Classics

Can you tell that I'm thinking about a series on old classic american cars (and their owners)? Maybe it's just that I want to relive those much simpler and slower times. I saw an interview with Ron Howard last night and he said that there really wasn't a Mayberry. Well, I'm not going to argue with "Opie", but if the town I grew up in wasn't just like Mayberry, it sure was really close to it. Everyone knew eachother (by first name), house and car doors were never locked, and grade school kids could safely walk the two miles home from school. Things were built to last, and craftsmen took pride in their work. And . . . . I really like old cars. Besides the "Big Three", there were Desoto, Hudson, Packard, Allard, LaSalle, Studebaker, and a host of other independent manufacturers. Talk about American originality !

Oh well, I'm still working out the details. More later.

Shiny

There's just something about a vintage ZR1 corvette engine done in chrome. The combination of curves and angles and wires . . . . and how it all comes together as a finely tuned machine is a fine piece of art. Art that is not only pleasing to the eye, but also performs a function, like a mechanical swiss clock. When you see something like this, you just have to step back, take a breath, and smile.

Springtime in Arizona

For those of you who don't know . . . . this is an ocotillo in full bloom ! Beautiful isn't it ? This one stands about 8 feet tall. Spring in the desert, especially a wet Spring, really brings out the colors like you wouldn't expect.

So, now you know what an ocotillo is, and what it looks like. Hope you get to see it in person sometime.

Experimentation

Don't you love discovering something new. I found some software that I started playing with, and really like the effects I'm getting. It doesn't work on all types of images, but some of the shots just come alive after using this software. It's like looking at the world through new eyes. Sometimes, things can get alittle stale, or you get stuck in a rut because you keep doing the same thing, or become so set in your ways, that you think all your images should evoke a certain style because "you" did them. Well, with this software, it's like every picture is Christmas morning. It's such a wonderful surprise everytime you tweak it one way or the other. It's really keeping things fresh for me. I think I'll try to use that attitude in my every day living. Like every morning I wake up with some new software to try out and see the day in a different light. Might be interesting.

Confirmations

It's always great when providence, spirit, karma, whatever you want to call it, gives you a message where and when you least expect it. Pearl and I were out exploring again today at someplace new north of Paulden, and found ourselves in a dry creek bed of lava rock doing what we do best, wandering, when we walked through a tunnel and on the other side, discovered some great colorful graffiti. Now I understand graffiti is vandalism, but this was in an area of very low exposure... and some very clever stuff. From there, we made our way downstream to a very high railroad overpass and on the overpass, perhaps two hundred feet above us was the graffiti that I've shown here. It wasn't until I got home, and looked at it, that I read what it said. "ASK". How many times have you, as I have been all too often, simply not taken the time to ask? Ask for directions .... ask for help .... ask for understanding .... It just made me stop and think, and tell myself that it is ok to ask.

What a great weekend this has been !

New discoveries

It's kind of funny where you end when you take one right turn after another. My wife showed me this wonderful place to explore yesterday by just telling me "take the next right, then take another right, and when you get to the stop sign, take a right".... well, you get the picture. At any rate, we ended up at this abandoned salt mine that was great fun to wander around.

So, today, we're off on another adventure. No clue where we're going. Maybe this time, we'll just turn left ! You just never know where you'll end up.

Whew ! what a month !

March is a great month. Not only the start of Spring, and all green things growing, but this is becoming a very busy month, workwise. First, I have the New Frontiers show continuing through the entire month. I've been getting good responses from that show and hopefully, it will open up other opportunities. Second, I've gotten two larger pieces juried into the current exhibition at the Sedona Arts Center. Pearl and I attended the opening night reception this past friday, and I was very gratified with the comments I received. I was also invited to submit my work for consideration of display on a semi-permanent basis. And thirdly, I was just notified that a piece I had submitted to the "Keep Sedona Beautiful" group has been awarded Honorable Mention, and will be on display March 27th with the other winning photos at a public reception.

WHEW !!! This is great ! I really like being busy like this and hope it continues. Now to search for more opportunities.