Pursuit versus Creation

Happy Wednesday! Today's image was taken from below a Cherry Blossom tree branch at sunrise. This is what the blossoms look like as the rising sun adds a pink hue to the white flowers.

To complement this upside-down perspective of a Cherry Blossom, here's a different way of seeing happiness as posed by organization expert Rivka Caroline on Twitter this morning:

Some people are so busy *pursuing* happiness that they forget the tremendous inner power they have to *create* happiness ....
— Rivka Caroline (@SoBeOrganized) April 24, 2013

So our challenge today is to stop the pursuit and start creating more happiness in our lives. Now, go forth and create!

A New Marathon

So many people have shared such profound thoughts and reflections following the Boston Marathon tragedy.

I'm not sure what I would like to contribute to this conversation yet, so here's what musician (and awesome human being) Will Dailey shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday. It's poetic and beautiful like his music.

A new marathon began when the sun came up in Boston Tuesday morning.

Marathon: An event or activity that requires prolonged effort.

And so we begin. Running now with our own two weary legs but all of us are side by side. As a city, as a country and as a global community. A people. Fueled by our individual will and the collective sideline encouragement composed of those who love us: our family, friends, community and world.

Violence is the scream of ideas without merit. It fails the moment it is conceived. We in Boston, in the United States, experienced Monday what is too common in other countries. But, as it is in other places, there is more good than bad in the world. The bad can be loud as hell but the good is plentiful with the endurance of a million marathon runners.

One year from now we will be having another race. There will be a classic Red Sox game. We will remember the lost who will become stones in the architecture of our hearts. We will tend the raw wounds. We will honor heroes. We will run and we will finish and we will fall into each other’s arms.

We are in a new marthon [sic]. With a city and people that have the legs for infinite miles.

Happy Jackie Robinson Day

Today is Jackie Robinson Day. If you haven't seen the film "42" yet, take yourself and your family and friends to see it this evening in his honor.

In honor of this special day, today's thought comes from the legendary baseball player himself:

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

While baseball may be just a sport, Robinson's courage and perseverance to become the first black player in Major League Baseball not only opened the doors for people of color in the world of professional sports, but in other public roles and occupations as well.

Robinson and other civil rights trailblazers not only desegregated baseball, they also helped to "desegregate" the minds of many Americans. He taught America how to see people of color differently than they had before -- by their ability and contribution to society and not merely by the color of their skin

Ready to Pop

Californian and conservationist John Muir once said:

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.

While I think most of us have accepted the interconnectedness of our lives to each other, we still disregard nature's own interconnectedness.

All life -- even plant and wildlife -- makes up a fragile web of connections. This truth is so obvious when observing the Cherry Blossom trees in bloom.

Cherry Blossom flowers are so fragile flower when blooming. A gust of wind, raindrops or even disrespectful tourists can end a cherry blossoms' life.

Spring is our annual reminder of nature's connection to people and our entire environment. I just hope we pay better attention this time and become better stewards of this precious planet. If we don't maintain our relationships with nature, who knows how those tugs will unravel our world.

Offset by Blue

Thought of the day courtesy of the late, great Zig Ziglar

The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now.

Shifty Focus

If you're one of my Facebook friends,you've probably seen this photo already. Shortly after returning from the Tidal Basin on Saturday morning, I made it my new Facebook cover photo. I couldn't resist.

This image is the perfect combination of color, texture and composition. In low light pre-sunrise conditions, it's challenging to make sure your images are in focus. When your composition seems to be in focus through your camera viewfinder or LCD screen, it may actually be out-of-focus once you bring the photo up on your computer or tablet.

That's the joy of taking digital photos -- you can take as many as you want. Multiple attempts can increase your likelihood that at least one of the photos is as sharp and clear as you intended.

After taking at least six photographs of this same composition, this photograph was the only one in focus. It's always a delight when you discover that you got the shot you wanted.

Best Laid Plans

Anticipating today was peak bloom of the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin, I got up before the sun, jumped in a Zipcar and drove over to the National Mall. When I arrived, I learned the frustrating truth -- the blossoms were not in full bloom. Oh, the best laid plans of mice and men ... you know the story.

So, the sleep-deprived version of myself might have reacted to this news with bitterness and perhaps a few choice words, but the photographer in me responded instead. I was inspired.

Instead of taking big landscape photographs of trees in full bloom, I zoomed in on a smaller subject -- the blossom itself. It's amazing when you get close to your subject how different they can appear.

Today's photograph showcases the full spectrum of a blossom's bloom from bud to flower. This close, the blooms seem to be exploding like fireworks from the tree branches. In a day or two, these "explosions" will result in Cherry Blossom tree branches overwhelmed with flowers.

Sometimes the best photographs occur when the plan needed to change. These game-change situations force you to get creative and develop a new and unexpected plan. Just like with life, we need to be flexible with photography. You never know when (or how) your best photograph excursion may happen.

Both Light and Dark

Today, I'm reminded of one of my favorite quotes from J.K. Rowling's brilliant Harry Potter series. The following quote was said by Sirius Black, Harry's godfather as he tried to ease Harry's concerns about his growing dark magic ability.

"We have all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the power we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

It's a simple idea, yet one that we humans struggle with. It is hard for us to accept that we are each capable of both great goodness and great evil. It would be easier to believe that we are born either one or the other. But the coupling of goodness and darkness is essential to our evolution.

As George Lucas suggested in the Star Wars series, we can choose to embrace the light or dark forces as both reside within us. Once we make the choice, it can define us but it is not definitive; we can still switch sides.

We don't have to look to only pop culture to understand this viewpoint. Most of the world's religions have similar explanations for mankind's dual nature. Since then, modern storytellers like Rowling and Lucas are weaving the same tale.

iPhone Camera to the Rescue

On one of my many morning trips to the Tidal Basin in March to photograph the Cherry Blossoms, I got caught in a thunderstorm. After waiting out the storm under the roof of a National Mall public restroom facility, I ventured out with my camera and starting taking pictures.

Only 20 minutes into the photo session, the battery for my digital camera dies. "That's ok," I said to myself. "I have an extra camera battery in my camera case. Wait. Where is my camera case?"

While I had packed everything in my backpack, including a change of shoes for work, I forgot to put my camera bag into my backpack too. Now, I'm wet, my digital camera isn't working and I'm surrounded by flowers just begging to be photographed.

Before I was a smart phone user, my only option in that situation would be to put away my camera, take in a good mental photograph of my surroundings and then head off to work.

Luckily, my iPhone provides an alternative scenario and I was able to use it to continue photographing the damp Cherry Blossoms. Today's photograph is one of my favorites from that iPhone photo session.

This year's FotoWeekDC Cherry Blossom competition actually has a category for photographs taken with mobile devices and I entered this photograph. To vote for one of my photographs to win their People's Choice award, click here to cast your vote.

Purple Haze

Today's words of wisdom come from an old wizard who was birthed from the imagination of one of my favorite writers of all time -- J.K. Rowling.

In the second novel of the Harry Potter series -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -- Hogwarts headmaster and great wizard Albus Dumbledore tells Harry:

It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities.

For Harry, at this point in the series, the future looks hazy and unclear. It's a common occurrence as we grow older. In response to Harry's confusion, Dumbledore rightly points out that the choices we make define our characters much more than our talents and accomplishments ever will.

Dumbledore's words confirm what I already know to be true -- our moment-to-moment choices is a compass guiding us through life's haze and offering clarity to become the people we were meant to be regardless of our abilities. Owning our choices is the secret to a successful life.

One final note -- If you believe that the Harry Potter series is just for children, think again. Dumbledore and the other characters Harry meets along his journey speak to the child in all of us, regardless of age.

Regarding Time

Everyone seems to be on Facebook now. My parents. My friends' parents. The Dalai Lama. Yes, even His Holiness the Dalai Lama -- the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and Buddhists around the world -- maintains a Facebook page.

He is not the only spiritual leader with a Facebook page. Pope Benedict XVI has a Facebook profile too. But unlike other spiritual leaders who use Facebook to share news and activities, the Dalai Lama uses his updates to share insights and wisdom with his followers.

Today, he shared a great pearl of wisdom about how best we should use and regard time:

Every one of us is getting older, which is a natural process. Time is constantly moving on, second by second. Nothing can stop it, but what we can do is use our time properly; that is in our hands. Whether we believe in a spiritual tradition or not, we need to use our time meaningfully. If over days, weeks, months and years, we have used our time in a meaningful way – when our last day comes, we'll be happy, we'll have no regrets.

Fast Car

Do you remember that Tracy Chapman song, "Fast Car"?

During zero period physical education class my junior year of high school, I grew to despise that song. Our high school's color guard would also practice while we were "exercising" outside of the gym. "Fast Car" was popular then and the color guard selected it for their routine that year. They played it over and over and over again.

When I watched this Yellow Line Metro train pass above the Cherry Blossoms in a blur, I kept hearing that song in my head. The woman in that song wanted to escape her life in that fast car going anywhere. She is like the people on that Metro train passing above the Tidal Basin. The train was filled with people from the Virginia suburbs traveling into the District to go to work or school or another activity that didn't involve enjoying the Cherry Blossoms.

In the hustle and bustle of urban living, it is very easy to not pay attention to the world around us. How many train passengers failed to look up from their newspapers, books, phones or tablets and out the window to see these beautiful trees in their pink glory? And even if they had, the train was traveling so fast, they might have missed it completely anyway.

One of the best life benefits of photography is that it forces us to slow down and focus. Hopefully by pausing with our cameras to capture a life moment, we will also get the opportunity to see the world in an entirely new way and chose to stay instead of leave in a fast car.

Really Quite Lucky

The hiatus is over. Back to posting photos and updating the blog. Instead of going off into one of my elaborate musings, I'm just going to keep my posts simple for awhile. I'll just make sure to post really great photographs to compensate.

One of the best books to read when you're feeling sorry for yourself is Dr. Seuss' Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?. The following is my favorite quote from that children's book:

When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad...
you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie,
you're really quite lucky!
Some people are much more...
oh, ever so much more...
oh, muchly much-much more
unlucky than you!

Very true, Dr. Seuss. Very true.

Coastal Flower Rivalry

Last week, I traveled to Northern California for some vacation time.

It was a trip filled with visits with old friends who live in the area, and celebrations of graduations and new adventures. My camera accompanied me on the trip and future posts will feature the best of our photo excursions.

After spending so much time with spring bloom in Washington, DC, the landscapes in Northern California was a big change. While spring arrived there as well, spring looks different on the West Coast. Unlike the plethora of flowering trees on the East Coast, Northern California features more flowering plants than trees in springtime.

Which do I like best? Unclear. As a photographer, I'm fascinated by flowering trees, but flowering plants offer such color and variety that they draw my camera as well.

By the Dawn's Early Light

Why do I get up at the crack of dawn to travel to the Tidal Basin to photograph Cherry Blossoms? Today's photograph illustrates the reason why.

The early morning light is the best lighting source for nature photography. While I've found sunset light attractive as well, it often leaves photo subjects in silhouette.

As the sun rises, it drapes a soft glow upon flowers and plants, leading to striking profiles like the one in today's post. It is photos like today that motivate me to keep setting that alarm clock for an ungodly hour just to photograph nature at dawn.

Jefferson Memorial Sunrise Reflection

I doubt that Thomas Jefferson imagined that he would be honored with such a majestic structure as the Jefferson Memorial. Although I'm sure that he would appreciate how beautifully situated it is on this picturesque spot at the Tidal Basin, especially at dawn.

Cherry Blossoms and Blue Skies

I love getting a hint of blue skies when I'm in Cherry Blossom photography mode. Blue skies just feature the subtle pink color of the blossoms so beautifully. With blue skies in the background, the resulting photographs best reflects what I saw in person with my eye.

At times, what we see with our eyes and what the camera captures can vary. Our vision makes adjustments while working with our brains, while our digital cameras rely on us to tell it when adjustments should be made.

Digital cameras may become smarter and more intuitive, but to create memorable images, cameras will still require human operators to make images that most closely resemble what we see with the human eye.

New Challenges

After photographing the Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin for more than 6 years, I challenge myself to uncover a new perspective or angle of the blooming trees each year.

On my fourth visit last week, I found a sweet position on the south side of the Tidal Basin. While there at sunrise, I figured out how to take a close-up photograph of the blossoms while the Jefferson Memorial lingered in the background.

Today's photograph was one of the highlights of my Cherry Blossom photo excursions this year.

Disappearing Monument

It's been quite a week of Cherry Blossom walking and photographing, although the weather has been less than stellar. Most of my sunrise excursions this week have been met with either fog or rain -- neither good photography weather.

What happened to the warm, sunny weather that brought out the blossoms a week earlier that projected? Who knows. All I'm hoping for is that blue skies and bright days will soon be at our doorstep once more.

However, I must admit that the overcast skies at the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River created this cool moment where the top of the Washington Monument seemed to disappear in the fog. While grey skies aren't my favorite photo backdrops, I have to admit this moment was fun to capture.

Delicate Cherry Blossoms

They're here! They're here! Ok, I know the blooming Cherry Blossom tress are more "it" than "they," but to me, "they" are old friends and deserve a pronoun as such.

Today I visited the Tidal Basin for my annual sunrise Cherry Blossom photo adventure and wasn't disappointed. I look forward to the blossoms' brief visit each spring and I'm ecstatic that they are finally here.

In spite of the fog and overcast skies, the blossoms were near peak bloom and spectacular, especially the white blossom cherry trees. While the pink blossom cherry trees were not yet in full bloom, they should be peaking in the next 24-36 hours.

After six years of visiting the cherry blossoms, I am still in awe of the delicacy of the blossoms. The petals are so fine and fragile and vulnerable to wind and rain. Weather forecasts predict thunderstorms and rain this week, which will cause the trees to lose their blossoms faster.

If you're in the DC area and planning to visit the Cherry Blossoms this year, go to the Tidal Basin as soon as you can. Once the rain storms arrive, there is no telling how long the blossoms will be around.