Watchful eyes

Stock photo armed guards

I have oftentimes been amused at people who have tried to keep me away from shooting trivial subject matter because they were afraid I would hurt myself. It is hard to tell a construction supervisor working on a strip-mall project not to worry about me tripping on some stray board, because I have been to the edge. I giggle quietly when I stand on a chair to get a better view of a dinner event, and everyone gathers around telling me not to fall. You don't survive armed guards, and believe me I have seen and photographed my share, or tornadoes, or raging fires, or anything else that can be dangerous, without knowing the score. You can't teach that in any school. It is something that you learn slowly, and you learn well, or you don't survive the big time. In my retirement years, I am glad I went to the edge, and I think I can safely say I survived because of mutual respect. Of course, nature never reciprocates respect. Of her, you must be vigilant when shooting. But, like in the photo below, I was not welcome, but I was respected, and I returned that respect, took several photos, and walked away.

Old photo, new photo, Ganges River, and my one-thousandth post

Ganges River

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera." ~ Lewis Hine 

I found this "younger-me" photo while going through slides, and thought I would use it in honor of my one-thousandth post. That's a lot of posts when each post is created from scratch, not to mention the time it takes to capture photos, upload and edit to my satisfaction, or not, if I am rushed. Still, no cuts and pastes here.

As you know, I have expanded my subject matter, now giving you a daily dose of both old and new photos taken from..., well, everywhere.

For newbies, I removed my "follow" button in the early days, but recently reactivated it. I know most people have me bookmarked, and I appreciate your daily visits. I hope I can continue to inspire photographers and enrich lives with a variety of subject matter. Though I no longer focus on Crisfield, there are numerous links throughout the site that will allow you to forever enjoy virtual visits to Crisfield, and of course, I will still be posting some of those lazy, dreamy photos that will make you want to visit and enjoy my peaceful corner of Maryland.

One-thousandth post? Do I get a cake, or something?

You can't see it, but the Ganges river is outside the window. I was relaxing after arriving for a very long assignment. I assure you, I did not look this refreshed the next evening. I hope to find a few more "younger" photos as I sift though slides and negatives, but I was never one for being on the other side of the camera. In retrospect, I wish I had taken more people up on their offer to take my photo.

And speaking of my photo, here I am enjoying retirement.

This is not the Ganges.This is from my Tuesday trip to Smith Island.

Penny for your thoughts

Cambridge MA street stock photo

Cambridge, MA - one of my favorite places.

Crisfield City Dock Storm Damage, Hurricane Irene

Crisfield City Dock Storm Damage, hurricane Irene

An update, becasue you wanted to know:

Yes, the dock had storm damage... 

Yes, the city is making repairs as I type this...

Somers Cove Marina is clearing out the last of the debris from the city dock that floated their way...

  
And everyone is happy that the show will go on...

Including the captain and crew of the Miss Betty. Good luck to all the boat captains at the 2011 boat docking contest!

Read full coverage in the Crisfield-Somerset County Times, and be sure to pick up the official Crab Derby guide insert in the Crisfield Times. It has full coverage of all the events. It was a must-have essential for this photographer when I used to cover Derby.

The Shadow

Shadow stock photo

"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." ~ Junichiro Tanizaki 

Hurricane Irene in Crisfield

The camera can photograph thought.  ~Dirk Bogarde

"The camera can photograph thought."  ~ Dirk Bogarde

Certainly some concerned thought going on in these photos.

The only things to be seen in Crisfield at 2:00 am during the height of the storm on Saturday were the National Guard, law-enforcement officials, a few stray cars whose drivers soon realized they were no match for the hurricane force winds and the tide that swept through the streets of Crisfield,  and the owners and workers of Goldsborough's Marine. While everyone else was tucked safely in their beds, these vigilant Crisfielders were on duty to do whatever it took to protect their property against nature. I think these photos say something about both the forces of nature and the human spirit.

As many of you have noticed, I have stepped away from covering just one corner of my world. This blog is now a collection of both old and new photos, taken while on assignments throughout the years and around the world. And of course, taken for the love of the art.   One day I may offer up an old photo, the next day, a photo fresh from my cameras, such as the ones shown above. Geography and subject matter have been thrown out the door. Or is that the window?

When I retired, I swore I would never work another flood, hurricane, tornado, or snowstorm. Last night, I could not help myself. True photographers never sleep when there are photos to be taken, and when a disaster hits, there are always photos to be taken, even if the photographer is not on duty.

I would not be posting these photos now if I had not received so many emails wanting to know where my flood photos were. To be truthful, last week, I had pre-posted all of my posts through September 10, so I could enjoy two weeks away from the computer at my favorite secluded place in the mountains. Hurricane Irene had other plans for me, and I had to race home to secure the home-front. The other flood photos will be filed and used for a "rainy" day, or perhaps with another batch of posts I will ready for my return trip to the mountains.

For those who have emailed with concern, we weathered the storm well, except for the loss of electricity that went off after I arrived home from shooting. It's back on now, and for that we are grateful. 

~ ~ ~

Thanks to Billie at the Pizza Shoppe who gave me, not one, but two photo-taking rides Friday and Saturday in her larger-than-my vehicle truck.  My Honda Element would have never made it out of my driveway.

Food for Sunday Thought...

Refugee camp stock photo
"Seeing people being forced to live behind barbed wire should make us cry out. How do we stop the madness? One voice at a time. One voice at a time."

Reflection

Reflection stock photo, St Michaels

"A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our actions." ~ William Kingdon Clifford

Peek-a-boo

Thailand children stock photo

“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” ~ Pablo Casals

Take a walk...

Chincoteaque, VA 

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking." ~  Friedrich Nietzsche

Woodie loved trains...

Train stock photo

“Life has got a habit of not standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it. If a day goes by that don't change some of your old notions for new ones, that is just about like trying to milk a dead cow.”  ~ Woodie Guthrie

I love trains, too.

Heal the world...

Poverty photo

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~ Anne Frank 

Italy stock photo
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain

Saving the farm...

Black Farmers 

"You lose nothing when fighting for a cause ... In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about." ~ Muhammad Ali

In 1985, the year that Willie Nelson held his first Farm Aid concert, Oscar Lorick, center, then 66, a South Georgia farmer was on the verge of losing his farm, one that had been in his family since 1866. Lorick garnered the attention of the national media by vowing to protect his farm from the bank. He succeeded.


In just a few short years, beginning in the early 80's, there was a $300 billion decline in farm asset values. High inflation, coupled with several dry seasons, had put farmers in dire straights. Several bankers, one in Iowa, two in Minnesota were murdered by farmers. Many of you may remember seeing farmers and tractors converging on the White House and state capitol buildings around the country. It was a tumultuous time. Some farmers lost all they had. Some survived. Oscar was one of them.


I have not been back to the area where I shot these photos, but I hope Lorick's family is still plowing, planting, and harvesting, and feeding the people of America.

 "As long as there's a few farmers out there, we'll keep fighting for them." ~ Willie Nelson 

May you enjoy a beautiful Saturday Sunset

Sunset photo

Quote by John Lubbock

Nostalgia

Old men playing checkers photo

The old days are slipping away, taking with them our history. The simple life should be put on the endangered list. This store has been demolished.

Sunny days and quiet waters of the Eastern Shore

Skipjack stock photo

"I do like the ocean wave, actually. I'm born under the sign of Cancer - the sign of the crab - so I like coastal areas and sunny beaches and such - although not the wide-open and deep seas." ~ Anjelica Huston 

Bangladesh photo

"Poverty is the worst form of violence." ~ Mohandas Gandhi 

Oak on a highway...

OAK tree photo

“Let me look upward into the branches of the flowering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.” ~ Wilfred Peterson

Celebrate Color

Orange building photo
"Life is a celebration of passionate colors." ~ Leialoha Cator


Isn't it divine how other countries know how to spice up life with color? Things in your life too serious? Need to increase your creativity? Bored? Splash a little orange around.

For all you Star Trek fans...

Star Trek Enterprise photo

"For me science fiction is a way of thinking, a way of logic that bypasses a lot of nonsense. It allows people to look directly at important subjects."  ~ Gene Roddenberry

One of a kind, folks. 

  
You gotta love science fiction. I know I do!

Up In The Air

Up in the Air

"It's not like that. The miles are the goal."   ~ Up In The Air quote

Optimistic photo

Optimistic photo
"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." ~ Helen Keller

I love doors...

Leisure

Maryland photographer

"If you are losing your leisure, look out; you may be losing your soul." ~ Logan P. Smith

Looks like these people are doing OK!

Maple Street Flag

Maple Street Flag

Whenever I see a "Maple Street," I can't help but think of the well-plotted Twilight Zone episode.

Filtered photo.

WInd Farm

Wind Farm....

"A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache." ~ Catherine the Great

Architecture

Architecture 
"Architecture aims at Eternity." ~ Christopher Wren 

Crisfield Mud Bog at Elks Lodge - August, 2011

 Crisfield Mud Bog August, 2011

There is not much to do in Crisfield. They have an annual clam bake and a crab derby weekend, and other than the 4th of July fireworks evening, that is about the extent of regular happenings. Living here is like living in a ghost town, so when a mud bug happens it is like the big circus coming to town. Everyone comes out for a good time.

For more info visit Crisfield Mud Bog