I have the feeling that most photographers will be able to relate to this: I’ve shot this location dozens of times, and never walked away with a photo I liked until now. The frustration and subsequent feeling of triumph IS REAL.
Two of the biggest skills a landscape photographer needs is patience and perseverance. In the end, they’ll pay off.
In celebration of all things green and Irish-ish today, I’m sharing pictures of…dead and dying trees…?
Autumn in the northeast (USA) can be quite pretty. All of these were taken on a trip to Pennsylvania last year. I went for a funeral – never an easy thing to do – and found solace in nature behind the camera. I posted these on my Instagram, but for some reason (that reason being I frequently forget to update my website) never posted them here. MARKETING SCHMARKETING.
Anyway, HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
You remind me of the babe
(What babe?)
The babe with the power
(What power?)
The power of voodoo
(Hoodoo?)
You do.
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe.
It’s tough to see what’s happening in the world right now. I feel like I don’t have the words to express how sad I feel when I see refugees fleeing their homes and families torn apart…and for what? Ego? Resources? Different beliefs? My feelings on this aren’t unique to Ukraine and Russia. The first time I saw images from Syria, my heart broke. Watching people fighting and dying over religion and old wounds around the world makes me cry.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution to this. So here’s a moment of peace I found in the desert. I’m sharing because maybe some of you need a little respite, too.
Winter in Connecticut — AKA Dead Stick Season — can be uninspiring. Thankfully, I’ve got a few photos still hanging around in the archives waiting to be processed. I’ll tell you, winter is much warmer from my couch than it is outside. 😜
This is from a fun waterfall trip a few years back with the man, the myth, the legend, David Pasillas.
“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn, and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.” -John Muir
I miss traveling. Here are some local trees.
You can read more about this location, Belding Wildlife Preserve in CT, on The Outbound’s site.
Relic :: NH
“Do it for the ‘gram!” – People who ruin it for the rest of us.
This fall, Melissa and I took a trip to lower VT/NH for some foliage shots. We stopped at a quiet spot for sunrise, then schlepped over to Madame Sherri’s. It’s been on the list of places to see for a long time and we were finally checking it off.
We get there and the place was over run with people. Knowing this is a popular and unique location though, I was willing to be patient and wait my turn. Everyone has the same right to experience this spot, right?
But then a college-aged looking girl started climbing the stairs and perched over the top arch. The arch that clearly has a crack in it. The arch that looks likely to fall first.
Maybe it’s the nurse in her. Maybe it’s the mom in her. Either way, Melissa called out, suggesting that it wasn’t safe and that she would come down the steps a bit.
The girl’s mother, who was taking shots of the girl on her cell phone, turned to us and said it was fine. And heck, she’s the girl’s guardian so who are we to disagree?
But truth be told, it rankled. In part, because no one wants to see a kid get hurt if that thing crashes down. But also, if someone is up there when it does eventually crumble, and they get injured, Everyone will lose access to the ruins.
So many people these days have an entitled, short-sighted attitude. While I fully support an adventurous mindset, I also believe in safety and conservation; those things don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but the I-do-what-I-want mentality really throws a wrench into things.
Ultimately, the girl came down off of the stairs safely, but how many people will see her post on social media and think to mimic her? We all have a responsibility to set good examples. If we aren’t willing to speak up when we see something dangerous and to preserve our special places (environment, planet, etc) now, then what are we leaving for our children? Once the places or access is gone, it’s gone.
If you’re interested in prints this gift-giving season, let me know. You can find a gallery’s worth of options here.
Prismatic :: VT
There is nothing quite like fall in New England. Now the leaves have fallen, and the days are getting colder, but I’ll cherish the memories of sunrise hikes above the hills of Vermont.
If you’re interested in prints this gift-giving season, let me know! You can find a gallery’s worth of options here. You can contact me at seespotsphoto AT yahoo DOT com. I’m offering 10% off if you purchase before the end of the day. I’ll donate that same 10% to one of my favorite charities, Heifer International who works on reducing world poverty with sustainable agriculture and business practices.
Waters Meet :: WA
“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.”
Earlier this year, I learned of the sudden passing of Karen, a fellow photographer. As I said to another friend, it’s always the good ones we lose too soon.
You see, besides being a lovely person to chat with, Karen was an advocate for the environment and an artist to her core. She started a magazine that was a way for artists to celebrate nature. The idea was that people will care about things they are invested in, things that they love…so she tried to showcase the beauty of nature to inspire others to love it the way she did. To advocate for it the way she did.
She used her talents and time to make a positive difference in this world. It was, in a word, inspiring.
How many people see something they wish were different, better, safer but don’t speak up? How many people think their voice doesn’t matter? They’re only one person? Imagine if those same people stepped up and worked toward change instead of turning away from our problems. Imagine if they used the skills and talents at their disposal to tackle problems and make things better.
Karen was a great example of what could be, and she will surely be missed. I’ll honor her memory by reminding myself to speak up, even if its difficult, about the things that matter. ❤
This is a photo of one of the many incredible waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re interested in prints, let me know! You can find a gallery’s worth of options here. You can contact me at seespotsphoto AT yahoo DOT com. I’m offering 10% off if you purchase between now and Tuesday. I’ll donate that same 10% to one of my favorite charities, Heifer International who works on reducing world poverty with sustainable agriculture and business practices.
Looking for other bloggers, book reviewers (if you can read, you're in!) and photographers who want to join forces to save the world! (Or something like that.)
SeeingSpotsPhoto.com 