One of those days and I've got nothing.

In the midst of a dozen. Can't seem to get any of them to gel.

Time to step back, surrender and allow.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Grand Canyon Adventure

Out of the Canyon at 330 this afternoon.

Up for work at 4 am.

No blog post today.

Now, for sleep.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

JacQue and Andy part 1

Dear JacQue and Andy,

 Here are some moments from your wedding that you may not remember, some you won't ever want to forget.

I've seen you two walk through some serious challenges that some couples never see even after they are married.

And that was before Kyle's passing. As we keep him in our hearts let him keep us in his eye. Big Quick is watching out for us all.

Ciao Bella,

Mazel Tov

Dano

Being useful to you ...

Is the greatest interruption my day can have.

That said, being interrupted by you gets me to the most useful purpose my day can have.

I may not make a photograph that changes someones day but, a kind (or harsh) word certainly has great power to do so.

So, I'll be making the photographs or whatever. Go ahead and interrupt me. I need the practice.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Elswhere.....

Oh, I've got plenty to write about. I'm just writing elsewhere.

The blog will have actual content tomorrow.

For now,

Ciao Bella.

Dano

Packing for Supai.....

I've definitely decided to follow the path of "Neue Film" on this year's trip to Supai.

Only one small part is up in the air: Which camera body?"

Here's the gear list:

Tripod
Speed Light
Wireless xmitter
Wireless Receiver
UV Filter
4 Stop ND filter
50mm f1.8
IR Pass filter*
D300
or
D70

You see, my D70 will shoot conventionally or in digital infra red. That will make some cool images. On the other hand, this would be a great chance to put the D300 through a shake down and pimp my friend Matt for all of his accumulated knowledge since he uses one in his kit.

Riordan Mansion, Digital IR

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions........


Ciao Bella,

Dano

Reflections on Neue Film

Well the experiment has begun.

I'm using my D70 and an old POS zoom that I've had for years. For now I'm simply exploring the Basic Daylight Exposure how that effects different scenes and where it shows up on the histogram.

All pretty dry and boring. Except that within the interpretation of these data lie the mysteries of the universe and the space/time continuum.

Maybe.

Who knows what will come of it for Monday's Blog.

Until then,

Follow your Tao, fear nothing and observe everything.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Today is a day for....Supai thoughts!

Going.

Sounds like a good idea. 8 days away!

 

You can still get in on this trip!

Ciao Bella,

Dano

JacQue and Andy's Wedding, preview continues...

Yup.

I've been using some of my blog time to process images from JacQue and Andy's Wedding.

So. That means you are off the hook from any deep eastern philosophical navel gazing and just get to share in the joy of some friends.

Today's preview is all about the bride.......

Ciao Bella,

Dano

More signs on the way.

Interesting thoughts on the lack of boundaries yesterday.

From the Tao Te Ching:

The Tao when it is brightest, appears to lack light;
To progress in it it is to appear to loose ground;
It's even way is rocky and jagged;
It's highest virtue rises from the depths
It's greatest beauty appears to offend the eyes;
And he who has most owns least.

It's solid truth seems ever changing;
It's largest square is cornerless;
It's great vessel is slow in the making;
It's sound is loud ,but it is wordless;
A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.

Which leads me to Neue Film, today.

As far as I can tell at this point, it's a philosophy. Technique seems to go too far.

http://neuefilm.com/

Explore. I believe I'd like to play with this.

We shall see.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Unlimited options

Last week I wrote about seeing the way as defined.

Yesterday (and on other occasions) I have  had the opportunity to see the way as so wide open and vast as to loose myself in with no direction and purpose.

Yesterday's Worldwide Photowalk was a great example. I wanted to participate but I felt completely unfocused.

My solution was this: I simplified my rig. One lens, one body. No toys. Then, I made one photograph. After that, all I had to do was walk. I had fulfilled the requirements of the photo walk and if a picture jumped out at me, so be it.

When the way leads me to a completely open place with no definition or clear boundaries all I need to do is keep moving forward. Putting some small boundaries on myself often gets me to crouch, bend or keep still revealing the image I'm looking for.


Ciao Bella,

Dano

JacQue and Andy Preview

480 miles as a photog/guest (great BBQ btw) at JacQue and Andy's Wedding. I had to get something up.

That's what I'm presented with. That's the Tao of my morning.

It was remarkable night for everyone.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

How big is your pedestal......

It was very common among eastern teachers to forbid that a religion be formed around their teachings. They did not wish to be placed upon a pedestal.

A colleague recently commented on the feeling of seeing another photographers work and simultaneously being inspired to go out and shoot while never wanting to make another photograph again.

I can't afford to put others up on a pedestal. I also can't afford to let someone else put me up there.

That sort of thinking leads me straight to my better than/less than mindset. That's where I'm only comfortable relating to you based on the roles of either being better than you or less than you. The concept of being equals, each with something unique to contribute, is just to much.

It's a mindset that separates me from others when I need them the most.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

The confins of the way

It's a great deal easier to stay on the way when I somehow feel that the way is in conjunction with my wants.

If this happens to be the case, it's a case of simple coincident. I tend to judge these times as "easy" or "good".  Of course, when the path before me isn't what I want I label these times as "hard" or "bad".

In those times when I can simply accept what is, The Way doesn't seem confining. My label's and judgements serve only to put barriers between me a sense of peace that comes when I follow the way without reservation.

Plus, following that path may lead me to a place I never imagined to photograph. Regardless of what my plans were.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Flagstaff Engagement Photography: Lexy and Mike

I have tried several times over the last year or so to get Lexy in front of the camera and it just hasn't worked out. Fortunately, along came Mike. Now I get the chance to have not one but, two people to shoot that the camera loves.

It would seem that this little spot on the banks of Beaver Creek (near Sedona in Red Rock country) is where Mike popped the question. Well done Mike! You got the girl and an amazing location for your engagement session.

No assistants. No back up. No problem. We even wound up with a friendly cloud or two floating by to soften the Arizona sun.

 

Congratulations, you two!

Thanks for binging me along.


Ciao Bella,

Dano

Finding my way....

Often I feel really out of place sitting here in the morning writing deep thoughts about deep subjects. It's the chaos of my inner dialog that telling me things that aren't true. Things like: "Who do you think you are writing this stuff?" I've tried to write at night but, that rarely works. Late in the day I'm hardly feeling creative (surly is more accurate). Also, I like the fact that this blog is rarely given too much forethought, it's pretty much a stream of consciousness.

So, why do it? Simply put, seeing my own truths out on the page/screen let's me either see them for their absurdity or their sanctity.

And what, pray tell, does this bit of introspective navel-gazing have to do with the Tao?

For me the essence of the Tao is allowing my way, my life direction, my photographs to emerge from the little spark of truth that lives inside of me. Bringing all of this out with no influence of what I think is right, what I think you want, what it will take for you to like me; that's what I'm seeking.

I've got too many blocks, reservations and impediments that I carry around with me. Paying attention to the way that is open frees my creative nature to just be and just create. I start with an idea and just let it grow. If I try to judge it and evaluate it the inherent truth of it gets lost.

And if I re-read this one more time, it won't get published.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Cottleston Pie

Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I reply
Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie.

Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken? I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply
Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie.

Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie,
A fish can't whistle and neither can I.
Ask me a riddle and I reply
Cottleston Cottleston Cottleston Pie.

A A Milne wrote this for Winnie the Pooh. 

Benjamin Hoff used it in the Tao of Pooh.

Lao Tzu (who didn't want to write anything)would have made good use of this.

Each of us is unique. Each of us is clever. Each of us is beautiful.

Today I can take my Cottleston Pie and find my own clever inside of it.

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Meanwhile on the way...

When I look, what do I see? How do I see? Do I perceive shapes and objects with clearly defined boundaries of black, white and color? Do I enjoy an enhanced sense of clarity at a distance only to find a softer level of definition closer in?

Taking a Taoist approach to my life, I often see my path clearly, though the center has much more resolution than the edges. All the while the edges give me the most room to explore my boundaries and still stay on, or at least in sight of the way.

Considering a photograph, do I see in clearly defined lines or just the perception of them as light turns to dark? Is my definition clear at a distance and softer close in? Intention? Accident? Happy accident maybe? When I pre-visualize an image am I seeing an over view or very specific minutiae?

I always try to be willing to surrender a photograph to the Tao. If I have a concept at the start and a different image begins to reveal itself, I will always be happier and find more peace with the image that is. I'm not suggesting a failure of control here. I am saying that if presented with two images, the one I wanted to make and the image that I allow to reveal itself,  I'm always going to enjoy the one revealed by the Tao on a deeper level.

Off to wander,

Ciao Bella,

Dano

Infrequent Hiatus

Ciao Bella,

Dano

I said I was going to do this, so....

Once again,I've been looking at some Taoist concepts in my life lately. One key element has been the exercise of seeing and then following the way. In Judeo-Christian terms, I might say "following God's will for me." Not quite the same, but it gets the point across well enough.

It always seems that once I can separate me from my self The Way becomes clear. But, what does The Way look like?

What defines a path? Is it the borders, the boundaries or maybe the limitations that make The Way possible to follow and other routes, less so?

Making photographs can be similar for me. What defines an image? Composition? Energy? Motion? Subject?

Is an image a matter of capture or creation? Both? In varying degrees? Capturing with a specific creation in mind?

As I look back on this entry I can see that on element of my life is still clear. I do better with questions than answers. Questions keep me searching, answers leave me complacent.

Ciao Bella,

Dano