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!

Opportunity in Every Difficulty

In times of turmoil like this week with Boston and now West, Texas, I've always turned to the crafty wisdom of the great Sir Winston Churchill for inspiration. For most situations, there's always a Churchill quotation that will provide guidance and support.

The Churchill quote that accompanies today's image is one of my favorites. It's Churchill's take on glass half-full or half-empty debate.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

When challenges and crises arise in our lives and communities, we must band together and collectively look for the opportunities in the difficulties. We need to find more silver linings.

If we all just hold our heads and bemoan life's difficulties and unfairness, we are embracing pessimism and dooming ourselves to keep swimming in circles like these ducks in the Tidal Basin.

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.

Early Light

As I discussed in an earlier blog post, I'm participating in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in June to raise funding and awareness of suicide prevention.

While finding content to include on my fundraising page, I came across a Rascal Flatts song I was unfamiliar with, but very relevant to this cause. I've always loved Rascal Flatts, and I was surprised that I didn't recall ever hearing this one before.

"Why" is written from the perspective of someone who is trying to understand why a loved one completed suicide. It's lyrics are powerful, and will be an essential song on my walk playlist in June.

"Why"
Performed by Rascal Flatts
You must have been in a
Place so dark
You couldn't feel the light
Reachin' for you through
That stormy cloud
Now here we are
Gathered in our little hometown
This can't be the way
You meant to draw a crowd

Oh why, that's what I keep asking
Was there anything I could've
Said or done
Oh, I had no clue you were
Masking
A troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong and why
You would leave the stage
In the middle of a song

Now in my mind I'll keep you frozen
As a seventeen-year-old
Rounding third to score the
Winning run
You always played with passion
No matter what the game
When you took the stage
You'd shine just like the sun

Oh why, that's what I keep asking
Was there anything I could've
Said or done
Oh, I had no clue you were
Masking
A troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong and why
You would leave the stage
In the middle of a song

Now the oak trees are swaying
In the early autumn breeze
A golden sun is shining on my face
Through tangled thoughts
I hear a mockingbird sing
This old world really ain't that
Bad of a place

Oh why, there's no comprehending
And who am I to try to
Judge or explain
Oh, but I do have one
Burning question
Who told you life wasn't
Worth the fight
They were wrong, they lied
Now you're gone and we cry
'Cause it's not like you to
Walk away
In the middle of a song

Your beautiful song
Your absolutely beautiful song

Here's hoping that our efforts for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will help keep more "beautiful songs" in 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.

Celebrating Hard Work and Respites

Across America today, people are observing Labor Day, a federal holiday celebrating the economic and social contributions of workers in the United States. Wikipedia states that it is a day celebrating American workers, but since we are a nation built on the backs of American and non-American workers alike, broadening it to all workers in this country is more appropriate.

So how do we celebrate this day on the first Monday of September each year? We give workers the day off, of course, and encourage them to attend parades, parties and special events. It's a day for hard workers to relax and stop and smell the flowers.

After more than ten years of working, I relish federal holidays and bonus days off. In the hustle and bustle of busy work schedules, it's hard to find the time to enjoy life's moments and fully appreciate the beauty around us.

I came across these flowers on my way to work one spring morning. I debated whether it was worth stopping to photograph the blossoms with my iPhone camera and be a few minutes late for work. I hesitated for a moment and then decided to walk away. After walking a few minutes, I returned to the flowers with my iPhone camera in hand. For some reason, these flowers haunted me and I knew that if I didn't take the picture I would regret it.

That's the importance of taking breaks, respites and holidays. Taking time off allows us to lessen our regrets for not taking moments which will haunt us later. Whether we spend time with our family or friends, or relax indoors, or even visit someplace new on Labor Day, taking that respite will improve our wellness and reduce that weighty burden of missed opportunities.

Big Love

Yesterday, someone on Pinterest pinned a quote from one of the Lord of the Rings movies that made me pause. The post depicted Cate Blanchett's character Galadriel saying, "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." While Galadriel was referring to the fictional and height-challenged hobbits, I'm blessed to know real people who illustrate Galadriel's prophecy.

Five years ago today, a little baby's passing changed my life.

Ella and I never met. She was the first child of one of my dearest childhood friends who lived in California while I was living here on the East Coast. Ella was small and beautiful, and unfortunately, came into the world with a sick heart. She wasn't the first little one in my life to pass away too soon; my baby cousin Justin unexpectedly passed when he was just a few months old as well. Even Ella's big spirit couldn't overcome her frail body.

While we never met, I felt as if I knew Ella. I grew to know her through photographs and email updates from her parents and grandparents. I grew to know her through the little anecdotes and stories my mother retold from conversations with Ella's family while she was sick in the hospital. And I grieved for her, even though I knew her passing would bring her peace after living a short life filled with painful medical tests, procedures and hospital stays. Although we never met, I felt so much for her and felt her loss so deeply.

Knowing her taught me such a valuable, powerful lesson about myself and life. Loving Ella showed me how there is no distance between people, none at all. We walk around each other like we're strangers, and often feel alone and disconnected. But truthfully, whether we know each others' names or not, we are connected because we share the same creator. We come from the same stock, the same gene pool, the same family.

We are connected whether we see one another or even hold one another. Distance is a figment of our imagination. It's the lie we tell ourselves to hold people away from us and to feel safer and protected from harm and pain. It's a man-made obstacle we place in our relationships.

If this year has taught me anything, it is that grief and feelings of loss are part of our soul's acknowledgement of this connection to each other. It's why we emotionally react to strangers' deaths in mass shootings, natural disasters, and other horrendous events reported on the every night. We may not know the victims personally, but their loss feels like our own. This occurs because we were created to love, and love is the bridge, the connection between each other.

So we must be like Ella. Her body may have been small and fragile, but she loved her family, friends and even strangers as if her heart was as big as the sky. What a different world this would be if we lived (and loved) so boldly.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. So true. I'm grateful for Ella and the loving, little (and big) souls who have shared this life journey with me so far for showing me our interconnectedness  and how to love big and boldly.

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.

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.

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.

Magnolia Blossom with a Friend

Accompanying the cherry trees on the National Mall, there are several magnolia trees which bloom around the same time. This image is a close-up of a magnolia blossom near the end of its blooming cycle.

While I love flower photography, I never strive to capture insects interacting with flowers and plants. I'm not a fan of bugs, so when in nature, I try to stay clear of them and not get too close.

Somehow in spite of my plan, I was able to capture this fly resting on this magnolia blossom. Even though this is a cool moment to freeze in a photograph, it doesn't change my position on no insects in my compositions.

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.