A Summer Morning

I wasn't really looking for a photo like this to post but when I came across it, I was so powerfully reminded of what it feels like to stand in this place on a promising summer morning that I had to publish it. I can feel the humid breeze, I can sense the growing warmth of the sun and I can smell the wild prairie grasses. I also know that as I took this photo I was thinking about the kind of day of sailing I would have.This is all a sort of rapture for me and it is risky, given that summer is still 3 months away. But I can dream.

Hidden Blessing

As much as I dislike winter, I must say that there are some things I like about it. In this case I stepped out our front door with my camera to look for something photogenic in the aftermath of our last major snow storm (14" and wind). And I found a plant left over from last summer which had been dusted with fine snow.But I'd still rather be photographing green things. . .

Let It Snow?

I waded out to the mailbox in snow that is now about 10" deep to take this photo. Since then I would say we've had a few more inches. Plus wind. Let it snow? Really!

It's Getting Old!

You say "winter wonderland" and I say "I've had enough!" Yesterday the high temperature was -8 F.I say bring on the green grass and the daffodils. . .

Carlos

This is what South Dakotans do in their spare time - shovel snow from roofs. This is a shot of our acquaintance, Carlos, who seemed to be a little more enthusiastic than I was when he took shovel to snow on top of our house.Carlos is from California and he told me that where he used to live, he could drive a short distance to the beach. But he also told me that he could see snow on the mountains and that's how he preferred snow. For most of the winter, I've been able to look up and see snow on my roof but with all of the stories of roofs collapsing under heavy snow, I decided I needed to do something.I shoveled some of the snow but hiring Carlos was a better plan. Here's another photo that shows that in some places on our roof, we have at least 3' of snow!

Foot Steps

Foot steps left on a sandy beach are commonplace. Go ahead: do a Google search for "footsteps in the sand" and you'll see what I mean. But footsteps in frost? Those photos are hard to come by. So I am offering this picture of my footprints (high arches and all) for the world to enjoy.

Red Chaos

I've read that some scientists say there is no such thing as chaos - that Nature, in it's apparently random state, is really ordered and predictable. Smarter people than I will have to find order in today's jumble of berries and branches. And quite honestly, I don't mind a little chaos. . .

Late Start

We are used to snow in South Dakota, of course. But snow still has the potential to interrupt our routines. The last two days have seen 2-hour late starts in our schools. Thus, because I didn't have to be to work until 10 today, I found myself driving around looking for photo opportunities.Here, students are changing buses in front of the Middle School and I was struck by all the color, including the bright yellow of the school buses. Of course, it did occur to me as I was taking this photo it might seem strange that a man in a pick-up truck was taking pictures of kids getting out of school buses. But I don't think it's a crime, is it?

The Snowy Dog

People are crazy about their pets and I was certainly guilty of being crazy about our Springer Spaniel, Polly. She seemed to love life and everyone she met. Polly is long-gone now but I come across photos of her every once and a while - I had forgotten I had this one.

I Teach Photography. . .

I am an amateur photographer but I am a professional educator. I've taught English, history and philosophy for over thirty years. But this year I took on the task of teaching photography/media in a new program at the technical college in our town. And it has been a challenge. Today, I sent an email to my students, many of whom show promise and talent. If you'll forgive the personal nature of this, I'm going to let you in I what I said to them:

I think that most of you know that teaching my afternoon classes has been a challenge. In fact, I concluded yesterday that it is one of the most challenging things I have ever done. Four weeks ago, as I drove home from work on a Thursday, I was thinking that "I used to enjoy photography until I started to teach it."Why would I think this? The answer lies in that fact that for quite a few years, what I know about photography has best been revealed in my photos. My pictures are often my voice; but they can't really teach. So the challenge for me is figuring out how to translate what I have practiced and learned for many years into something that makes sense to enthusiasts like you.Here's what I know:Photography isn't a class. It isn't an assignment. And it isn't a job. For me, when I do photography right, it is transcendent: I lose track of time, and space and self. When I am truly engaged in photography, I am engaged in a silent conversation with my subject. The flowers and the leaves and the landscape talk to me and translating this process into something that makes sense to others is a supreme challenge.I also know this:You have done good work and you have talent, skills and curiosity that are worthy of my very best efforts. And you will continue to get that next semester.Thanks for choosing the Photo/Media option and thanks for choosing LATI. We have a lot to learn and I feel privileged to be in a position to help.

Thank you, APAD readers, for taking the time to view my posts from time to time. If no one visited my blog, it would still be a good for me to do. But that fact that on any given day 100 to 200 people stop by provides a good motivation for finding something to post every day.

Where Did All the Flowers Go?

If you are inclined to be philosophical, you might read deep, existential meaning into today's picture and the title I gave it. Yes, I suppose you could say, as Macbeth did, that life is a "walking shadow" and a "brief candle signifying nothing." And you could say that nothing better symbolizes this sentiment than twisted, dead flowers, bent by age and time, standing in a garden covered by snow.But don't give in to this depressing thought! Here's a happy thought: the flowers in this garden have gone to sleep and will soon wake up in all their glory. In fact in a few short days, the days will start getting longer. Spring and summer are surely around the corner. :-)Footnote:I read an interesting article that suggested that because Macbeth lived in a northern climate, with short winter days, he might have been so pessimistic because he was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If he and his Lady could have had a couple weeks on the beach in Mexico, the story might have been very different. . .

Tenacious

Once again, I made a foray into my neighbors' yard. It seems that the tulips, leaves and apples are occasionally more photogenic on the "other side." I have been watching these apples for a while and after our recent snow, thought I should capture a photo or two.To do this right, I need a ladder since the apples are about 10 feet up the tree. I also need better light, though this photo let me experiment with the flash exposure compensation built in to my camera.As a look at this photo, incidentally, I am wondering if the idea of Christmas ornaments (round balls on trees) was inspired by tenacious fruit that refused to fall?