Bronwyn in garden tomato house, from "America at Home" book

This past year I was involved with the America at Home project and this photo ran in it.  Recently this image appeared on the Martha Stewart show. At the time of this assignment, I knew they would choose this photo. For most of that summer,  Bronwyn slept in the garden to protect her plants from the deer.

Today, I photographed great friend, Flint in the Hui pool. Actually, I was really interested in his new tattoo that took months to do. This image is so personal to him and symbolizes his spiritual path and, in fact his life. The carp’s struggle through the rapids, tells of man’s quest for enlightenment and the difficulties along the way.

So three of us collaborated as we photographed in the pool. We had a good dialogue and checked out the images as they came up. I even shot a few in infrared as I knew that the water would turn black and the skin would turn white. I have photographed tattoos before in IR. All the stuff of loosing myself in the moment didn’t happen so much, but we had a wonderful time catching up.

Where things got interesting was once I downloaded the images into my computer. The graphic quality of the IR especially captured me. Soon, I was off on an inner adventure pulling in the full gamut of the potential of Photoshop, Nik’s filters, tone mapping and noise reduction. The only intention here was to communicate the power of this tattoo and it’s innate aliveness with Flint.  My only guide in this process was the spark of excitement in me that guided the way through a whole world of potentials and opportunities that these programs offer. So here I sit indoors and lost in the process, filled with new enthusiasm. I just love it when time flies by and I’m having so much fun. I can’t think of a better way to honor and connect with a friend. Thank you, Flint.

With the photography class over and my final day with Jonathan coming to a close, I can feel the pace of my life about to slow down. So much has transpired in the last two weeks: a new computer system and time capsule hard drive backup, reorganizing and updating all of my systems inside, also learning new techniques in my photographing with my camera and computer programs. With all this has come a new excitement as I digest and assimilate all of this newness. A quiet confidence seems to be creeping in with my relationship the computer.

I’m slowing down so that I can notice things like this driveway (see photo) that I walk back and forth on all day. Occasionally, I take a photograph that reminds me of the beauty that is part of my everyday life.  This process fills me with gratitude.  I’m left to ponder what qualities does this simple gratitude feel like ? The most immediate responses that arise in me are a sense of fullness and contentedness that leave me quieter and at peace. My hope is to return more often to this place in me and to thank those who help along the way. For now thank you Brontums  for all your behind the scenes coordination that make everything here at the Hui seem to flow so smoothly. Jonathan , thank you for all that you have taught me and for helping me to open the doors to new areas of creativity, all presented in such an easy manner. To our Hui staff, thank you for all the care you give in moving this endeavor most gracefully onwards. Each of you truly are  an inspiration.

Here we sit again on the porch, hopefully quenched, at least full from a week of wonderful sharing, encouraging and witnessing our photographic process.  Like a gardener watching his plants, I feel this year will be a bumper crop ready to be harvested in each of your lives.  

This week is about fertilizer – a fertilizer for the soul that waters your being so you may come to your full blossom and live at the cusp of your overflowing cup.  What does this look like? What does this have to do with Photography?  Photography as a discipline has led me to a fullness of living, a place where I connect to my inner being and, from that place, to all life.  Here I disappear and blend with all that surrounds me.  When I can be fully in this place, it takes my breath away, time stands still and all the worries in my small world disappear.  In those moments, I am overwhelmed by beauty and gratitude.  I breath in and notice a large wave coming my way and about to engulf me.  I grab my tripod and move before it is to late.  (photo above).  Later with the image, I can write and re-live much of what occurred.  

This week I touched that place in me and witnessed it in each of you.  Both in-front and behind the camera, our link to each other was exposed as we were in this quest together, tantalized at the throne of discovery.  Revealed was a passion for seeing, for being alive and being part of the life that surrounds us.  Thank you for helping to create the circumstance and opportunity that allowed this to happen.  

May the fragrance of the moments we shared water your beings and bring them to full bloom through your creativity in your life, world and together through this inspiration we heal… even possibly in this moment our world.