Thai Picnic

Getting set to make a little lunch today. I realize that I don't have the needed papaya to make this dish jive. Pack up my preschooler, head over to the local HMart. I'll take my picnic to go...

Experiential Learner

Way way back in high school one of my history teachers made the declaration: "We have to understand our past, so that we can understand our future". I am thinking that this is a famous quote and words that we all live by. Fortunately for me, I am an experiential learner when it comes to certain topics. I have to experience the negative result so that I will embrace the impending disaster, name it for what it is, and then let it go. Hopefully, never to repeat such an error again.

Currently I am taking a portrait class with expert photographer Jack Foley. (Check out his work www.jfoley.com. ) The first day of portraiture he urged the class to use at least two lights when lighting a subject. The correct lighting will give the subject a 3 dimensional look, while one light will make the subject would look flat and dull.

Keeping this instruction in mind. I decided to photograph my friend Scott using only one light. I was thinking that I wanted a certain look, but did not want it over lit. Scott is the guy in the second picture who looks a little like what I would imagine Jean Valjean to look like in Hugo's Les Miserables. Now I liked the exposure enough. But it was not until I used two lights, while photographing and my colleague Arthur (you know the guy that looks like he could open a wine company), that I realized that his portrait POPPED off the page! Two lights = dimension. Jack was right. Understanding the mistakes of the past will in fact place lessons learned into my long term memory.

Less Cow Bell

Yesterday I had the great privilege to photograph the start of the Pan Mass Challenge in Wellesley. Hundreds of folks gather from all over the area to cycle hundreds of miles to raise money for the fight against cancer. Over 5k riders participated this year! Amazing is the fact that most of these people have returned to cycle year after year. Amazing is the fact that many of the riders are like most of us. Couch potatoes who finally decide enough is enough, it's time to participate in a life changing journey. As I stood in the middle of the street, I was amazed at the sound of silence. Thousands of cyclists past me. Not one of them spoke. A moment of silence to the loved ones who have died of cancer. A wonderful swoosh sound from bike tires to the heavens above from those living strong and those who will never give up.

If These Trees Could Talk

Location, location, location. Have I mentioned that I dislike crowds? Here I stand in one of the more green sections of Concord, searching for a moment of serenity. Throngs of people disembark tour buses to view North Bridge in Concord, MA. A park ranger patrols the grounds. Dressed in American Revolutionary clothing, a fellow smiles for pictures. I pick up a piece of trash dropped by some careless stranger. Grab my photo gear and make a hasty exit.

Eschatological Questions: Hang Ten

Inspiration nudging at the soul for more than just a day at the beach. Therapy session with a beach chair and a few hours of surf and sun. At oneness with Mother Nature. Eschatological questions out number the amount sun screen and a few random snacks. Quiet the voices. Tune out the distractions. Hang ten all ye non surfers.