Rollin' through Summer

Wow, can you believe July is almost over, before you know it we will be thinking of ghouls, goblins, and pumpkins oh my! 

Where does the time go?   But before it's all a distant sweaty blur make sure to take a little time  to enjoy the remaining summer months. Before you know it we will all be wishing for the hot humid days of  July.   I know when I was up to my knees in snow this last winter that's all I could think about.  

Now looking back on it I can only dream of a foot of snow.   Ahh those were the days, pass me an icicle will ya?  

Happy Summer 

Learning to "See" --Lines

Photo by Margaret Bourke-White

One of the basic traits good photographers share is an ability to see images that many people don’t notice.  I believe you can develop an “eye”, but I think the OMG-FANTASTIC photographers are born with some added ability. However that said, all of us have to develop our skills and master the basics. Until we do this we won't know if we could be a good photographer or one of those OMG FANTASTIC ones. So let's start at the beginning with the elements - specifically lines.    

When my art teacher told us to:

1. Just shoot in black and white, (back in the days of shooting with film)

2. Go find and shoot anything depicting lines

I thought he was insane and had no clue what he was talking about.  Of course I was the one being clueless.   What I didn’t understand was that he was teaching us to see the basic elements in photography.  Lines can draw the viewer into the photograph and they can help give eyes a focal point.   So set your camera on B/W and go shoot “lines”  and please share!   

Duties of a Citizen?

If someone were to ask me what my “job” as an American is, I’m not sure I would have a quick and ready answer.  It is something though we all need to think about. What are the duties we have as citizens of the US or for that matter any country?    Here are  a few thoughts that sprang to my mind.

1.  It’s our duty to make sure the freedoms we have are protected.  Be it the freedom to get on a plane without being groped by a total stranger or something as praying with friends in school.  

2.  We have the right to be treated with respect as a human being no matter our color, race, gender, or choice of mate/partner.   We also have the duty to  treat others in the same way.   

3.  It’s our duty as citizens of the US and the world to stand up for human rights no matter if it’s in the US, Iran, or China.   

I’m reminded of a famous quote we all would be well to remember “Evil prevails when good “men” do nothing”