Photo:Engage

  “ There are almost too many possibilities. Photography is in direct proportion with our time: multiple, faster, instant. Because it is so easy, it will be more difficult. ”  - Ernst Haas     As November comes to a close, I reflect on how much this month means in my life. At the start, it's the anniversary of my marriage to my wonderful wife, and at the end, it the month of her glorious birth. And in between is the Thanksgiving holiday, when my thoughts most revolve around the idea of my wife, without whom my life would be altogether poorer. I am grateful she married me and adore her for her loving care of our children. She is a fantastic spouse, a saintly mother, and an excellent person, full of kindness and sharing spirit. November truly is the month of my life. As I wrote in my post from November 26, 2022... “The rains they did replenish springs, And it gratitude to each heart brings, When we reflect on bounteous season, For grateful feelings all have reason.” - ...

  “ If you are truly successful at capturing the pulse of life, then you can speak of a good photograph. ”  - René Burri     If you've never attended a military funeral before, or perhaps have only seen it acted in a movie, then you may find my description below interesting. But it's about much more than the ceremony, important as that is. What is paramount is the life and memory of the veteran being honored and celebrated, and the respect and gratitude directed towards their family by those attending. I'm grateful to have served with such brothers and sisters. As I wrote in my post on November 12, 2022...      When you arrive, you realize more people came to pay respects than you thought would be able to on a Wednesday afternoon, but then you remembered the incredibly gracious way the man you’ve come to remember and celebrate treated everyone he met, so of course a large group would attend his funeral. After waiting for the veterans cemetery to g...

  “ Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better. ”  - Albert Einstein     Sometimes, I think my more specific posts extolling the beauty and history of a certain location turns off part of my audience because perhaps they think they cannot relate to a place they don't personally know. But my sincere hope is that my words and images inspires you to visit the wild places close to your home and to cherish them such that you'll make choices that protect them. Love the outdoors near you! As I wrote in my post on November 5, 2022...      Gordons Pond wasn’t always just the amazing and beautiful mix of water and trees, grass and birds that we get to enjoy nowadays. In days long gone by, when European settlers first were looking around and wondering how to keep their food preserved, areas close to the sea were choice locations for getting their all important salt.       What is now Gordons Pond began as a manma...

  “ The art of photography is all about directing the attention of the viewer. ”  - Steven Pinker     I always thought there ought to be a version of the classic Peanuts cartoon where Linus explains to Charlie Brown what Easter is all about. I can hear him, in his Linus voice, clearly quote from the Apostles' Creed, "Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty." But we have more about what actually happened that third day...      The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28 (NRSV)      After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fea...

“ The world moves fast, changing everything around us with each new day. Photography is a gift that can keep us in a moment forever, blissfully eternal. ”  - Ali Novak     Our world does move fast, with events sometimes overwhelming us with their speed and ferocity and urgency. So much is happening that it's all too easy to lose focus of what it is we want to do with our limited time. The events of the world outside ourselves pierce our attention and compete for our emotional energy, but are usually well outside of what we can actually control. So I ask you to think about what you're focused on, for that will let you know what you truly value.  As I wrote in my post on February 5, 2022...      Taking the liberty of translating into a modern voice the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, who was both emperor of ancient Rome and a moral man, he wrote in his personal journal the following lesson about focus:      “Concentrate every minute on...