Saturday, May 28, 2005

Schooner Zodiac


Schooner Zodiac
Originally uploaded by Auraelius.
It was a life-long dream to sail, starting from the time my dad took me dinghy sailing as a child.

Many years later, we found a cruise (through our local Parks and Recreation office) on the Schooner Zodiac, sailing out of Bellingham, WA. Our junior-high-aged kids were under the usual minimum age, but the rules were bent once the crew met them and we climbed aboard. It was a wonderful week.

Later, we went back to volunteer while the Zodiac was in dry dock. Later still, I went back to crew. I still remember standing the 3am-to-6am watch in a small, protected bay, watching the sun rise above the water, listening to the ship move quietly at anchor.

It's a great ship, with a great crew. You should sign up for a cruise.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Windows for Reflection


Butchart Garden Wall
Originally uploaded by Auraelius.
There is a form of photography intended for screen backgrounds or desktops. Some people prefer pictures of beautiful women, some pictures of their families.

I search for more abstract subjects, those that provide a sense of peace, an antidote to the computer teechnology.

These still lifes are everywhere. In a small corner of Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, there is a quiet place with peaceful light. Not many of the hundreds of tourists stop there while there are some many amazing plots and arrangements nearby. Yet, this is a regenerative place. See if you can find it when you go there.

Padova Sunset


Padova Sunset
Originally uploaded by Auraelius.
The sunlight struck the streetlights and set them glowing. The cobblestone street reminded me that this was Europe... much more so than Berlin had.

As I moved slightly from side to side, positioning the sun in the frame, I heard the rattle of a bicycle behind me. I waited, then, as she passed me, took this shot of a homeward-bound commuter.