A Photo Geeks ups and downs through words and images.
As I sit hear in the window enjoying the rain. I look forward to the weekend in hopes that the ever changing weather will relent to our wishes that it be bright, sunny and welcome to all that respect its beauty. I remind us all, including myself, to enjoy every moment, place and the people who improve your life with their mere presence.
Recently, while out and about, we stopped at a farm stand to pick up some fresh groceries to take home and enjoy. Like with most farm stands, there were some animals and a small area for feeding. I was lucky to capture a moment where a couple of goats were checking me out rather than ignoring me while going about their business. For as long as I can recall, I’ve always savored the moments I had out of the city. Having images to take home and enjoy are priceless. This was definitely one of them.
As we drove across the vast farmlands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. My wife turned to me and asked what it was about these trips that brought such excitement and admiration. I said, “Think of all those TV shows and movies where the subject who grew up on a farm and the experience of wonderment they experience upon arriving in the big city. Now reverse it and take the city boy out to the country. (Omitting all the cliche Hollywood troupes where the character scoffs at the idea before learning a life altering lesson.)” As someone who’s closest experience with camping was as a drunken teen falling asleep on a rock in New York City’s Central Park. A trip to the country is pretty damn cool.
One more review. One more interview. One more trip to the record store. One more photo. One more unnecessary thing to purchase. It never ends until the day you… well, you know. I’ve been a lot more mindful of this in recent years. Focusing more on health, diet and finding a disconnection from the things that bring on stress and anxiety. Not that I’ve dedicated my time to building a doomsday bunker or burying my proverbial head in the sand. It’s more of a dedication to prioritizing and, focusing on the truly important things. This morning we ventured out to the city and battled pigeons for land and food rights. That’s the kind of happiness I seek. Finding those little moments.Ones I might soon forget, but surely revisit in future times. It’s as simple as that, Simon. Find your inner peace. Wherever it might be.
I’ve always enjoyed that hour or so before the sun rises. The air seems cleaner, the scent is much different from any other part of the day, and the quiet solitude has a charm all it’s own. I cherish these moments and try to participate in them whenever possible. On a recent pre-dawn walk, I arrived home just as the sun began to show itself. The rental across the street from me that was still be constructed when we moved here in 2021, is finally active. I snapped this at about an hour before the hustle and bustle of the rush hour began. Rewarding, to say the very least.
An Ethiopian breakfast in Washington DC. A stop at the old familiar and nearby National Harbor and our first, and probably last reminder to never again indulge in fast food, marked a pretty damn good beginning to our first full weekend since my wife travelled to Tokyo to visit her family. As much as I enjoy my solitude. I am forever grateful to have such a wonderful person to share my life and travels with. Like a ferris wheel. Life is full of ups, downs and in-betweens. Having someone special to experience it with, only makes the road worth traveling.
Since moving back east, we’ve been to over twenty breakfast joints. Eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bottomless breakfast bowls and countless other breakfast dishes. Yet, for some reason, trips to random Waffle House locations excite me like no other. I took this picture a few weeks back on our way home from Philadelphia. Though I ordered a breakfast bowl. This marked the first time we ever had dinner at one of their locations.Here’s to starting the day off right. Or, in this case, ending one on a positive.
Growing up in New York City, the closest I ever came to a cow was eating a cheeseburger at a local bar my Dad frequented. In my late teens, I was introduced to vegetarianism through some close friends. Since then, I’ve developed a love and admiration so strong that the mere sight of cows grazing in the distance brings me a childish joy that would be hard to describe. I found myself within a few feet of a group of cows feeding just outside a nearby farm. I patiently watched, hoping they’d come within a distance of my newish 100 -400 mm lens. Some of the cows came so close that I could reach out to pet a couple and communicate with a few moos’ despite the overwhelming midday sun. I managed to capture a few shots without reaching for my flash.
When we’re young, we can’t wait to grow up. Then as we grow up, and inevitably grow older. We often reflect on our youth, wishing we could go back, or get some sort of redo. When recently watching a classic movie from my teens “The Breakfast Club.” Alley Sheedy’s character Allison laments “When you grow up. Your heart dies.” As an older person, I can’t help but feel the disconnection between generations and how we often discount, or completely write off the impact that each have, and continue to contribute on a daily basis. When we learn to become better listeners, I’m sure we can reconnect, share, and learn from one another. I captured the images below years ago while in downtown New York City. I refer to them when I feel an absence of balance and understanding. Reminding myself that, no matter how old I get in numbers. I should always remain open minded and young at heart.
As I continue dumping old, and not up to snuff images that occupy my computers overflowing hard drive. I’ve come to a indisputable conclusion that, being on, or close to the water, brings the best out of me. Regardless on whether it’s the beach, the boardwalk, a fountain, or a good old fire hydrant. Water has a calming quality that gives me the chance to relax, and free my mind of any troubles or distractions. As I continue to better understand what makes me tick. I’ve come to realize that I, myself, and countless others greatly benefit from its energy and the calm it often brings. In observing my own behavioral patterns. I find that putting myself in that environment makes me a better person and a better photographer.
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