Radiant Leaves

A local gallery (Art Gallery 66) recently had a call for art submissions for their fall theme, "Radiant Leaves".

I was going to submit something for the call, but y'know...I never got "a round tuit"!

Sigh...best laid plans, huh?

These were some possible contenders for submission. Any guess on which one I would've chosen?

We are offically in the autumnal equinox. I love this time of year as the temperature of the air is within that oh so perfect range of comfort. Crisp, cool mornings. Warm enough during the day to still wear shorts and flip flops (we call them rubbah slippahs in Hawaii). The light in the morning and especially late afternoon; Debussy-like in it's quality and so very magical. I wish I could linger in this light forever...

This change of season beauty is full of sharp contrasts for me. It is when my eyes and heart are 'widest open'. Open to recieve the beauty, the splendor, the glory of it all and the painful reminder of what no longer is.

It's been eleven years, Em and I still miss you. I always will...

You've Got Mail!

In the midst of reorganizing image files I stumbled onto these two shots that were taken a year and a half apart. They made me smile because of what they had to say and the medium used to say it on!

The "Junk Mail" trash can is located in Bernalillo and the "House Trash " is near a roadside stop on the way to Taos just as you come around the bend and see the mighty Rio Grande Gorge.

Vanitas

It was a beautiful fall day. Although, technically for 2008, the autumnal equinox will not take place until the 22nd of this month at precisely 15:44. Well, the air, the light, the cues all around say it is fall. Our backyard I think, is quite magical at this time of year. My garden is not completely spent and still putting forth its last 'hurrah' before the first fall freeze comes along in late October. Today was no exception. I hadn't planned on taking pictures, but I couldn't help myself when I spied a rose that I had pruned a few days ago on the ground looking rather abstract. For me, images like this are akin to the symbolic images the Dutch painters used in their still life thematic paintings of "Vanitas".

But, what really made me run in to get the camera was this scene of a Praying Mantis in my bird bath (which currently is more like a bee bath than a bird bath since the birds won't come with the bees claiming it as their watering hole). Ms. Mantis had snatched an unsuspecting bee as her meal for the day. She was munching away at it in the bird bath and decided to move to a different location since the bee's comrades were not too happy with her aquisition. Click on the image to get a close up view and you'll get a good look at one of those unhappy bees buzzing above her.

Here, on the underside of the bird bath, she finds a bit more peace. As I was taking these shots, my hamstring cramped up on me (due to putting myself in unnatrual positions to get the shot). Agitated bees are flying by my head as I try to get a shot that would be in focus. Hard to do with a macro lens when the subject matter is constantly moving. Oh, and I am deathly allergic to bee stings. But, never mind! This was too fascinating to pass up!

She finally climbs down to the very bottom near the ground, away from the angry bees and finishes her meal in peace. What's even more amazing is that many years ago in our backyard, I witnessed a Praying Mantis devouring a bumblebee it snagged off of the hummingbird feeder. Eeks!

Moon Flower and the Harvest Moon

Jimson weed flower AKA moon flower. It does look like the moon somehow, doesn't it?

So, did you see the full moon last night? This moon qualifies as the Harvest Moon. Remember my lava shots on the Big Island back in July where I belly ached about not having a tripod? Well, I still don't have a tripod! But, it makes for an interesting image, nonetheless.

I like how you can see all the craters in this shot. If you click on the image, you'll be able to get a larger version of the image. So, there you have it, the Harvest Moon.

1950 Chevy 3600

I've been MIA again...blame it on the kitchen remodel. It does interrupt my daily flow of life!

It's not that I haven't been taking pictures. I have.

It's not that I have nothing to say. I do.

I just think that my blogging groove is temporarily derailed. But, until I get back in the groove (I think I have at least 3 1/2 more weeks of disruption before I get to reclaim it as mine) I have this eccentric shot for you.

I always photograph this truck when we go up to the Taos Ski Valley. This is in the village of Arroyo Seco and this truck belongs to the Arroyo Seco Mercantile Store. It still runs. It's a 1950 Chevy 3600 pick up truck.

We, as a collective group of human beings should reconsider how we treat things that are old and run down. My friend Paddy, he's 90 years old and his memory is sharper than any of us. His left leg is swollen and causing him grief. The doctor doesn't seem to be terribly concerned about finding out what is causing this swelling and pain. Doesn't even want to test for things like pulmonary embolism, for what can be done if it were? It seems that once you are deemed old by the medical profession, less effort is put forth to diagnose and administer appropriate treatment. It's like becoming the living dead.

Uh oh...I've written myself into a corner! I dont' want to end this post on this note, but at any rate, keep reminding yourself to stay connected to your sense of humanity. Treat others as you would like to be treated. It's too easy to loose sight of!