La Grande-Motte

Lighthouse of the Mediterranean

I'm aiming straight up at Phare de la méditerranée, which translates "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." Despite the name, it's not a lighthouse. The top of the tower is a revolving restaurant with views of, you guessed it, the Mediterranean. There are a few touristy places like this because Palavas-les-Flots is a French vacation town. But it's not over-the-top commercialized as you might find in other areas. There is a casino, but it's low-key, not overly flashy. One thing you will find a lot of though is ice cream. For whatever reason, they are crazy about ice cream, and in tourist towns, you'll find it on every corner.

Passage of Time

Everything that has ever happened is in the past; we only have the present. Smarter people than I have put a lot of thought into this, the prevailing wisdom is that time is not real; it's just something we made up to record or coordinate. I agree with this intellectually, but when I'm waiting, time seems genuine, if not slow. Attention is like a sail. When focusing on something, we move through time quickly. Maybe that's why time seems to move faster as we get older. The more our attention is focused, the more time seems faster. If now is all we really have, it stands to reason that awareness at the moment is more precious than we think.

In Motion

I can't remember if I was at the front or back of the train. I'm going to guess the end, but it's not my final answer. In Vancouver, the SkyTrain is fully automated so you can sit at the front or back and watch the tracks through the windshield. I would often stand at the end of the platform and, once in a while, get the end seat. Sometimes I'd take videos with my iPhone, here's one from 2013. I'm all for self-driving and can't wait to get one. I would rather sit as a passenger and watch the scenery than pay attention to mind-numbing traffic.

Boat Life

These marinas are cities within cities. People in them live semi-nomadic lives and form communities; coming and going with the wind. The marina in Barcelona reminds me of similar ones close to home. I'm heading back and have been looking at my photos from there. Marinas are enormous along the Mediterranean. We have many in Florida, but I think they are generally not as big as the ones in Europe. Maybe boat life is more prevalent there. Anyway, I know an American teacher who leads on-line courses remotely from her boat in Spain or Italy, depending on the season. No house required; have a boat, laptop, and internet connection; and the world is your oyster.

Carnon Visit

My recollection of the last time I visited here in Carnon is a little spotty. I seem to remember something about fresh croissants every day. That, and the scenery and the excellent food and, let's not forget the wine. My memory of the trip is a string of highlights all tied together. I've been thinking about it lately because I'll be heading back in a few months. I have no agenda other than to get reacquainted with the customs of that region which, as I recall, are quite reasonable. I'll be taking a lot of pictures, of course.

Morning Sunlight

I took a photo out the window of my office on a recent morning. Sometimes the light coming across the field is so amazing I can't help myself. I'm usually too busy to take a photo. Or I might rationalize that I've seen it before so why bother. But some mornings I can't help myself. In this case, the sun shone through a mist that was just above the ground. I need to take more simple images like this. Concentrating so much on landscapes and cityscapes, I tend to lose track of the simple things that are just as compelling, if not more so.

Tropic Winter

I took this on that windy January weekend in Tampa Bay. Contrary to popular belief, we do get a little winter weather down here. A little. When it gets cold in Florida, we complain about it. Basically, we feel entitled to good weather all the time. When it's not, we get our noses out of joint. Nevermind it's fifty degrees warmer than up north, we just can't afford those fancy coats Y'all have. That's not true, I have one in my closet, somewhere. Anyway, we had a chilly January. We didn't get frost or anything, but we did have to put on shoes and long pants. That sucks. But now it's February and its back to sandals and shorts. See how I say that like it's the most normal thing in the world? So, for the time being, I have nothing to complain about.

Elevator Bank

Why do we call it a bank of elevators? My guess is that at one time, only banks had lifts. Rest assured, this is no bank. Royal Caribbean ships have elevator banks that are functional, stylish and serve as a showcase for hanging art. No two banks are the same which is not only refreshing but helpful. Helpful, in that, on some of the larger ships, it's easy to get disoriented. Having distinct elevator banks helps with getting your bearings. I can't tell you how many times I forgot whether I was at the front or back of the boat. Unless you're up top or by a window, it's almost irrelevant, but knowing which direction to walk for a meal is an acquired skill. Also, each night the crew replaces a floor tile in each elevator with the name of the day. So not only do you know which part of the ship you're on, you're reminded the day of the week. Little orientation hist never hurt anyone. Anyway, if memory serves me, this was at the back of the Oasis of the Seas, or was it the front?

Oscar's Swells

This simple image is a long (one second) exposure from the side of a ship. These are swells from hurricane Oscar that was over a thousand miles away. The captain took us south to avoid the worst of it, but for about two days we saw some impressive swells, more massive than these. Even the largest cruise ship in the world will rock in these conditions. The swells hitting the side of the boat sounded exactly like waves crashing on the shore. It was relaxing, and for two nights we slept with the balcony door open so we could hear the soothing sounds. To make a one-second exposure in daylight, I set the aperture to f40. That's a tiny aperture, maybe the smallest I've ever used. An F-stop higher than 20 does not have a lot of practical uses, but long exposures are one. One second is long enough to make an in-camera motion blur effect without resorting to photoshop tricks. Maybe this is a dull image without a central subject. It's more texture or pattern than a photo. Even so, it reminds me of the gentle sounds the waves made all through the night.

Dreams

I imagine the dream world is a mirror; we exist there as fully as we do here. In my waking state, I have only the vaguest remembrance of dreams. A glimpse quickly forgotten. The secret to dreams is knowing they're dreams; easier said than done. If I knew I was dreaming, would it be a dream? Is the world of dreams a country with arbitrary borders and strange laws? Or is it the other way around? There is a veil between the two worlds; sometimes the veil is lifted, and we see through to the other side. We are left with the feeling of something familiar, yet forgotten. The only thing lucid is whatever side of the veil we're on. And sometimes even that is subjective.

Urban Symmetry

This image was taken in central Barcelona from the rooftop of the Grand Central Hotel. At first glance, you'll notice symmetry in the picture. That's because I've mirrored the image, and then painstakingly altered it so that the equality is incomplete. In effect, I've taken something that was perfectly reflected and added randomness. There are plenty of mirrored artifacts, but depending on how you look at it, it might play tricks on you. Our brains quickly suspect its a mirror, and then our eyes begin looking for proof. Depending on where in the image you look, it may not confirm your first impression. The photo is an exercise in abstraction and deception. It's a time-consuming exercise to produce, but it's fun at the same time. My purpose is to hint at one thing while throwing you off the trail and forcing you to figure it out. I hope you don't mind a little harmless deception in the name of fun.

Key Biscayne Layers

This image was a bit of a project to create. I stood on the South Pointe Pier facing Key Biscayne in South Beach. I took three pictures, each focused on a different point. The first was the railing, the next was the jetty and finally Key Biscayne off in the distance. I combined the images into a composite using a technique known as focus stacking. After that, I kept working on it until ending up with an abstract rendering that is neither real or imagined; it's somewhere in-between. I could say something smart about layers, like how they are metaphors for something, but not today. The result is the product of a study in technique and abstraction. I had an idea when I took the shots, and I practiced various methods to get the image I wanted. Perhaps that's the best way to describe it.

That Evening in Venice

Because I did not set the shutter speed correctly this image came out looking double exposed and blurry, like an impressionistic painting. This is not something I intended but looking at it now it feels a little like my memory of that evening in Venice. In my short visit I experienced sights, sounds and feelings. The more I go back to look at the photos the more my memories are formed. But it’s totally subjective and what I remember is unique to me alone. There is much in life I don’t remember because I never took the time to. If we don’t think about something it may not make an impression and is soon forgotten. However when we do, we build memories from our impressions. Memories are like paintings, they are renderings, not true recordings. In the case of art, impressions are more important than fact. The sounds of the oars in the water, the chatter of the gondoliers, the lights of the overhead windows and the evening shadows across the buildings; all of these combine into an impression that is so perfectly preserved with a simple camera mistake.

Departure from Normal

Manipulating scenes like this is a departure from normal, it’s not real so our minds are free to play a little; we each read into it something different. When in Vancouver I will often pass through this station. I can never get enough photos in and around trains. Among other things they are studies in leading lines. I sat at the end so I could look back as we pulled away. I’ve created a mirror effect, which for me is a metaphor for a choice between two paths, one direction or the other. When we are children we have so much in common; as we mature we diverge in different ways depending on a million things. We choose one path or another every single day, and often we spend time wondering if we made the right choice. Sometimes we make difficult choices and then wonder about them later. Life is setup in a way that forces us to make decisions; we have no choice but to make choices. Not choosing is still a choice. Maybe the lesson is not so much the decision but how we deal with it after the fact. This image brings all that to mind, probably because I spend more time than I should thinking about decisions I’ve made. This is my metaphor for rushing through life’s stations, making choices, looking back yet trying not to look back.

Vancouver Terminal

This image is based on the Vancouver terminal, or YVR as its also known. Each time I travel here I am intrigued by the construction. The architects created an exoskeleton with which they hung the functional necessities of the terminal. The form and function are indistinguishable from one another. I’ve noticed this elsewhere and it represents an evolution in how we build. In the software industry we employ patterns to do basic tasks. Patterns are the analogs of load-bearing structures used in construction. Software has always drawn parallels from construction, and soon I believe it will occur the other direction. We are evolving into beings that live as much in software as brick and mortar. The trend is accelerating and the boundaries between virtual and physical are becoming more tenuous each day. The Matrix struck a chord because it explored merging of physical and software realities. I believe we are on some of the same trajectories proposed in the movie. In another generation virtual reality will be as commonplace as a cell phones are now. When I see physical structures I think of their corollaries in software. Likewise when I build software I borrow construction techniques and terminology. Now opposite is beginning to occur with construction rendering which is an offshoot of 3D printing. We have begun to build physical structures with software as seen on this YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUdnrtnjT5Q We are now on the verge of yet another revolution in combining software and construction. The merging between software, virtual reality and construction and manufacturing are all but disappearing before our eyes.

Impression of the Glow

This is an impression of the glow of the clouds. It represents a combination of old and new styles. I gravitate towards pictorialism, meaning that I take liberties to convey a feeling or idea. This is an example of that. I'm more interested in an impression than the actual event. I've taken a lot of Florida photos over the years and I have collection that I printed and framed several years back. I used to take those to art shows and sell them but then I got too busy and took a break. However I just did another show and what surprised me was that that folks still enjoy those scenes. I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise. Since then my own preferences and style have changed and I've moved on to different themes. Yet what I came to realize is that images that are old to me are still fresh to others. So my idea is to begin printing the newer images as well. I'd be curious to see if they have the same appeal as some of my earlier works. But in the end, I'm not sure how much that really matters. I think that as long as I continue to evolve as a photographer, what people think should not be my main concern.

At the Waters Edge

I took this in front of a beach restaurant last Sunday. We like coming here because we can eat at the waters edge and stare out to sea. We arrived for a late lunch that turned into an early dinner and then decided we might as well stay for sunset. Sometimes its best to go with the flow, especially on a weekend. Staring out to sea is like staring at a fire. It's something that speaks to our subconscious. Once you start it's hard to stop, like a long hot shower. This is my interpretation of the scene that evening. By that I mean I imagined the girl on the beach was soaking in the sun and that it was rejuvenating her. I removed people because in my mind this is not about a busy beach. In this story she is alone with her thoughts. A lot of people come here from all over to escape the cold and soak up the sun. Our heroine is surely one of these people. I am glad to see the reaction of others because it reminds me of how fortunate I am. I spend a lot of time on photography and that takes me to the waters edge. I try not to take it for granted. I just read that the Gulf of Mexico will be warmer than usual this summer, that the water temperature has remained high this winter. That's good for the visitors here now; however in summer we'll have more storms and the scene will look very different. Regardless, I'll probably come back to capture someone else staring at the sea. The weather may change but our need to sit at the waters edge will not.

Skyline Reimagined

This is a symmetrical image of a skyline reimagined. It's an abstract treatment of a nighttime urban scene. There is careful work lining things up and I made several mistakes on an earlier attempt. On a cell phone you'd never notice but blown up on the wall everything needs to be exact. Making kaleidoscopic images out of everyday scenes is like a meditation for me. It's taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. It makes me think of the mesmerizing power of patterns. Why is it that are we drawn to symmetrical patterns in art, nature and religious iconography? I think they resonate with something deep inside of us. Archetypical patterns represent something sublime and beyond the everyday experiences. I wonder if this is one way to communicate on a higher level, in patterns and symmetric complexity. Is it possible that an alien race communicates in symmetric patterns of light and color? Given the size of the universe is not out of the question. The universe is so big that our galaxy is but a grain of sand. And so perhaps another civilization does communicate in patterns of light, sound, color, ...the possibilities are endless. It's a thought experiment and in the end its fun to consider ideas like this. It can be just as fun as making patterns out of a cityscape photo.

Central Foyer

This is the central foyer of the Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas. I took this early one morning which is the only time that no people are present. The central column is about eight stories high and is serviced by elevators and stairwells. In the evening this is augmented with a colorful lighting display. I found this perspective through a glass portal at the very top. At the very bottom is a bar, the next up is a Starbucks, then a champagne bar and so on up the levels. There are game rooms, libraries, areas for lounging, each level is unique. Often we would lean against the banister and watch the band playing music below or perhaps watch a demonstration on cake making. Certainly there are things to do outside, but on an Alaskan cruise there is plenty to do indoors as well. This is a small ship by todays standards but it's a sister of the first ship I ever saw, the Jewel of the Seas. I was and still am amazed that this type of space and architecture can exist on an ocean-going vessel. Yet to the truly big ships this is unremarkable. I'm a simple man, and to me, this is really really big. Getting on a bigger ship seems like maybe going to the mall with a hotel that floats. The sea is almost incidental. Anyway, my impression of these ships is one of awe, how they build them is way beyond my ability to comprehend.

Long Exposure at Bradenton Beach

This is another long exposure at Bradenton Beach. In fact the exposure was over a minute and a half and in that time people walked in and out of the frame, only they don't show up. However this one person just stayed in place the entire time and so she was the only one that showed up. If I recall there was with a small child running in the water, splashing and generally having a good time while this lady watched. Interesting how that turned out, eh? Long exposures are a slice of time that give us a four dimensional view of the world. When you compress time into an image this is one version of what it looks like. It brings up all kinds of interesting ideas. Imagine if you could step into a different dimension where time moves at a slower rate. Then imagine that you could look back into this dimension. Maybe this is what you'd see. Kind of like being an Ent from the Lord of The Rings and watching hobbits. This is just one way to apply a little abstraction to the world and put it in a different perspective. Sometimes we use angles, or height or light to see things a little differently. In this case I'm using time. For me its just another way to change the perspective of a scene.

Space Between

Today is a holiday. Its a day to unwind and put a little space between me and the real world.

When I Was Young

When I was young I remember playing late into the evening during the summer. The days were long and it gave my friends and I an opportunity to stay out late, it was a good feeling. It's strange because I never really thought about it until recently. I suppose this image reminds me of that just a little. I took this at dusk and the children were squeezing every last minute of fun out of the day, like I did when I was their age. We lose that when we grow up, but at times we can glimpse portions of it. I get that magical sense sometimes when I go on vacation. I have no responsibilities and the evenings are for having fun. Maybe we all need to play a little more. Maybe play connects us with something important we've lost. In the meantime I keep taking pictures of people and scenes at dusk and sometimes it reminds me of long lost memories. And then I think the only way to get those back is to go on vacation. And then I never get anything done. But pretty sure I'm happy in that world.