Run Forrest Run
We can’t all have a “Forrest Gump Life” where everything just seems to work out regardless of the obstacles we encounter in life. Many years ago, before I considered a career in aviation, I was a budding Nature Photographer. My obstacles then were lack of time and lack of money. I dreamed of traveling to far away exotic locations to photograph the many Iconic scenes that many of us are familiar with today. After a few years of trying to maintain a full time job and unable to advance my photography career, I put my Nikon F3 film camera away to pursue a career in aviation as a professional pilot. Here is the interesting thing, after many hard years advancing up the aviation ladder from instructing student pilots, to flying cargo solo at night in small twin engine airplanes, I finally landed what I thought was my dream job flying a Boeing 737. But my first love has always been photography. When I first started my aviation career, I only took my camera out a few times for the occasional event. In the years that followed when time, travel or money limitations were not an obstacle, I started to make more and more images. Now, I am retired as an Aviation Professional and I have replaced my Nikon F3 with a D700. One of my perks as a retired pilot is that I get free travel on my airline and any of its partners. Now I can go almost anywhere in the world for free. To sweeten the deal, my lovely wife is also an airline pilot and I can travel on her privileges with her airline and their partners. How sweet is that! I’m excited about retirement. I’ve got my new camera, lenses and all that great gear that I always wanted. I’m super excited! I’m ready to go after those exotic locations. Photography, here I come!!! Oh, but first I have to go change a diaper and warm some milk and at 3:00 I have to go across town to pick up my son from preschool….. Hello. My name’s Forrest, Forrest Gump. You want a chocolate?
I did get out for a few days and here is where I went.
Aurora Borealis
In all the years of flying in the Higher latitudes I only witnessed the Magic Light of the Aurora Borealis one time. Photographer Terje Sorgjerd captured the light with his Canon 5D MkII near the Russian border at the PAS National Park.
New Life
I’m in the first month of early retirement from an airline career where I served as a pilot. Now, my main role is that of “Mr. Mom” to two young sons. My eldest boy is three and his younger brother is 19 months. My lovely wife, also a professional pilot, has many years to go before she can consider her retirement. Even though I’m no longer at the controls of a jetliner I find myself still flying at mach speeds but in a much different capacity. Now, instead of being away from home for prolonged periods of time, I am at home trying to maintain the homestead 24 hours around the clock. I no longer have the luxury escape of a different hotel room every night. When my wife is out flying, I find myself flying solo with only two young passengers. The excitement and exhilaration of my new position is certainly different. I really cannot compare shooting an approach to minimums in bad weather to that of changing a dirty diaper. But to me the pressure is all the same. I love my new role and I’m sure I will become a seasoned pro with time.
In all the years of flying I never once saw the contrails of the aircraft I was flying. The other day as I was taking my boys out for a drive in the country, I noticed the sky filled with contrails. It was a very abstract scene and reminiscent of a Jackson Pollock painting. Viewing the sunrise and sunset from ground level and not from miles high in the sky will be different but I will cherish each just the same. This is what I saw.
ICE AGE
Went out to get a few images of Cataract Falls in what was probably the coldest day of winter so far this year. I arrived just as the sun was setting. The light was not the best, but I managed a few quick snaps.
FIFTY PLUS
I just moved past the half-century mark in age. I have added additional rings to my trunk and my branches are not as flexible and as strong as they once were. I have always been a believer in the saying “ You are only as old as you feel”. Today, I must admit, for the first time in my life I feel older than my years. The past several months I have been plagued with aches and pains, which are the result of an injured back.
On my birthday, I decided to continue my annual pilgrimage to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to try my hand at capturing the beautiful fall colors. The park was full of visitors, just as I expected it would be. I spent the first day scouting new locations and visiting familiar ones. With a slower step and weakened legs, I decided to remain clear of the river rocks and ledges and only photograph from safe locations. A few instances, my desire to get the shot, invigorated my fearlessness and dulled my wisdom. Yes, I did experience a few slips, one that resulted with my Canon G9 landing and sinking in the water, another lessen learned.
Despite my injury, I still had a great time in the park. I returned home licking my wounds and hope to return next year not feeling years beyond my age.
I found this great quote by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The quote pegs my current physical state.
Already I have shed the leaves
Of youth,
Stripped by the wind of time down
To the truth
Of winter branches. Linear and alone
I stand, a lens for lives beyond
my own.
A frame through which another’s
Fire may flow,
A harp on which another’s
Passions, blow.
The pattern of my boughs,
An open chart
Spread on the sky, to others
May impart
Its leafless mysteries that once
I prized,
Before bare roots and
Branches equalized;
Tendrils that tap the rain or
twigs the sun
Are all the same, shadow and substance one.
Now that my vulnerable leaves
Are cast aside,
There’s nothing left to shield,
nothing to hide.
Blow through me, Life, pared down
At last to bone,
So fragile and so fearless
Have I grown!
These are a few from Cataract Falls State Park
I will always get up early to find scenes like this .
Reflection
This was last weeks header image.
Go fly a kite
Ok, I’m still a little fuzzy on this one. I think I was winning the argument with my wife because she suddenly said to me “Go fly a kite”. So I did, I went out and flew a kite. I grabbed my three-year old son and together we went out and had a blast.
It’s clear to me now, that next time, I’ll just go grab my kite and avoid the argument altogether.
WOW
He was totally excited. We just had to be careful with the low flying geese.
Moon
Good night
Nearby : Close at hand
McCormick's Creek Waterfall
Both of my boys had their birthdays already this year. My eldest turned three and my youngest reached his first birthday. I have been a busy dad with no real spare time for my own personal indulgence of long distance photography adventures. For now I’ll have to stay close to home and home for me is central Indiana. We have flat-land in central Indiana with corn and soybean fields aplenty. I will keep my trips to under an hour each way and seek out photographic opportunities other than “FLAT “. Today I visited two state parks, McCormicks Creek State Park and Cataract Falls State Park. Both of these locations are southwest of Indianapolis and are 15 minutes from each other.
Lower Cataract Falls
I can already imagine the fall colors.
Lower Cataract Falls
Red Beans and Rice
I flew to New Orleans today. I enjoyed a great bowl of red beans and rice and had this view from my office window. Some days I just really enjoy my job.
New Orleans Moon
Black and White
GOLD RUSH
Just returned from my bi-annual visit to the Smoky Mountains. This year, my good friend Steve accompanied me. It turned out to be a mini workshop for Steve and a good lesson for me on how to instruct in the field. This year Clingmans Dome and the Roaring Fork Motor Trail are closed until May 28th for road construction and Cades Cove will not open until April 24th. We occupied our time exploring the middle prong of the Little River in the Tremont area of the park. This photo was taken at the far end of the trail just as the sun was setting behind the ridge.
JET BRIDGE 20
Yesterday I spent the day flying the Boston to Washington shuttle. I really enjoy flying into both of these cities and especially flying the “River Visual” to runway 19 into Washington National. Parking is at a premium at National, here we have a view of Jet Bridge 20.
Jet Bridge 20 Washington National
Wisdom
I first saw this video on Scott Kelby’s blog. Now that the walls of winter are starting to set in and I am feeling less inspired in my photography, I decided to revisit the video “Transform”, a bit- of- wisdom from Zack Arias. I hope it will relight my fire and get me out of the house and out into the elements.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
New beginnings are always welcome in my life. 2009 was both a happy and sad year. It was a happy year in that it marked the birth of my second son but also a sad year for the loss of a close family relative. Last night I celebrated the New Year at home with my wife and two sons. We watched the ball drop in Time Square and drank a toast to the New Year. It’s only January and already I long for spring. It’s 15 degrees outside so to keep warm thoughts in my head I have been reviewing images from this past spring and thinking of what I can do to improve my photography in 2010.
GLORIOUS
As winter nears, this leaf, battered and torn, having fulfilled its role of the season now rest on a lower branch, holding tight to fly one more glorious day.
Full Glory
PURPLE HAZE
I like the impact of muted colors and tones. Sometimes early and other times late in the day, I find myself in a position to shoot scenes with these particular characteristics. Early morning fog or late afternoon haze gives the light just enough of a filtering effect to give me the tones I am looking for. Always arriving early, sometimes I wait for hours for the fog to lift and then in seconds the light changes rapidly and what was once engulfed in a blanket of mist comes alive with muted colors and tones. I love the process of waiting in anticipation for magic to happen. My morning coffee never tasted so good.
Purple Haze
Break Through
The Burning
Early morning as the sun is rising on the east this moon is slowly descending to the west and has the appearance of a sunrise.
Moon River
Another view of the clouds clearing and the ridges come into view.
Smoky Mountain Ridge
GREATFUL DEAD
Dia de Los Muertos
This is a small section of art that is being displayed on the outer walls on a building at the corner of 7th and Main Street in Louisville, Ky. I believe it was created in conjunction with the Dia de Los Muertos “Day of the Dead” Festival that was celebrated on November the 1st. Does anyone know who created the art?
AMERICANA
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
I love it when people display pride for their country. This farmer in central Indiana is showing his pride in a big way.
Blue Dawn
Sunset on Clingmans Dome
Early morning on top of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
EMPIRE STATE
-
- Standing Tall
Standing Tall
BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT
BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT
Dawns early light over the South Carolina coast at 30 thousand feet.
HIGH FLIGHT
Godbeams over the Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station
Tilted View
Tilted View
Just another tilted view of the “Gateway Arch” at high noon.
West at Flight Level ?
West Bound
High above the St Louis Arch, long contrails are moving west at an unknown flight level. View from beneath the “Gateway to the West”.
Low and Slow
LOW and SLOW
Sometimes the flying action is not always high in the sky, instead it’s down low. This graceful aviator is going low and slow along the coast of Amelia Island, Florida.
Above the Clouds
Morning Blanket
Flying into La Guardia the early morning warm light reflects off a blanket of low-lying clouds. Just coming up on the Verrazano, the double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City
