3 posts tagged “pictures”

Sun 'n Shadows

I’m celebrating a personal milestone, so to speak!

About nine years ago, a set of circumstances made me decide to park my car and become a pedestrian. It changed my life. Now I walk everywhere, do everything on foot. Rain or shine, hot or cold. No matter, I walk, each and every day of the year.

And frankly, I love it.

I love the outdoors, the fresh air, the people I encounter. I love sunshine and long walks, especially on summer evenings, down by the river, with my lady.

The other day, I thought I should calculate just how far I've walked over the years. Once I got the numbers in place, I was simply amazed with the results. I couldn't believe it; I even double-checked my Excel calculation, just to make sure.

I've actually walked a distance equivalent to once around this planet, at the equator. That's 24,902 miles, or 40,076 km, for the metric crowd.

I still can’t believe it.

For me, there are many benefits to walking, aside from the physical aspect. Walking becomes a state of mind, a very pleasant, relaxed frame of mind. I find it peaceful, it allows me to stop and smell the roses, gives me time to think.

One of the greatest benefits, I find, is the opportunity to encounter people, briefly share a moment with a stranger, while on transit or walking along a busy downtown street. It’s these random chance encounters that I cherish most, because you never know what new and exciting momentary adventure, lies just ahead.

Being a hobbyist photographer, with camera as a constant companion, walking offers me a chance to take lots of pictures. Since I can stop virtually anytime to capture something of interest, and since a good portion of my daily routine takes me through parkland en route to and from public transit, I get plenty of opportunity to snap off a few, on occasion, even before the work day begins.

I can truly say that being a pedestrian is one of the greatest experiences in my life and certainly the best thing I’ve ever done, for myself.

Thanks for sharing this milestone. Perhaps we’ll meet along the way.

Afternoon Encounter

It’s all about that special lady in my life. 

When it comes to finding a soul mate for life, I truly lucked out. My love is the perfect lady, companion, friend and partner. It's been more than twenty-three years, can you believe it.

We haven't always been together, and even now, we live 100 miles apart. I live in the city, she lives in a wonderful little town full of friendly people, smiling faces, unlocked doors and some of the finest restaurants to be found anywhere. We get together as often as possible and truly enjoy our time. We have private times, fun times, special times, each and every time.

Some call this insane. We call it amazing.

Frankly, I love that little town. I love the serenity, the peace, the beauty, all around. When I’m there, people greet me, strangers strike up a conversation, passersby say hello. Neighbors even know my name. I’m not used to that, it doesn’t happen in the city where I’ve lived for more than fifty years. It’s the perfect place for my lady, it reflects in her everyday attitude and outlook on life.

Throughout the years, she's been my favorite model, my main subject of interest. In my collection, you'll find many pictures of her, taken over the years, in every situation. She is my ongoing project in progress, my most precious souvenir in life and a constant, never ending source of inspiration.

Now tell me if I didn't luck out, eh!

Finally, getting back on track.

After neglecting my hobby for far too long, I'm slowly starting to catch up, making a little progress, making up for lost time, time that I missed when my mind and interests were elsewhere, for a while.

Amazing what a difference a little inspiration and a new camera will make.

I'm having fun, a lot of fun, and how things have changed. When I was last involved in the process of photography and graphics, the darkroom era was about to end and the new digital boom, just about to begin. It was an amazing transition from old to new. The introduction of the Mac started it all for me. Suddenly, and seemingly overnight, a totally new perspective on how to do things. Virtual, instant gratification, albeit, at that time, in its early stage of infancy and total user ‘bewonderment’.

For me, it was “a time of imagination gone rampant with anticipation”.

What an exciting period that was. I remember McDraw. Wow, double Wow. I remember the introduction of Photoshop, Pagemaker, and an assortment of applications that followed. The world started 'doing things' on little black and white TV’s, using ‘mouses’ and keyboards, doing things that were never before imaginable, possible or even attainable, conventionally. Suddenly, ‘the process’, from creation to the final printed page, which had changed very little by comparison since Gutenberg's invention took the world by storm; once again took another giant leap, forward. It was the beginning of new thinking, new innovation, and brand new technology. It brought many changes to our lives. In fact, that period changed our lives, forever.

Now, anyone who has an interest, a little imagination, can be a photographer, an artist, a writer. Anyone who wants to create works of art, can instantly display their images to millions, all around the world. Simply incredible! Absolutely wonderful!

Frankly, I love the digital era of photography. I love the ability to capture a moment, to express my feelings, convey my thoughts. For me, it’s a form of communication and, a means of self-expression. It makes it possible for me to share a precious moment with those, who are most precious to me. And obviously, I'm not alone. In my daily travels I encounter numerous people with cameras, people of all kinds, from every walk of life, taking pictures of just about anything they see.

And I'm thrilled to be a part of it all. I'm slowly learning the intricacies of my digital toys, reading manuals, updating software and sorting out pictures that I’ve taken. I've shot quite a few, deleted a lot and experiment, constantly. For me, it’s a continuing process of development, I think I’m making some progress, it’s getting better.

But then again, I tend to have a bit of a bias opinion about things I love most in life. Like Ol' Earl tells me though; son, ya' gotta' believe in what you're doin', eh.

Good advice, Earl. Very good advice indeed.