I was in Harrisburg last week, a city I’m happy to drive the 20 minutes it takes to get there so that I can take pictures. This particular morning the humidity was low and being summer the lighting was too bright: even at 8:30am in the morning. So I stopped by the train station and found this scene standing at the top of the stairs looking down. As calm as this scene seems I only had a second or two to get the camera to my eye. You see, a train had just stopped and the doors were sliding open., One second later the station man stopped looking at his watch, the man on the bench looked up and twenty people filled the space that was empty except for these two. This was my luck for the morning: spent on this one photo. I think it was worth it.

There is something deeply spiritual about the feeling I get when watching this video, but that being said, I am not prepared to provide an explanation of what I am feeling. Mostly because I have no words that will describe either the feeling or why I believe it’s a spiritual feeling. What I can say is that “ it’s very cool!” Or I could use words like “Awesome” or “Spectacular” but if i did you wouldn’t understand the haunting I feel when it ends. Or the consideration that the drummer boy could be Jesus. Is that going too far? I think there are many many images within this video as to  why it’s possible it is an allegory of the Christian story. Now if you’re not confused already or perhaps you just disagree let me add that the lead singer and leader of the band Sigur Rós is openly gay. To some that won’t mean a thing, but to others like myself it challenges the thought that this video is a Christian allegory. But even so I do. Perhaps “out of the mouth of babes . . . .” Or maybe, what was meant for evil (which I don’t believe) is used for good.

It’s possible I am rambling but that’s the kind of thoughts my mind races to whenever i watch this video, and I have watched it several times. And will several more times. I hope you will leave your own thoughts (if you can articulate them) in the comment section. I look forward to hearing from you.

The photo above is the first that occupied space in a new gallery I have titled City Textures. The photographs found in City Textures are part of my ongoing project to capture various cities without indication of  place or time. Hopefully they will inspire others to see the cities they live in with fresh perspectives. Occasionally I will post new photos of my works here; perhaps they will interest you to view my growing collection of photos. Let me know what you think.

When you look at an abstract piece of art, what do you see? Perhaps seeing is the wrong approach and you think your feelings might be a better set of eyes. But I would suggest that your head and heart together would be a perfectly tuned set of eyes. Do not let the head think it has value alone and do not let your heart rule without consulting the head. Yes I realize this is not said in the video but the truth is there within it.

Do not discard art too quickly. Or each other.

Maybe later I’ll post a picture of the snowy scene outside.

Each day I visit one or two of my favorite blogs, usually art or photography related, just to see what’s happening in the world my interests float around in. This morning I revisited Photocrati a blog that always piques my interest. It is run by a diverse group of photographers which keeps it fresh and always filled with useful perspective and valuable gear reviews. Photocrati is also where I purchased my blog  theme, which is one of four separate blog themes they sell to photographers. But that is not the point of my latest blog and in the interest of full disclosure I recieve nothing for mentioning them nor do i get any commissions if you choose to buy one of their photography themes.

Now on to the point of this blog. Michael Nichols, Editor at Large for photography at National Geographic magazine was a guest blogger on Photocrati recently where he discussed the reasons for Full Disclosure of the photographic process. Please take the time to read his comments about one photographer’s ethical lapse and how it damages the image of photographers everywhere. It’s noteworthy to mention that his last two sentences are worth meditating on.

While you’re there take the time to look around, especially if you want to improve your picture taking craft.  Rob Jones, the owner of this website, provides many good tips and links to many more tips. And he does this all with a very personal touch: you can tell he does it because he enjoys what he does.