Sometimes, it's just the lines.
The intersections & collisions. The mix of new and old, of sun and shade, of hand-painted and computer-created - and, once in a while, a burst of something organic.
I guess because I've been away recently, the lines of Sydney are fresh to me again…
“Duality
WHO gave thee such a ruby flaming heart
And such a pure cold spirit? Side by side
I know these must eternally abide
In intimate war, and each to each impart
Life from its pain, in every joy a dart
To wound with grief or death the self allied.
Red life within the spirit crucified,
The eyes eternal pity thee: thou art
Fated with deathless powers at war to be,
Not less the martyr of the world than he
Whose thorn-crowned brow usurps the due of tears
We would pay to thee, ever ruddy life,
Whose passionate peace is still to be at strife,
O’erthrown but in the unconflicting spheres.”
It’s so hard to believe September’s here already. When the season began I couldn’t wait to slide my kayak into those Richelieu waters...and now here we are. As the famous Doctor Who once said: whatever you do, don’t blink.
Much more majestic in person...
Yesterday—Labour Day—felt like the very last opportunity to get out there, so I did. I drove a few kilometres further up the river this time and found a bay—shallow waters for the most part so no motorboats. As I left the shore, I noticed two huge birds standing next to each other on a small sandbank...American Bald Eagles. I wasn’t aware it was even possible and had to double check when I returned home: they’re extremely rare in our zone but not unheard of. One of them flew away but I managed a crappy phone shot (through a waterproof enclosure), to show the kids. I could’ve paddled closer but didn’t—call it the respect of the invader.
I stopped in a creek further off, grabbed a few images to act as markers (with my older X100T), had a drink of water...then storm clouds moved in.
Curtain call.
My friend Steven needed to go to Glasgow today to film some B-roll for a project he's working on. So I tagged along and shot some street while he grabbed some footage. It wasn't intentional, but when I started to look at the photos in Lightroom tonight, There was more than a few people lost in their phones.
The world is a beautiful place!
Life is far too short!
These things are worse than the crack pipe!
I'm back in the UK after five weeks in Spain and I'm back with the proverbial 'bump'.
I had a wedding to shoot in the heart of the Lake District on Saturday and knowing that a nearly four-hour drive was too much before the wedding, I headed off on Friday morning.
I expected a leisurely four hour tootle up the motorway but my luck was well and truly out. That four-hour journey turned into just over ten hours. Broken Britain.
My mind meandered endlessly back to Spain, the sunshine, the fun, the relaxation but I guess this is the fuel that allows that dream to fire each Summer.
After the wedding, the journey kept on track. Just around four hours. I'd gone from 32-degree relaxation conditions to rain, wind and motorway service stations at 2 am in the space of 48 hours.
When I get back I meet our new rescue puppy for the first time. His name is Monty. So far, he doesn't seem to like me. Nor does our Whippet seem to like him.
As I stare at myself at 3:30 am in the mirror before I hit the sack I ponder, over this cliche image, how things change so suddenly and so dramatically.
I make my way to my bed, to find Albie comfortably hogging my space. A sigh. But I can't wake him.
Today, Sunday, we take the puppy for a walk and try and get the pooches to bond a little. I'm not sure it's working. Yet.
I love our hilltop town of Malmesbury. I feel very lucky to be bringing our family up here. But it's not quite the same as the valley of Mizala in Adalucia.
Everywhere I look there are memories of our time in Spain. Rosa is heading off on a school residential for a week tomorrow. As she checks her notes, she is still basking in the tan, the bangles and the hair braids from the beach.
We'll all miss Rosa when she goes for the week. She's never been away from us that long. Gemma and I are fairly anxious. Rosa, it seems, can't wait.
And the pooches. There seems to be a bit of a standoff.
I'm sure it will be fine. Right?
BY BERT STEPHANI
A long busy day doing some demos for Fujifilm Belgium at the open doors of a photography school. But it was also a lot fun of to meet a ton of very driven people. Big bonus: Maya came along and we got to spend some father-daughter quality time.
Livraison attendue avec impatience aujourd'hui, un nouveau cailloux assez brillant, le 80mm. Aussitôt déballé, phase test pour ses deux sujets de prédilections, le portrait et la macro. Un petit temps d'adaptation pour apprivoiser la bête et comprendre rapidement que le 56mm qui l'a précédé était plutôt du genre poids plume. Stabilisation bienvenue. Côté fabrication et performances, Fuji a bien bossé. Reste l'essentiel, que faire de ces performances ? Pas grand chose sans ces indispensables notions que sont l'observation, l'écoute, la sensibilité, le cadrage, l'editing, le post traitement...
It's early. But I'm late.
People are off to work, I've got an appointment on the other side of our neighbourhood - but the light is good, and I can't help making myself just that little bit late as I walk.
Everyone else is rushing, but I go in fits and starts - I'm a fast walker any any time, but then I'll stop suddenly when something catches my eye, the shadows mingle, the angles line up, the dog has David Bowie eyes, whatever.
So I'm going at a relatively good pace; except, of course, when I'm not.
And...somehow, I've misjudged it…
Sofie started pony riding back in April. To be honest, I didn't like it. I blame my occupation. I have seen these little girls coming into the E.R. half crushed by a seemingly tame and cute little pony. When accidents happen in riding, they happen.
But I took one for the team, and agreed that she could start up slow at a local riding school. My only term was that my wife was in charge of the overseeing the sessions, and left me and my neurotic doctor-brain at home.
Fast forward almost 5 months, and today I took Sofie riding. A true first for me.
I must admit, seeing how happy she was around the animals, quickly lessened my anxiety to the point of non-existence.
As we all seek to find our big joys in life, Sofie seem to have found hers (for now) - And what kind of a dad would I be if I didn't back that up.
Truth or dare? Truth: this is an adaptation. That whole myth about cats and dogs? Not a myth it turns out. “Management” has become our word of the week. Here are six images from our living room...
We still find moments of peace.
