Longing for the Spring

with the temperarutes at -20 last night I was easy to find right here at home. Sorting files I came across one that reminds me of better weather. driving the back roads one day I came across this run down farm and was stuck by the beauty of it. The owner came out seeing me parked along the road and wanted to know what I was doing. I could see he was in no mood to tolerate any BS from outsiders.

we got to talking and he had told me of these photographers that just walked out on to his farm taking pictures , so he decided to go out and confront them . they told him they was just hobbyist and that they didnt mean him any harm . later , from a friend , he heard that the photos of his farm were for sale in a few places in New York City . I could see he was hurt by the incident and was very distrustful of people stopping by.

After talking for about 45 minutes , me being the moron that I am at times , I asked if it was alright to take a few photos. it was touch and go for a few minutes but finally he give me permission as long as I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone where the farm was.  It's a promise I kept and plan to keep till my dying day. I gave him my e-mail address and wrote down my website at the time so he could see the photos , told him that he could have what ever he wanted. I never heard from him and maybe the next time I'm in the area I will give him a few framed photos for his home.

I'm only going to place this one photo because I'm afraid that from the others someone may find the location.my advice is for anyone coming along this farm , or anyone's home for that matter , is that they ask first before running out loaded with gear. the life you save maybe your own.

under the weight of it all.

I carry my equipment every where I go. but due to prior commitments , work , the terrible weather and other projects they haven't seen much action lately. for example , I have been trying to get down to the jersey shore for the last 3 months but everytime I get the chance the weather is just not working for me or something else comes up.

I have two major projects I want to have completed by the end of 2012 and one other MAJOR project to complete before I start my new life in 2014 ( more about that as time gets near. ) . So today I decided to take on the huge task of sorting and organizing my photo files. I have a 500 GB portable HD along with about 250 DVD's sitting on the right hand side of my desk filled with raw and psd files that I figure will take me close to 6 months to complete , if I'm lucky. what the hell have I been thinking?!?!?

Any ways even when I'm not able to jump into the car and take off I still like to take pictures of the skies . so I would like to share a couple of those.

14mm

now that im finally catching up on my projects and other things , I had time to break this out from under the tree and see what it can do.

while I'll admit this is a terrible photo , i'm real excited about the possibilities of this lens . I can't wait to get up into the lakes and mountains to see what this thing is capable of .I got a feeling this metal and glass will be sitting on my camera for a long time.

party within the party

this new year’s party starts as expected , with the greetings , the hugs and kisses , the small chit chat as you move from room to room until eventually like some magnetic pull , a small circle of friends ( A circle that seems to get smaller with each passing year. ) gathers to form their own little party within the party.


As I sit down there’s Charlie , my oldest and dearest friend . we started first grade together, told me my first dirty joke and has had me in stitches ever since. still , like a bigger brother , watching over me , keeping me from harm’s way. then there is Sandra , who on the first day of freshman science class , walked in , sat next to me , looked into my eyes and stole my heart. one of these days I have to ask for it back. even after all the years and changes , she is still every bit as beautiful as the first time I set eyes on her. Nicky and Joey are arguing over a basketball game we played so many years ago, if I remember correctly we lost that game by 40 something points , for the life of me I can’t understand why they choose to care . they are our memory , if you want to know who did what to whom , they remember, even if you don’t want to. last but never least is Debbie , who is the most wonderful storyteller. She could have convinced Custer that things really aren’t that bad. she is the one that is always there when some one needs a shoulder or a helping hand and is probably the one most responsible for keeping us together all these years.


it’s a wonderful night of storytelling , talking about all the crazy , goofy things we have done together , and of course some of these stories get better with each year. we laugh and kid each other about our accomplishments and mistakes .the people we know and what happen to them . the talk turns to the children and schools , upcoming vacations and our plans for the new year. midway , I sit back , relax and just listen, trying to absorb as much of the stories and laughter as I can because I know time is drifting by and before long the night will pass . with all my traveling I don’t get to see them as much as I would like , so my memories of tonight will keep me company when i’m on the road and lonely.


having to get up soon for work, i’m the first to wish everyone a wonderful night , and for the second time so early this year we all kiss and hug and carry on so , to outside observers we must look like a bunch of wackadoos but I wouldn’t have it any other way. as i’m leaving and saying goodbye to those still here I look back one last time and wave before I’m out the door. driving home I think about this night and how lucky and happy i’am to have such wonderful friends. it gives me a sense of well being , a comfort zone , a cushion against the hard times we all have here and there. when I wake up later and head out alone on my own wacky trail I will do so with these beautiful people on my mind.


  Happy New Year’s everyone ! 


 “ Some names have been changed to protect the guilty. “