more moments.

Standing Alone

“Don’t settle for hours in front of a large screen TV when you can have a larger life.” David Duchemin

Watching

Ever wonder what an animal is thinking as they make eye contact and stare? In this case I assume he is not thinking about the political debates, his taxes, his 401k, or who won the Super-bowl. His focus is on the world around him, which includes us. This world is where he finds shelter and food, the necessities of sustaining life. He is part of nature. He stares at me trying to determine if I’m a  predator or abserver, a danger or not. However, I do smile as it doesn’t look like he’s that worried about eating.

Ladora Lake

Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. John Muir

It was not a good day. They happen, ya know. Sometime in the morning I felt this restlessness rising within me. I lost my anger on a couple of trivial things, calling inanimate things names, as if they could hear and understand. My focus was all over the place. I walked into the kitchen for something and could not remember why I went there (still can’t). These are signals for me that my spirit and soul are in need of more time in nature. So, with a sunny and warm day I made my way to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. I knew a long walk was the needed therapy. I had just read a post by Dave Showalter whoincluded an image of one of the approximately 50 eagles that have been seen at the refuge. No eagles were spotted but it was just what I needed. John Muir looked to nature as a temple, a place where he encountered his Creator. So, I guess I needed to wash my spirit with a walk in nature.

The Little Tree

I spend way too much time on the computer. I wonder if I’m a blog addict ( notice the quiver in my voice). I think it all started when I joined a small community of photographers sharing their images on a site called pBase. I enjoyed seeing others images and enjoyed the feedback on my images. Loved those at-a-boys. I then started buying more equipment, spent more time in the field and making great plans for a career as a pro, bringing in the big bucks. I joined a couple more photo websites. Next came the world of blogging and the spiral began increasing. I started spending more time on the computer in my attempt to be a better photographer. That was all good but I could easily get lost in my computer, leave the present world of real relationships, working on projects, eating and sleeping. It is amazing how deep and dark that hole of cyber-space is. Two to three hours later I would find my way out, shaken, dazed and confused. The tea pot had boiled dry, the sun had gone down and I’d missed meeting up with Patricia. Could be why I’m still single. Anyway, here’s the little tree I’ve discovered.

Nature's Gifts

The morning this image was made I woke up late. The sun was shining through my window. I took a shower and dressed ready to start the day. I walked into the living room and noticed the sky was now cloudy and large snow flakes were falling. Making sure my windows were not dirty, I went back to the bedroom window and saw the same thing. I knew I shouldn’t have washed the car! Anyway, by noon the clouds broke and the light was magical. Grabbing the tripod I headed east to see natures art and get away from the city. What a gift it is!

As a side note: we’re getting a nice dose of winter this morning. It started snowing late last night and is expected to continue into tonight and tomorrow. Forecasting 5-10 inches along the front range. They cancelled my first flight this morning and now report this afternoon. It’s a morning for a cup of hot chocolate, another gift. Stay warm!

The Window

I enjoy traveling and recording far-away places and people with my camera. But I also find it wonderfully rewarding to see what I can discover outside my own window. You only need to study the scene with the eyes of a photographer. - Alfred Eisenstaedt

While visiting my parents a couple of weeks ago, we stopped by a friend of theirs to see a massive garage he was having built. I roamed around his home with my camera and did some scene studying. It feels to me that changing this to sepia tone also changes the tone of the story in image.

Bridge at Sunset

Earls post about the crossings cause me to remember this image I took back in December. It was taken out the window of my hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. I was drawn to the light and patterns. I like how other photographers, or events, can inspire us with ideas or in this case, trigger a memory. I had worked on the image but was not pleased with it so I did not post it until now. Thanks, Earl!