Day One - Square One

Today was the first time I actually got to really work with Jesi. After a few meetings to discuss our goals and how best to work together we FINALLY had a session. It wasn't about the setting, or being "artistic" in the sense of trying to create a stunning visual piece. Instead it was all about the camera gear. You see the icing on my cake is that not only is she an amazing figure model, but she is herself a talented photographer. And she shoots with Canon gear! So today we talked about projects, reviewed what gear I bring to the table and then we played with light. I made it training lesson how to use High Sync Speeds on flashes. We worked on fill flash and I demonstrated the whole, what and why of how I set my gear. It's so awesome to work with a model and a photographer all in one! We even played with colored gels to emulate sunshine. What I'm really excited about are some of the business ideas we're coming up with. Hmmmm....

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Intentions

This is my spiritual "gym." This was my place of truths. My place of self reflection. Once I walked around this stupa alone in thought, in all weather. As I approached it I conjured the inner darkness to rise to the surface of my soul. Those dark fluttering bits of dark thoughts, like the shadows of the prayer flags on the cobblestones. I learned to calm those thoughts, to sooth myself. The whispering prayers on the little flags caressed my face as I circled. Brought to light the shadows all fade, loosing their inky mystery. They are just the shape of things being defined by light after all. It's that definition by the light that draws me. I guess it's why I am a photographer, a painter with light in what ways I can. One artistic dream I have always had is having a creative partner and model to work with. A human figure to paint with light, using the shadows to define the whole. I met just the right person at this very spot. We walked and spoke of who we were as people. As I looked into her eyes I saw a reflection of my "self." we shared truths and agreed to work together. I've a new sister. I'm so excited with ideas of what we can create I've not been sleeping much.

Now Repeat After Me...

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Foragers Return

There's a large colony of Cliff Swallows right under the 528 North bridge over Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, PA. My father lives only a few miles away and I have seen them there for many years. Believe it or not I'd actually forgotten they were there as it's been so long since I've been there during nesting season. I witnessed large flocks of them arriving back to their nests with the morning's catch of insects freshly hatched off the lake. They'd all try to land and get inside to feed the young at the same time, resulting in little swarms of swallows. Once all the food was distributed I got to enjoy having them all fly in circles around me. They began to climb the warming air caused by the rising sun on the lake, the bridge itself caught the lite wind angling it upwards. I'd thought there were a lot just at the one little section of bridge I happened to be standing under. It wasn't until the entire flock, the whole bridge full in fact, was all the way up that I saw the size! I didn't even try to photograph the swarm as I became enthralled by just being in the moment. It was then that I noticed these two little guys peeking out of their mud houses.





Having spotted the colony of Cliff Swallows under the 528 bridge over Lake Arthur the day before I tried to time being there when they returned from foraging. When I first arrived there were no birds to be seen. Within moments the flock began to arrive. As one parent lands the others all must flutter in place while departing adults swoop away. The play of their shadows on the underside of the bridge caught my eye while I tried to frame and capture the fast action.

#cliffswallows #AmericanCliffSwallow #petrochelidon_pyrrhonota #petrochelidonpyrrhonota #swallow #birdie #birds #birdlovers #birdlove #birdlife #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdnerd #birdstagram #birds_captures #birds_adored #birdwatching #ornithology #morainestatepark #lakearthur #naturalpennsylvania #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #nature_perfection #naturelover #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside

Giant Jiu Jitsu

I have finally had time to sort through the many photos I took of my buddies sparring with , the Mahamed Aly. He's the 2018 IBJJF World Champion! Back in February of this year he conducted an eye opening seminar at Rise Up Martial Arts. Maybe I should say an "eye popping" because it was ALL about pressure! Anyway, a number of the upper belts had the pleasure of sparring with him in the morning, before the class. Me? As a lowly Blue couldn't join in the fun (whew...) so I photographed the fun. I have finally completed sorting and processing this really intense day of training. The gallery can be found on the front page.

#bjj #bjj4life #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsulifestyle #jiujitsu #graciejiujitsu #martialarts #grappling #bjjlife #jiujitsulife #fitness #gym #fighttraining #Selfdefense #bjjtraining #martialartslife #fitnessjourney #artesuave #oss #mma #graciejj #bjjmadison #bjjwisconsin #thalesblaso #mahamedaly #brutejitsu