Crimson Show

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I am nearing All Souls on the shores of Lake Champlain for a monthly diner gathering. All Souls faces my favorite mountain range, the south end of which I identify by the peaked Adirondack mountain you’ll notice in the images below. I have to stop, just blocks before the best positioning, at All Souls, to see the disappearing closing day colors. A number of near by cars do the same. People shooting the scene with their companion iPhones. One person standing by said “I haven’t seen a sky like this in a long time”.

Moments like this are why I carry my monopod and Sony compact camera with me all the time. I got a few shots, but was too late for the position I would have liked in front of All Souls. You get what is given. I am grateful to have seen the beauty and capture a bit of it.

BASE POINT

Stand Tall

The Point

Seeing the LIGHT

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Seeing the LIGHT - LOVE, is a favorite present topic with my blogs, and images. It is because of a present focus on seeing the depths of my INNER WISDOM - learning the LOVE within. It’s a really cool journey for me. It brings, joy, peace, forgiveness, letting go of judgements while allowing for praise. I have for a long time said ‘LOVE is the answer’, but it is this journey that is bringing me closer to understanding that it is LOVING only that I long for. I have flashes of Enlightenment, and the journey has just begun

Seeing the light

Continuous Improvement

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I seldom get it right the first time. Thank God for my instincts to be okay with continuing to improve rather than giving up! Cropping images sometimes turns something I kind of like to something I really like. I guess it’s where my eye goes, and the feel I get. I play with light with adjusting filters too. There are unlimited variations and degrees that are options. It’s fun to explore possibilities.

For instance, the image below, Red White and Blue. I cropped the tree and railing to put more emphasis of sun beam and surrounding color, and - it’s a different picture, which I like much more. I also eliminated any filter affect on centers of interest. Anyway, that’s my story… and I’m sticking to it.

Red White and Blue cropped

Red white and Blue original

Sun Beams

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The other day was a fun day to look skyward. I was going crazy with my iPhone as I walked lakeside viewing the sky above my favorite Adirondack range. The sun was peaking through the assortment of shaded clouds, highlighting the lake’s calm and the mountains colors - a welcome sight - a sight I seldom see. It makes for good imaging.

Sun Beams

Red White and Blue

Holy Juniper

Turning the Corner

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I walked Mount Philo with a dear friend on November 1st. What a treat to see heavy, sticky snow fall with accenting colorful Fall Sumac. We are turning the corner to Winter, even though there is seven weeks of Fall remaining. The snow is gone today. Wait your turn, Winter. Fall still has a stretch to show it’s glory. Winter scenes are wonderful. There will be plenty of time for you Winter. I think about images of ice today. There will be plenty of time for that Mike - wait your turn. Look to the skies in the meanwhile.

I am becoming more and more connected to Nature. I wish to become one with Nature. What does that mean, Mike? I will know when I arrive. For now I am touched with a growing connection, and influenced by one that very much may be one with Nature.

november sumac

another World

Enlightenment

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I photograph my favorite Adirondack mountain range again and again - never the same, but never moves. The skies move - changing all the time. What better base to capture artful skies then my favorite view of beautifully aligned mountains.

I reflect as I view what relates to me, in the photos below - wouldn’t it be wonderful to only know LOVE - to be Enlightened. My ego intrudes. I know more now though. LOVE is mighty. I know LOVE is the answer to all problems.

enlightenment

Partly cloudy

pointed

Path of Change

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Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Dead. It was fun to see the gamut of colors on one tree at Button Bay, on Lake Champlain, this last Wednesday, while walking six miles around the park with a dear friend. And the skies were beautiful to boot.

I reflect on change - my environment mostly: geographic, family, career, health, friends, spirituality, eternity. The powers in the world, to me, haven’t figured it out, and drastically need the wisdom of individuals who know that the answer to everything is LOVE. Our minds and bodies - Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Dead. And then what? Do we come around until we get it right?

Path of change

Look Skyward

swirly stroke

Iconic Entrance

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To me the hill entrance to ALL Souls Interfaith Gathering (ASIG) is iconic. It does, although, remind me of my brothers herniated stomach. It is an unusual shape in an unusual place - meant to be, I guess, to attract my camera, sliders, and worshipers. The top of which is a perfect spot to see the sunrise over Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump on Easter morning. The hill deserves a name. Maybe it has one. I must inquire.

Iconic entrance to ASIG

Eating Out

ASIG Cloud over hill

Resurrection Morning

Blowing in the Wind

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Leaves are coming down - end of a colorful season. My image Blowing in the Wind is one of my favorite Fall images. It triggers a thought of the wind and rain that is the culmination of a glorious season in Vermont. People come here, from all over the world, just to see the colors of the forest in the valleys and on the mountains. It’s spectacular

Blowing in the wind



Flying Alone

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I did it three times this season. It was most satisfying. I am afraid that’s it for the season. It’s closed when it’s cold. That is - The seasonal Inn and restaurant at Shelburne Farms closes, now, for the winter. Three dawns, this season, I captured images a few feet from the Inn. I had fulfilling imaging and proceeded to the Inn for a nice breakfast, with me and my thoughts. The only way this would be more heavenly is to share the experience over breakfast with a Soulmate. Life is just not perfect Mike. Love what is!

Do you see the bird flying alone? So small, So vast. Not separate. One with.

flying alone

Cloud Light

Hand over heart

Adirondack Color


Impasto

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I use painterly filters on my photos, all the time. I love the affect. I usually use the filters at about 30% and erase the affect on my center of interest. It seems I increase the percentage of filter on the photos in correlation with the image’s core strength. The image below Impasto is a good example of this. I applied seventy percent of the filter affect and did not make any eraser adjustment. I call the image Impasto because that’s the name of the thick painting look.

The grasses in the foreground caught my attention. Some interest in the sky was a must. I can’t readily point to a center of interest and that is what weakens the image, in my mind.

Impasto

Pointing South

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It’s only a third into Fall and we’re looking South. The boats are in, shorts off, jackets on, and leaves are a falling. It’s been the fastest Summer and Fall colors ever, for me. The skies have been wonderful - cloud formations I have never seen, maybe never looked. I am going to continue to look, especially with Adirondack below - my favorite range. You would think the mountains to be static, but they seem to change daily. I don’t tire. I hope to never do.

pointing South

Glide

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Paul drove us down Taft Road in Huntington, on way to Green Mountain Photo Exhibit, in Waitsfield - a nice scenic route, secret to the local old-timer. Spectacular passage. We were treated to a half dozen Turkey Vultures gliding and diving - I suspect a natural passage. Quite a site to see with the backdrop of a Vermont Fall.

Glide

Glide 2

trans

Gap

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I like the word Gap - it’s short, can be used in a multitude of ways. A break in continuity. Everywhere you turn there is a a gap - a divide - politics, communications, teeth, nature. Most gaps are man made - we do such a good job of it. You might say we do a great job in creating rifts.

I traveled the Appalachian Gap a couple time on the way to the thirty-third Green Mountain Photo Exhibit in the Mad River Valley, Waitsfield - A great exhibit. I’ll do it again next year. Don’t miss it next Fall. A great time to be on the back roads of Vermont.

I stopped at the top viewing area for a cider and view to see if I could capture a nice sky to compliment the gaps changing color. The image below, I call Gap, is what I captured.

gap

Transformation

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All is alive. Two hours after I captured Kaleidoscope I captured the picture below, Transformation, which is the same Adirondack mountain range from a different angle. I like Transformation more - a bit more minimalist, impressionist. I don’t know, I just like it more.

It is remarkable that Nature is constantly changing. The ever moving skies and fleeting Fall is making a point today - notice now, because it will be different tomorrow. ‘Love the moment and the energy will spread beyond all boundaries’

Transformation

LOVE Train

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It’s 9am, Sunday morning. Meditation is starting at All Souls Interfaith Gathering Place. I look to the left as I walk toward the Sanctuary. The Adirondack are aflame, with accenting light on a kaleidoscope of Fall colors. Do I stop, capture an image of a life time and be late for the start of mediation? Of course, I must stop. Fleeting moments like this is the reason I carry my pocket size Sony, all the time. The monopod is back in the car. I have to decide if I go back or not. I capture the lovely scene, hand held, at 1/400th of a second. I take five images to stitch together, so I can determine the crop I desire, and to capture as much information as possible. I am excited to process the capture.

I am excited, not only because of a great image capture opportunity, but an opportunity to thank a good representative of All Soul members that will be at meditation. I share after meditation with the group, my gratitude for the ‘LOVE train’ - a multitude of ASIG members nourished, with love visits and prayers, this poor soul, while recovering from an unwanted internal bleed after a hernia surgery. The large out-pouring of love demonstrates the wisdom of my aspiration to be ‘One with LOVE’.

Kaleidoscope


Emmett's World

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It’s Labor Day weekend. I have the privilege of a night at the Anderson Camp on Willsboro Point on Lake Champlain. I watch the skies, because that’s what I do these days - beautiful skies - each day seems different - each day invites interpretation. I see a glimpse of Emmett’s World, as I lightly swing on the hammock, eying him paddle his kayak back and forth in front of the property. I wonder what is going through his mind. What he feels. I know he loves to paddle. It’s his world at the moment. Also, my world - looking at the big picture. Being almost seventy years his elder I am sure we see the same differently - all one with nature. I wonder. I see. I feel. I am grateful.

Emmett’s world

new awakening

The Yellow Line

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ALL the back roads in Vermont are double yellow lined, meaning of course, no passing, too dangerous, can’t see oncoming traffic. This is good - beautiful scenery - slow down and enjoy nature’s beauty, especially as the foliage turns colors. Fall in Vermont has to be one of the most beautiful experiences.

The roads are narrow, bikers slow. If you followed the rules we could not pass bikers. We all should get electric bikes, I guess. This won’t happen, but a good idea. Life is moving too fast. Gotta get someplace now. Gotta pass regardless of the rules. We make our own rules when the ones we have don’t work. Oh, I can pass. I can see far enough, or move fast enough that I won’t have ongoing traffic problem.

I tense when I think about passing a biker on our backroads. I think, am I making the biker nervous by taking so much time to pass? Am I pissing off the car behind who is in a rush - no one wants to drive the speed limit - especially in 25 mile an hour zones.

Oh, it’s ok Mike. It seems to all work out. Go with the flow.

The yellow line


Painting with Light

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I love using the camera to paint with Light. I do a capture and play with the elements to create what I feel is attractive. I sometimes surprise myself with delight in what I create from what I see. I don’t fully appreciate natures beauty until I look closely, process and play around in interpretation. I wish I could paint from scratch the beauty I see so often in nature. I respect those that do it well. I feel I am cheating with all the photographic tools now available, but I am getting more comfortable to just do what turns me on. I hope others enjoy too - it’s nice to get positive feed back, but if I enjoy the result, that’s all I need to keep doing the passion. Nature mixes the elements so well. I am happy to create what I see as beauty. I sure see a lot of it now that I am looking skyward. This simple image of tree and sky brings joy to me.

Tree and sky

Foggy Pathway

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Nearly forty years ago, daughter Bridget gave me a CHRISTmas present - a saying that would lead to seventy or so Mantra revisions. I recite daily the saying “Love the present and the energy will reach beyond all boundaries”, with all my revisions - now about one hundred words (too many for this short blog). I knew then, as I better know now, that “LOVE is the answer”, for everything. The title affirmation has evolved from ‘Love the present’ to ‘Love the moment’, to ‘Love in the moment’, to ‘Live LOVE’, to ‘I am One with LOVE’.

I am discovering, I have, as all humans do, a powerful INNER WISDOM that when accessed reduces fear and accesses the LOVE that is in all of us. What a wonderful feeling. That is not to say, my path is clear. It is foggy at best, but continually becoming more clear. I love it!

Foggy Pathway