Looking Out My Window

If anyone reading this has ever traveled to Colorado, you will admit, as I do, that it is a beautiful state. So while vacationing in Estes Park with my family, one of the main things I enjoyed was the scenery. The towering mountains against a blue sky with a forest at their base. It is majestic to say the least. I was also pleased with the location of our cabin. It sat just outside of the busy area of Estes Park up on a hill so that it was away from the noise and above the lights of the town.

Our days were usually packed full activity. So naturally at the end of each day, I would crawl into bed and enjoy the comfort of a good night's sleep and a soft mattress. It wasn't until about the third night that I looked out my window at the starry scene. It was incredible, a starry sky set against dark mountains with a few lights emitting from the houses below. It was as if someone had make the scene to fit the window. So from that night on, I would, if nothing else, glance out my window before nodding off to sleep.

I didn't realize this until later, but I had subconsciously sectioned off when the good views and and landscapes would be. I guess I thought it was only when we were out and about. I had almost forgotten that the beauty was right outside my window the whole time.

The Sky Through My Window, Estes Park, CO
Nikkor DX 18-70mm, 18mm, f/3.5, 30 sec

Quit Reaching?

When I was about 12 years old, I was helping my dad work out in the garage, when a big hot air balloon glided low over our house. I knew it was about to touch down, so I grabbed the first bike I could find and raced off down the road to see it close up. Sure enough, it landed in a field and I spent a couple minutes talking to the driver and watching them deflate it. When I had my fill, I rode back home, just then realizing that I had left my dad in the middle of our task. As I came into the garage where he was working, he asked me,"Did you see it?" I was a little taken back. So I sheepishly said, "Yeah, but I am sorry for leaving in the middle of work." But my dad never missed a beat. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. I want you to feel free to explore."

There is no end to the joy it brings a child to hear that from a parent. Because it is in our nature from birth to observe, test, try and ask questions. Every child is enthralled by what is new, which is just about everything. But most of the time, they don't simply ask about it, they want to touch it. I lovingly refer to it as full contact learning. And it is the best way to learn, in my humble opinion. Don't just tell me how to do something, show me and then get out of the way because I want to try.

The danger is when we lose this. The desire and willingness to learn and explore. It is easy to become stagnant and quit asking questions; to quit reaching. When I took the picture of the boy below, I was simply watching him while the rest of the family was in the other room. He was waddling around the kitchen when something caught his eye. Something had glinted in the light, maybe even winked at him to get his attention. Now some lesser child may pass this off as nothing, but not this boy. He had to figure out what it was. As he approached, he saw that he might just be able to reach it if he stretched. So he came up alongside the towering wall of appliance and reached out his hand to touch the unknown, shiny object. And with that, he was introduced to the buttons on the dishwasher.

It might seem a little exaggerated, but I don't think so. Maybe some of us could do with a little more wonder in our lives. A little more exploratory adventure and a little more desire to reach for what we might not be able to touch. I know I could.

Reaching for the Shiny Button, Jackson, TN

Running Water

There is a picture my dad took of me when I was 5 or 6 years old. I am running directly at the camera in the middle of summer, hair bleached white by exposure to the sun, and have the biggest smile a 6 year-old can muster. But what was bringing me such unquantifiable joy? The answer was, I was running through a sprinkler. I am not talking about one of those sprinklers that rotates or oscillates. It was a plastic base with about 10 plastic tubes spraying water sporadically out of the top, flopping around wildly in all directions. Even though I am almost 20 years removed from this image and don't really remember the event, per se, I remember the feeling of it. I remember laughing and screaming, wanting to get in the water, but at the same time, not wanting to feel the iciness. It was wonderful.

As I took photos of a friend's child playing in the water in the front lawn, I was inexplicably drawn back to my childhood; one without worries besides whether or not we were going to be able to play in the water. And as I snapped away with my camera, I saw her doing the exact same thing I did as a kid. Screaming for joy, but also having a simple dilemma. 'Should I touch the water? I know it is why I am out here, but do I want to risk getting wet?'

But just like myself, the outcome is always the same. After exhortations of parents and the curiosity inside her own head, she runs into the water and begins enjoying the watery relief from the summer heat. And like my father, I am glad to be there to capture the elation on her smiling face.

This photo was taken as most of my photos of children are taken: while they are simply being kids. It is much more natural to work around a child and catch exactly what they are feeling than to try and convince them to smile while sitting nicely in front of a background. I don't think kids are meant to sit for very long.

Child in the Water, A Summer's Day
Nikkor 70-200mm, 200mm, f/2.8

Out of the Concrete Jungle

If I had my druthers, I would not personally choose to live in a large city. I know that some people wouldn't think of living anywhere other than a city, but not me. Now before I launch into the benefits of fresh air, rolling hills and open fields, I want to say that I am not someone who says cities should be destroyed and everyone should live out in the country. There are benefits to cities, but I would like to make a case for at least some exposure to the world outside the 'concrete jungles' of metropolitan areas.

After a time of being inundated with traffic and white noise, there is something almost otherworldly about nature. Whenever this change in scenery happens for me, I begin by noticing the complete silence of my atmosphere, wondering how I could have ever put up with the noise. And then after a little while, you begin to pick up on the little sounds around you. Almost as if your senses have had time to recover and sharpen. You hear the birds, the rustle of the leaves and the wind blowing past you. A new world, previously unnoticed is revealed little by little.

Currently, outside of my window, there is construction taking place. A jackhammer is pounding loudly away, sometimes pausing for directions to be shouted from the foreman to his workers. And I understand the necessity of this. Buildings and roads need to built and maintained, but if one's life is only filled with this, then there might be something that is lost in the noise.

The following picture was taken on the Appalachian Trail. Over tree roots, stones and an uneven, unpaved path winding along the Smoky Mountains, I never once missed the sound of traffic.

The AT, Smoky Mountain National Park

Sunrise

There is a chill that settles over Texas in the beginning of fall. It doesn't last long. But each day, there is a window, starting late at night and ending early in the morning where the temperature has dropped several degrees and you are reminded that the blazing summer does actually have an ending. It is as if this little glimpse into cooler weather is the testimony to the 'winter' to come. (Although in my opinion, it is more like an extended fall than anything else)

I enjoy this time of the year mainly because I like the changing of the seasons. I grew up in Illinois where we get all four seasons and I have become kind of spoiled in that sense. So it was a little difficult for me to get about 3 1/2 seasons while I lived in Dallas, TX for two years. So, in my opinion, the best way to experience the change of seasons is by waking up in it.

The plus with Texas in the fall is that it does not rain nearly as much as it does in the Spring. So my wife and I were free to sleep without the rain fly on our tent and enjoyed a beautiful, clear night sky as we drifted off into slumber while camping one night. As the sun rose the next morning and the yelling of the teenagers from the next campsite had blissfully died away, we awoke snuggled in our bags and enjoying the little sounds being made by the wind and the birds.

We emerged from our tents, looking over the pristine lake, catching the glare of the orange morning sun. Not many words were spoken. There was simply a silent understanding between the two of us that this morning was a nice repose from the Texas heat and we were happy to be experiencing it, instead of waking up in our apartment, oblivious to the crisp morning air.

Sunrise, Lake Mineral Wells Texas State Park

Fidelity

All right boys and girls, the word for the day is 'fidelity'. Can everyone say it with me? I think I was first introduced to this word (actually a variant of this word) by a Dashboard Confessional song. I think the lines went, "Your hair is everywhere, screaming infidelities..." I didn't know what it meant at the time, but I think it was a little telling that I heard the negative form of the word before I had heard the more positive, and in my opinion, rarer form.

For those of you who don't know, the word actually comes from the latin word meaning 'faithful'. In its antiquated form, it is used in the popular Marine phrase,'Semper Fi' or 'Semper Fidelis' meaning 'Always Faithful.' But today I want to get to the meaning of this word as it pertains to relationships.

Whenever I am out and about, I love watching others. I guess some would call me a people watcher. My absolute favorite thing to see as I watch others is couples holding hands. I am not talking about the young teenagers holding hands because they think that is the next step in their relationship. I enjoy the scene of two people who are holding hands because that is what they really want to be doing at that moment; as if that is the thing that is paramount on their list of priorities. And it puts it over the top for me when I see two elderly people, walking at their own pace, holding hands and enjoying each others company. Because I know that they have stuck together over time and this outward expression of their affection is something that has stood firm.

Saying this brings me to the image below. I was on vacation with my wife's family in Gatlinburg, TN and we decided to walk up to Clingman's Dome. As we walked up, my wife and I were ahead of the rest of the family and I looked back to see my in-laws holding hands. It hit me the rarity of the scene and what made it more special, was, having caught a glimpse into their lives over the past several years, I knew that it was real and time-tested. An expression of their fidelity.

Nikkor, 200mm, f/2.8, Clingman's Dome, TN

The Road Most Traveled

A couple years ago, my family and I were on vacation out West. We started in Flagstaff, AZ and then spent a little time around the Grand Canyon before finishing with a few nights in Breckenridge, CO. During our time in Flagstaff, we made two trips to Grand Canyon National Park, the final one to start off a rim-to-rim trek. During our journeys to and from the park, few of us spent much time looking around at the landscape which, truth be told, was not overly impressive. It was simply what we had to drive through to get to our destination. And then it struck me how many other people most likely have done the same thing.

I am guilty of this. (i.e. - missing the journey for the destination) During college, my friends and I made several road trips that totaled all 49 driveable states. And there were many occasions where we simply drove non-stop over hundreds of miles because we were trying to get to another destination. (Sorry Kansas and Nebraska!) But looking back some of these stretches of road were the most memorable. If we had not opened our eyes to what laid around us we would have missed out on the small, snow-covered towns of northern Massachusetts or beautiful expanses of the plains.

So in my more aware moments, I am able to stop, look around and take in what has been laid out before me. Sometimes I catch the little eccentricities of towns, landscapes and other people. But, sadly, much of the time I am too self-involved or busy to catch the life that is passing me by.

On a more technical note, this shot was taken on one of those drives to the Grand Canyon in the summer of 2006. I was riding in the back seat of our 15-passenger van and decided to experiment with longer exposures of the highway. I thought there were great colors and lines with the blue horizon, the black pavement and the yellow lane markers. I think I took just over a dozen shots and this is the one where everything kind of came together.

18mm, 1/6 sec, f/16, AZ-64, Northbound

A Cranky Morning of Breakdowns and Dew

If I remember correctly there were quite a few of my family members who were cranky that morning. My dad and I (but mainly myself) had convinced, maybe even guilted, the rest of the family to get out of bed early in the morning. We were staying in the beautiful, but much under-visited, paradise of Pagosa Springs, CO. My parents had decided to come out here and listen to one of those time share sales pitches for a free weeks' stay.

Now typically on family vacations, I like to try and get up early in the mornings whenever I can. The sun is coming up and the animals are out early before it gets too warm. I love catching the beautiful landscape before anyone else is up. When I expressed my desire to get up early and check out a waterfall just outside of Pagosa Springs, there were some that wanted to go, but others who were more than happy to stay curled up in their comfortable beds and catch up on their sleep.

After a little discussion and some clashing opnions, everyone decided to go along on the outing so as to not miss out on anything, desiring to be all together. So before the sun rose, we clammered into the 15 passenger van, headed out from our time share, and spoke very little. As the path ahead of us turned from well-paved highway to poorly maintained back country road and finally to dirt road, the van began to utter noises and, much to our dismay, started smoking vigorously. As we pulled over on the deserted road, miles away from town, out of cell phone service, we all reacted in our own special way. Thankfully, all reactions at least carried a trace of humor.

While waiting for the eventual arrival of the tow truck, which was graciously summoned by our soft-spoken cowboy friend, we wandered down the road to see what laid around the next bend. (Don't worry, the story of cowboy John will most assuredly appear in a later post.) Outside of more bends, there was not much else on the road. But it was cool, the sun was rising and there was a luscious, green landscape laying ahead of us.

I noticed this scene below as we were walking through the countryside. The side of the road was lined with a muddy ditch that gave me a good opportunity to get eye level with the dew-glistened blades of grass. As a few of us continued down the road, our wanderings overextended themselves and in a short while, we were greeted by the rest of the family crammed into the cab of the tow truck. We were carted back into town to get a $10 piece of plastic replaced so our van could take us to attempt the drive again the next morning.

Nikkor VR 70-200mm, f/2.8, Pagosa Springs, CO

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I have loved baseball ever since I was a young boy. I still remember throwing the ball with my dad in the back yard, and the times we played sockball until after the sun went down. (Who knew sewing a few socks together into a ball would produce so many hours of fun?) Consequently, whenever I go to a baseball game, I get the feeling of being a kid again.

So as my wife and I went to a minor league Ft. Worth Cats game last year, I was a little giddy about being in a baseball stadium. The cheers, the sound of the bat on the ball, and children carrying around their baseball mitts just in case there is a foul ball or home run: these are the memories that linger in my mind.

When I went to baseball games as a kid, I always had my glove and in the back of my mind, disregarding the improbability, expected to see a foul ball coming straight at me each time I attended. So as I spotted these would-be outfielders with the same mindset I had at that age, I couldn't help but smile. It gave me such pleasure to know the next generation of kids can have the same experience and level of expectancy I did.

There is just one problem with photographing children: You never want to look like a creepy guy taking pictures of kids in public. So with total discretion and firing from the hip, I squeezed off a few rounds as a little boy gazed longingly over the outfield fence to view the grassy wonderland known as right field. He was so enthralled by the scene laid out before him that he didn't even realize he had dropped his glove on the aluminum walkway below. It didn't even matter. He had been swept up into a world that many young kids have known: dreams of becoming a major league ball player, making the diving catch, hitting the game winning home run, or striking someone out for the win.

After a little more gazing, the boy reached down and picked up his mitt and ran back over to his parents. And I was left with my childhood dreams of one day making the diving catch, hitting the game winning home run, or striking someone out for the win.

Ft. Worth Cats baseball, Ft. Worth, TX

Shining Brightly

I felt like it would be a good idea for vacation. A photo assignment each day. So I asked my wife to give me a daily word to capture with an image. Even though it only lasted for two days, I did get one good image out of the experience. Today happened to be 'light'. That seemed easy enough. There was light all around me. And simply put, photography is the manipulation and proper use of light. Everything in photography involves the use of light.

So as my wife's family and I set out to hike through the forest surrounding Gatlinburg, TN, I underestimated the task that lay before me. Sure I could take a picture of 'light', but I wanted something that would pop. So as I walked through the boreal wonderland of Eastern Tennessee, I focused on the light around me more than the beauty. Then I saw it. A single ray of light shooting through the canopy falling on a lone leaf.

The others, being anxious to move down the trail, left to me my own schedule to get the photo I wanted. Even after I snapped the picture, I wasn't sure the image would be that great. But after viewing it on the playback screen, I knew there were definite possibilities. As a side note, I know there are some photographers who are die-hard film users, but I admit, the benefits of digital photography have made me a believer.

The thing that still strikes me about the situation, was not that the surroundings were so dark, but that the leaf was shining so brightly. Because of the direct sunlight, everything else paled in comparison.

VR Nikkor 70-200mm, 200mm, f/2.8

The World is Brand New

I love babies. Not so much the poopy diaper side of them, but among other things, the newness of them. They have just been brought into a world that they know nothing about. They have never seen a person, heard a dog bark, felt the wind on their face or even the touch of another human hand. Nothing is old hat to them, even hearing people talk.

You see, for most of us, we walk through our day not even noticing the majority of what goes on around us. The sounds of birds in the trees, the electric white noise, and the sound of passing cars are all things we have grown accustomed to and therefore ignore. But this isn't the way it is for a baby.

They look around them constantly, soaking everything in. Something as minuscule as a person walking can enrapture a babies attention. They are even still getting used to their own body. I can't imagine what it would be like if all the sudden, I had hands for the first time in my life and previously had no concept of what they are or how to use them. I would think they were odd and interesting and look at them over and over again trying to figure them out. I would grip little things just to grip them. And the world around me would be something I could touch and feel and hold.

Nikon D70, VR Nikkor 70-200mm, f/2.8

The Leisure and Economics of Camping

I recently went on a camping trip in Rocky Mountain National Park with my family. For some families, this is a regular thing they do. Everyone enjoys it, the tents go up quickly, no one is stressed out. But for part of my family, camping is more like getting a tooth extracted. They know they need to do it, but aren't really looking forward to it. And the reason they feel the obligation to go is me.

As we were planning this vacation, I couldn't help but dream about the opportunity to go camping in the Rocky Mountains. And, with a little bit of politicking, I was able to convince everyone (even my mother) that it was going to be a fun and enjoyable excursion for all parties involved. Now instead of launching into the story of this last camping trip, I am simply going to take this post to talk about a few reasons why camping is so enjoyable.

Leisure: You can wake up in the morning and not have to worry about anything. You have no schedule. Leave the watches at home people. In fact, you could successfully lose your watch and not have a problem. When else can you say that. The sun becomes your alarm clock and you can take as much time relaxing over breakfast as you want. This is what people pay thousands of dollars for in a vacation. Which leads me to my next point...

Economics: The economics of camping are incredible. Unless you stay at a KOA or something, the cost of each night of sleeping under the stars is fairly minimal. This comes in handy when you have limited funds, but also for those who do have a little extra dinero. Wouldn't you rather take those dollars you saved on a campsite and go out to a nice dinner or spend it on some cheesy, touristy souvenir that will get lost in your closet immediately after vacation? How about using it to support the National Park Service, or any number of things. The possibilities are endless.

Just a little word to wise: If you borrow a tent, be sure to set it up before you leave to go camping. It might just save you a gigantic headache.














Mother Neff Texas State Park. Experiencing the benefits of
camping leisure and economics.

Walking in the wild

We had already been in Alaska for two days now, sneaking a shower in a janitor's locker room, but had not really experienced the Last Frontier we had imagined. But now we were in Denali National Park. One of the wildest national parks the government has made in the National Park System. Maintaining this feeling by a limited road system and a mandatory bus system, Denali N.P. has done what many other parks are either unable or unwilling to do: i.e. - providing access to the public, but protecting the animals and their habitat. And I found it fit me.

I have always enjoyed the outdoors, having early exposure to the mountains from Western states vacations as a child. There was a mystery and ruggedness attached to them that I couldn't find in the flatlands of Illinois. So as my friends and I walked down the road in Denali National Park, I was once again enraptured by the majesty on the horizon.

I still remember the cold, crisp air on my skin and the sound of the wind in my ears. We had hopped off the bus and decided to experience the wilderness without the metallic, protective shell of a tour bus around us. So as the bus pulled away, beyond the next bend, we were left to our own thoughts and conversations, nothing to remind us of the white noise or car sounds of civilization.

A park ranger added to the mystique of our circumstances when he pulled up in his truck and told us of a mother grizzly bear and her cubs up a ways on the road. But he reassured us that we were still safe, just wanting us to be aware. So as the next bus came up from behind us, we hitched a ride, being catapulted out of our little haven and back into the world we knew.

Driving in the Wild

I went on a recent vacation with my family to Estes Park, CO, which, much to my enjoyment, lies right on the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. Being from Illinois where the majority of wildlife is either deer or robins, we were excited to see some of the inhabitants of the area. Black bear, elk, moose, bighorn sheep...we couldn't wait. But after several excursions into the park, we were left with a multitude of elk sightings, but not much else. I was starting to get a little discouraged, to say the least. Why was it so hard to find wildlife? I think the answer can come from that great business mantra...'Location, Location, Location'

In college, some friends and I decided to undertake a mission. The mission was simple: we had 4 years of college to travel to all 49 driveable states using my parents 1993 Ford Aerostar. So as cheaply as possible, we drove. We drove thousands of miles with several days containing only driving. And amidst all the driving, we had the same outcome as my family did. Very little wildlife. That was until the last road trip.

This was the culmination of our college education. Forget final papers, exams or projects. It was our drive to Alaska. The zenith of my life's accomplishments. We had no idea what lay in store. And we didn't find out until we were driving through the Yukon territory in Northern Canada. It was incredible to animals we say. Bighorn sheep, moose, buffalo, elk, black bear. It was all there. And the wildest thing about it was...we never had to leave our car. All these animals were right on the side of the road, begging to be gawked at.

So if you are really desperate to see wildlife, don't look for it where everyone else is, but rather take a turn north. You never know what you might find.