Fence

Fence, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

Fences are made to keep somethings in - dogs, construction materials and such. They are also made to keep somethings out - people, thieves, peeking eyes and so on. Every once in a while though, a fence can serve a glorious purpose. This fence was the backdrop and cage for girls softball recently. I loved the soft evening light and the abstract creation of the bats, the batting gloves and the chainlink. I am printing this one large as a memory of the marvelous carefree days of youth. We adults build fences to keep ourselves from life. How are your fences making your life difficult?

Sin Sombra

Sin Sombra, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

Sin sombra means "shadowless" in Spanish. I originally created this piece with a small shadow hanging over the window. Sometime later I learned that the transparency that we hoped for in the new administration will have lots of places for shadows. It seems that there have been such detestable atrocities at the behest of the US military and intelligence organizations that the expected transparency is becoming opaque. Opaque can be shadowless, though. Darkness can certainly be shadowless since one needs some light to create shadows. If we are to become something other than a shadow of our former selves, we have to be willing to look in all the dark and creepy places where we have tolerated evil; contemplated marginal morality, and turned our heads in the interest of a "post 9-11" world security structure. If we simply become what we have detested all along, all the shadows will be free to roam the earth. That would be Hell instead of Heaven. I'm just saying...!

Spring

Untitled, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

Arrives here in the northern latitudes. We get beautiful days and cool evenings. We have almost no bugs yet. Life is good. This is an example of a flower from a natural light/available light workshop I organized this most recent month. Flowers make such great subjects because they don't usually move. Color is almost always an issue too. This time was late afternoon (golden hourish) and slightly overcast. Couldn't really ask for more.