Upon Reaching the top of the mountain,
After so much effort, sacrifice and toil,
You might find it isn't what you imagined it would be.
Upon Reaching the pinnacle of success,
After so many failures, obstacles and pain,
You just might find yourself staring longingly at where you used to be.
There are no guarantees that the flowers are any sweeter, lusher or brighter than the flowers are where you are now and entertaining such thoughts only invites unhappiness.
Consider that perhaps it is neglect that may be the only reason your flowers are not blooming and that theirs are because of their hard work and effort. Try instead to tend your own flowers instead of coveting someone else's, you just might be surprised by the results.
Learning to love and accept yourself for who you are while you develop the talents your ancestors gave you is the simplest and natural way to find contentment and peace. Futilely striving to be somebody or something that you are not capable of, that is embracing misery.
"places to hunt places to hide are getting harder to find, and pet canaries and goldfish too, did you notice that?" - Charles Bukowski
The Great Blue Heron is a patient hunter, slowly gliding though the water watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It is quite exciting to come across a Heron going about its business, which is usually eating or sleeping and sometimes grooming.
It takes a lot of fish to fill up one of these massive birds, and not just fish. Basically anything small enough to fit down its throat will be consumed, so be warned when photographing these beautiful birds.
In order to photograph a hunting Heron you have to move a stealthily and slowly meditatively and with purpose, as they do. There is something magical about witnessing this gorgeous bird going about its business naturally, without the slightest clue it was also being hunted. Fortunately for it I was only hunting for its beauty with my camera lens. Although it was a lot of fun, I too grew hungry and decided to call it a day. The Heron, also still hungry was still hunting when I left and it is very likely that he or she is still hunting now.
“Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.”
― William Butler Yeats
Although I could never do the mountains justice or capture their full beauty, I would like to share these images of some sites that never fail to take my breath away and humble me all at once. To see the land from the sea is an incredible experience, and when I do I cannot help to feel that everyone she be able to take in these breathtaking sites.
Uninspired,
Undesired,
Sitting on a Fence,
Boredom is Intense.
It is that time of year again, where the flicker’s are drumming to attract a mate. They are the percussionist’s in the annual spring bird symphony that is performing now.
This is for the people who are suffering in the DTES and beyond, for the homeless, the vulnerable, the sick, the elderly, the veterans, the workers, the used and abused whose suffering and hardship has too long been ignored.
This image of the DTES is from my archive
Being Erased,
Being Ignored,
Being vulnerable and ill and violated and abused by those who are responsible for your protection and care.
This image of the DTES is from my archive
We know how it began,
the question is
Why doesn’t it end?
We are all in the same boat,
don't feel left out,
your turn will soon come.
“Despite all I have seen and experienced, I still get the same simple thrill out of glimpsing a tiny patch of snow.”
Edmund Hillary
Freshly failing snow, winter waves and mountain peaks are an irresistible and breathtaking combination. Nature is a humbling, exquisite and generous, and a far greater artist than I could ever hope to be.
“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off – then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.”
Herman Melville
There is something magical and calming about the rhythmic, undulating salty sea which never fails to summon me down to the shoreline to groove with the motion of the ocean. The challenge of timing my shots to capture the crash of the wave exploding on the surface is always good fun and like Melville did I believe doing this helps keep me healthy. And when you know something is good for people it is traditional, in many cultures, to share it so they can feel better as well.
“There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath.”
For those of you who cannot physically get to the seashore to enjoy a minutes peace and relaxation by without being soaked through by salt water and rain while being blasted by frigid wind gusts this video is for you.
Be good to each other!
Filmed during a storm in Sechelt (shíshálh) BC, Canada with a Campark trail camera, video edited with kdenlive.
In this episode of the Jawshop Paul supplements the studio church organ with a liberal addition of bricks in order to convert it into a midi pad. If you would like to hear the results of his efforts check out the video below.
The University of East Hastings 