and now for something completely different.....

Trying something new here. Just wanted to share some more of the Oregon trip.

Flagstaff ... and stuff

So .... Pris and I went to the opening night reception in Flagstaff last saturday at the Coconino Center for the Arts. I was very pleased to see my photo prominently displayed just as you walk into the gallery. There was a very good turnout of people (maybe a hundred or so when we were there), and even some red dots going on some pieces all ready. Lots of impressive works. I want to go back again (maybe next saturday) when I can look at things without alot of people around. Hopefully, this one will sell too.

And..... I got my grant application completed, so that's in the works. Just won't hear til next March ! All in all, its been a busy month. Still have to sort through all my Oregon photos to find the keepers, and put some up on the website.

Just an observation I noticed the other day .... I've found that since our library is selling used books and magazines, that I now go to the library to buy books and magazines, and go to the book store to read them, but not buy them !

WOW !!

Just got back from a "worldwind tour" of the NW corner of Oregon and into Washington. What a place ! Such diversity .... I really can see why people move there. Granted, I was there under postcard perfect weather conditions, but still the water, and mountains, and trees, and ocean, all different from any I've seen. Having said that, though, parts of it did remind me of upperstate Maine, the dairy farms of Vermont. But, the people are friendly and courteous, the waterfalls are amazing, the ocean changes from day to day, and they have pirates ! Four days of travel and sightseeing was way too short. I took 700 photos and I'm still sorting through them, but I definitely will be planning a longer visit in the near future. Like New England, Autumn and Spring must be spectacular. If you ever have the opportunity to go to that part of the country, do not hesitate. Around every corner, you'll be saying "wow" !

Time for a shift

So .... I've gotten juried into another gallery exhibition. This is encouraging, but slow progress. One piece at a time. I've decided that it's now time to start exploring all my avenues with renewed vigor, as the politicians would say. I've recently upgraded my camera and have resolved to take my art to the next level. I'll let you know when I find out what and where that next level is. At any rate, my curiosity and desire to improve and experiment with my craft has been restored. It's been a busy summer, and I've learned a lot (and found that I have so much more to learn), and it's been exciting again. Tomorrow, I'm sharing an adventure in Oregon with my wife. I've never been there, but have heard so much. The opportunities for new sights and new ways of looking are unbounded. I can't wait.

no such thing as coincidence

who would have thought .....I know, my wife did from the start.

Just by chance, I discovered that an art gallery in Maine was having a "call to artists" for a juried show. "coincidence" no. 1; the gallery is in the same town that our very dear and close friends live in.

"coincidence" no. 2; the juror of the show happened to be the former director of the phoenix art museum (now living in Maine).

"coincidence" no. 3; that another show I submitted to in Flagstaff, AZ was listed on the Maine Commission of the Arts website.

So... having only one week to prepare, I scrambled around, developed two images for submission, put together the materials, and on the sunday before the day to mail the pieces, I found a giclee printer who did a marvelous job. Bottom line, not only did the two pieces get there in time, but one of them (the one shown here) got in, and was judged third place ! Yikes !! who would have thought ? So, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all those that have had faith in me, and supported me. ESPECIALLY my wife !

Remembering

this week I "remembered", was reminded, just how easy it is to get sucked into the cynicism and me-first attitude of the so-called "real" world. This week we had the pleasure of being in the company of one of our grandsons. He is three years old, and his being just lights up with delight at the simplest things. It was just so much fun to share in that delight, to laugh at the "threat" of being tickled.

We "grumps" (grown-ups) all too easily, and almost willingly, forget that there really is more to life than simply going to work and earning a living. Living... what an all-encompassing word. We really do NEED to step out and just breath in the world with all our being. Some people might consider it a vacation from the "real" world .... I consider it a vital and integral part of being real.

Jerome Lock - Up

so .... I was fortunate enough to get juried into my first venture in an art gallery exhibition. I attended the opening night reception with a friend, and discretely observed people looking at, and discussing my works. It was a very new experience for me, almost out of body type experience, to see strangers interested in my work. I didn't win any awards, but I was extremely ecstatic when three weeks later, I went back to the gallery to pick up my pieces at the end of the exhibiton, and found that one of them (this one shown) had actually sold ! This feeling of being acknowledged and appreciated, I think, can become very addictive. I can't wait for the next one. Now begins the search for more opportunities.

Return to Fay Canyon

it's only been a week since my last visit, but there is something warm and inviting in this canyon. This time, I brought friends and family to share the sights and sounds. It was mid-day and the colors were vivid. Of course, there were many more other visitors, but they seemed to be as respectful of the space as we were, and all were smiling.

When we reached the end of the canyon that I had reached before, I had to turn around and take in the view once again. With all the colors, the scene was very awake and simply took our breath away.

greetings .....

the purpose of this site is to share images, thoughts, ideas, feelings ..... and evoke responses to those images. one of my impressions of landscape photographers is that they tend to attempt to awe the viewer with majestic panoramas of places the viewer may or may not have visited, but at least has some familiarity with. I, on the other hand, strive to suggest a sense of intimacy between the viewer and the subject of the image. many times the image will be one that the viewer has passed by often but perhaps has not looked at it in a manner that I may present. the intimacy begins with that familiarity.

this image began with a quiet walk by myself up Fay Canyon in Sedona, 6 a.m., Easter morning. all was quiet except for a few birds and the breeze in the trees. it was my first visit to this canyon, and was quickly enveloped within ... losing all sense of time, place, purpose .... simply being. after awhile, I reached not the end, but for that morning, for me, the end ... I climbed up this rock face and finally turned around to view the morning arrival. this image is that view, as I turned around and saw the sunlight waking the giants of Sedona. I no longer felt alone ...........