The harsh environment of the desert claimed the life out of this bush. The intricacies of the branch work with ragged bark and bends this way and that give nice curves to the upward direction of the dead bush.
Archive for July, 2013
31
Jul
13
Photography: Oregon High Desert
The Southeastern corner of Oregon is a fascinating, rugged portion of the state. I have explored this region only a few times (Steens Mtns.), primarily headed through (in a hurry) to fly fishing destinations. When one views the scenery from a photographer’s eye you slow down to consider, to compose.
I was perusing some blogs this morning and came upon a photo of the Devetashka Cave in Bulgaria. I had never read about the cave before and was very impressed with the magnitude, beauty and history. Always something to learn!
A little more digging with Google Images etc. and I found several beautiful images of this cave and learned there are quite a few more to explore in Bulgaria.
Photo By Evgenidinev
“……studies showed that the Devetashka cave used to be inhabited (with some interruptions) during almost every historical era. The earliest traces of human presence date back to the middle of the Early Stone Age before about 70,000 years BC. The Devetashka cave is among the cave deposits with the richest cultural artifacts from the Neolithic (6th millennium – 4th millennium BC).”
Bronze Piece from the Devetashka Cave, 5th Century BC
My photographic efforts are a mix of inspirations. I am not schooled enough, if at all, to think technically about a shot beyond where’s the sun, framing it and trying to avoid background distractions. I really should study more…maybe some day.
In the meantime, I take photographs…images…based on some internal combination of decisions that flash up and say ‘I want that shot’ and the why’s beyond the immediate impulse are pretty sketchy.
Such was the case yesterday when I took one of those shots you see of train tracks going off into the distance………
Chelatchie Prairie RR (SwittersB)
It was an old track, it seemed, and this shot always draws me as lines fading away and some connection to history fading. I don’t so much think of where the tracks go to, but where they use to go and who built them and the history. I am often drawn to the past.
So, as often happens to me, a shot begs research to answer those questions at least in passing, out of curiosity. So I researched this rail line, the now Chelatchie Prairie RR line. I learned about the original intent (1880’s) to build a Vancouver, Wa. to Yakima, Wa. line but that failed. The train line did become a booming logging rail line between Yacolt, Wa. and Vancouver.
Ok, most of you won’t have the patience to sit through a 46 minute video of someone’s effort to record this rail line’s path through beautiful forests as if over a hundred years ago (save a few glimpses of modern day small towns). But I am including a video that some of you may want to at least glimpse a small segment of it…VIDEO HERE…excuse the 30 second ad clip on front end…watch a little bit of this video.
I am always intrigued by the clearing of the forest, the creation of the track bed and the effort that went into laying all that rail over a hundred years ago. The video from a ‘hi-rail’ or ‘creeper’ rig catches the warp of the tracks and the debris from storms along the way. A railroad buff will gleefully watch the whole video.
There are current efforts to restore the Chelatchie Prairie railroad.
28
Jul
13
Photography: Old Rose & Thorns
Some people grumble because Roses have Thorns…I am thankful that Thorns have Roses
Alphonse Karr
Gin Clear and Four Feet Deep…Beauty Beneath & On the Surface
The typical shoreline colors were enhanced here with yellow flowered vegetation.
This was a very small backwater area with its own mini waterfall and plunge pool.
28
Jul
13
Priorities: Now or Too Late?
Convicted Double Murderer Jimmy Glass’ final words before being electrocuted in Louisiana in 1987:
“I’d Rather Be Fishing” (Is this the origin of that frequently seen bumper sticker?)
Fishing, Family, Health, Gardening, Photography, Travel, Writing, Self….Do It Now?!
Here are three vid’s that I think most of you will enjoy. The whole brew takes about ten minutes to consume and is quite diverse. Enjoy the diversions (“something that distracts the mind and relaxes or entertains”).
The Hillbilly Dances with a Racoon and Risks All Manner of Harm
Waltz Around Saturn by Fabio Di Donato via Cassini Explorer…Cool
27
Jul
13
Writing: Norman Maclean’s Magic
Whether it is just that certain moment in life when events come clear or hindsight that provides wisdom and clarity, Norman Maclean has always resonated with me for those reasons. There, for me, is something quite magical about the man’s ability to paint a word picture that goes beyond the mind and into the heart, the gut, the soul. A few excerpts from A River Runs Through It.
“Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don’t know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them – we can love completely without complete understanding.”
“One of life’s quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful even if it is only a floating ash.”
“Many of us would probably be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect”
“The hardest thing usually to leave behind, as was the case now, can loosely be called the conscience.”
