Penning Photography Daily

What Love Hath Wrought

During our Thanksgiving celebration this year, my niece Carrie requested that I take some family portrait shots for their Christmas Card. I eagerly said yes and this is one of the resulting set.

I really like this one. It’s hard to pick one out of the set I took.

This is one loved little girl, Charlotte.

Terry & Carrie are very blessed to be parents of her. Such an awesome responsibility.

My one and only, Chris, is about to finish one phase of education, and embark on both a vocation and marriage to his beloved Jennie. I feel so overwhelmed with joy just writing that phrase. The fullness of parenthood can do that, don’tcha know. Seeing one of your own, who started out so small and vulnerable, break through to begin his own journey where you’re involved but o so much more on the sidelines than ever before. I ache with pride, delight, concern, hope, and love for him.

When we choose to be parents. What a journey we begin.

Rainy Glow Tradition

It’s that season again!

This past weekend some of the neighbors were busy putting up loads of lights on their houses and lawns. I, being a luminous display abstainer, left my lights were they have been for several years: Somewhere in my garage.

Some folks go all out and put up displays which must make the electric company folks rub their hands with glee. Me, I’ve got a front door display of a manger scene, which is laminated plastic, and folds up into 1/4th the size of the door for the rest of the year, tucked behind the living room couch, ready to spring into action any day now.

Tradition.

I’m not a cold hearted person, but sectarian violence in the name of religion fills the history of many major religions, including Christianity. That has me not caught up in the displays on this holiday which supposed to center around the birth of the Christian Saviour, who asked me to turn my cheek to the one who slaps me. I’d rather do my proclaiming of my faith quietly, in the way I live every day.

I search for the meaning of Christmas within me, and within each one I am in contact with every day.

I’ll still put up a Christmas tree inside, and help my bride untangle the lights, and put the star on top of it. I’ll still take a family portrait in front of the tree, same as every year.

I’ll love singing and playing guitar in the ensemble at church. I’ll enjoy our son and his to-be-bride, my in-laws and family, listening and sharing stories of the year, and of the past.

I’ll quietly thank God for caring about me, and ask how I can help care for others better today.

Just don’t ask me to put up a lighted display.

Self In Window

Of all the things to photograph, of all the photos I took today, this is the one I chose to make my picture of the day.

Little old me.

Or rather, my reflection in the window behind my desk at work. It was taken after the sun had set and most everyone had left for the day. I had a dickens of a time keeping my hand from shaking, as the exposure is 1/5th of a second. I didn’t get the super sharp image I wanted, but overall I’m pleased. I set up the composition in the viewfinder, then slowly raised my head so I could show some of my eyes. Slowly squeezing the shutter while letting my breath out.

I did a bit of post processing, adjusting color (darn those florescent lights!), and removing some noise. I kept the gray in my hair. Perhaps I should call it silver. It’s there, whatever it is. At 52, I deserve those gray hairs.

My day was interesting and challenging. I brushed off some skills I had not used for a while, and made things happen which had stumped others. That was a nice feeling, to be able to help others and at the same time feel that I can still pull rabbits out of my hat with my skills.

Every day is full of opportunities. I have to keep my eyes open for them, then pounce forward into action to make the most of the possibilities I see.

I saw myself in the window, and took the A-train to a self portrait. By me.

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This caught my eye near the end of my work day.

I turned around to get up and speak to a co-worker, and caught the reflection of the sunset on a nearby building. I quickly grabbed my camera, which I brought today (yay!), and squeezed off a few captures.

This crop is what I came up with. I cropped out the marquee of the building and the top, which is festooned with cellular antennas (and birds). I wanted only that which grabbed my eye.

We’ve had some spectacular sunsets here of late.

I was reading today an inspiring entry in one of my daily blogs. The person was saying how the opinions of others had driven his life for much of his early years. Some good and some bad. The bad became like binding ropes on his self worth. Once he saw how this was hindering his growth, he was able to pretty much recognize these old and negative messages and get out of his own way towards becoming what he felt and envisioned he was meant to be.

Reflection and acknowledgment of the internal flaws, then moving out of my way, empowers the dream within me to become real.

Reflection of Sunset

I got caught up with many events today, and left my camera at home! Here’s a photo I took a couple of days ago at sunset in Calvary cometary.

As I was driving around, I was struck by the reflection of the sunset on many of the polished headstones. A reinforcement of the end of life, with the sun at the end of the day. I stopped and snapped a couple of photos, trying to get the dimension of the tree shadows within the refection. This one turned out the best.

I’d rather not have to do post processing on pictures. If they could just look this good out of the camera, I’d be so more happy. Works of art are made with tools such as Photoshop. I’m beginning the long learning curve of how to wield the tools and palettes which are in Photoshop and the other tools I have. Rome wasn’t built in a day, the saying goes. My skills are greater today than yesterday, and will be better after my next session of post processing.

Time swiftly flows in, around and through me. I love having the time to learn. I’m glad that I’m pushing myself to grow my talents.

I’m grateful to have time to reflect.

Vicki & MaryBeth

My friend, Mary Beth, is moving to Muenster in Germany this week. Another friend, Vicki, hosted an open house for folks to come and say farewell. We dropped by for a few minutes, as we had other commitments this evening. The time was short, but we caught up and got contact information for Mary Beth.

Vicki is Executive Director of the Theresian World Ministry http://theresians.org/ They are an international, non-profit, organization of women of faith, who meet in small affirming Christian communities.

Mary Beth is a member of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. She was elected to a 6 year term to the general council which governs all Franciscan Hospital Sisters worldwide.

Each in their own way are pioneers. First explorers and pathfinders for others.

Karen and I used to meet with Mary Beth and several others once a month for several years in a small faith group. We shared our joys and sorrows, accomplishments and frustrations, and we supported each other in prayer and presence – just being there. In my conversation with Mary Beth tonight, we both expressed sorrow over how our group had declined then disbanded. The support is still there in my heart for each in the group. we just don’t get together anymore.

We each change as time and events shape us. I would say each of us is a pioneer of our own life.

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When I was done taking photos and heading home today, I came to the intersection of Browning Road and Route 4. I was stunned by the sunset panorama before me.

I quickly fired up my camera and took a three exposure set, with the intent to combine them into a High Dynamic Range photo later. After I turned onto Route 4, the scene just kept pulling at me. I wanted to screech to a halt by the side of the road to take more photos and enjoy the sunset. I didn’t.

I rolled down the window, and carefully stuck my camera into the sunset and squeezed off three more shots while traveling 55 miles per hour. My good fortune held, and the camera survived my daredevil exploit.

I kept looking for angles to stop and take more photos, but ultimately gave up. I saw a lovely shot which could have been taken from the parking lot of a church near my home, but the traffic was heavy at that point, and I decided to note that this would be a good spot for another day and play it safe.

I arrived home, and quickly opened the views. This one grabs me the most.

Sunsets remind me of my small part of the universe. The beauty reminds me of how much I am given each day. The fleeting nature of a sunset’s beauty, remind me of how quickly time passes.

I need to enjoy each morsel of life which comes my way.