Forest Floor

Forest Floor
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

It feels like weeks since I have been out for a relaxing walk in the woods.

This last weekend I visited Sliver Creek Conservation Area / Scotsdale Farm. I have been there once before on a very cold windy day almost a year ago. This trip was in response to a photograph by fellow photographer Patrick, a member of our local critique group.

The day started like any other photo trip with a stop at Tim’s for tea and breakfast. It was only when we hit the trails that time went into overdrive. I had my time/distance logger running on my cell phone and laughed when I realised that in the last hour we had covered 1/2 mile. Not exactly Olympic speeds.

I think the yardstick for measuring how a day out is going is measured this way, when time disappears and the distance covered is minimal.

Think about it, if you were told to stand in the same spot for 10 minutes I wager that boredom would set in pretty quickly. On the other hand stand in the same spot for 10 min while looking at the ground clutter of leaves and branches trying to understand and make sense of the myriad possibilities for a photograph and all the while thinking (and seeing) in black and white, well that 10 min goes by pretty fast.
Wash and repeat a few times and there goes an hour and you haven’t even realised that that amount of time has passed.

Three hours disappeared in the blink of an eye. Disturbing ? No, not really.
The realisation that so much time had gone by only proved just what a grand time I had been having, no cares, no worries, no thoughts of the work-a-day world crept in to disrupt my enjoyment of a perfect late fall day.

To me that is what makes for a perfect day out and I came home refreshed and revitalised with a couple of images that I can enjoy.

Yep, a good day ..

Now is the time to unite the soul and the world. Now is the time to see the sunlight dancing as one with the shadows. ~Rumi

Footnote on today's saying:

I first became aware of Rumi in the book “War and Peace: A Photographer's Journey” by Reza Deghati

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98202970

Along the Fence

Along the Fence
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

As winter approaches the landscape takes on a whole new look. Gone are the vibrant colours of the other seasons; no reds, yellows or green now just brown.
To many this time of year is depressing and they hide away until it passes and the wheel turns once again to Spring.
Not me, this is my time now, the landscape becomes a lithograph of textures, contrasts, lines, light and shadows.

'Tis the season for Black and White photography ! :-)

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~Andrew Wyeth

Denver

Denver
 
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy
Denver 1997 - 2012

Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life, yesterday I had to say goodbye to an old friend.
To many, just a dog, to us a beloved family member.
Denver died peacefully at noon at the Hwy 24 veterinary Clinic with his pack around him.

Now it is left for me to be the person he thought I was ....

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

St Francis Chapel

St Francis Chapel
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

My blog ramblings this week are in no way related to the photograph chosen as my "Photo of the week" ...


It's a tip of the hat to my friend Bunny Safari who organised this event and, more importantly, found a spot for me at the last minute.

Yesterday I spent the day in the company of an eclectic bunch of people who gathered at Trina Koster's Studio here in Guelph to put on the 8th Annual "Go with the Flo" Show and Sale.

http://gowiththeflo.ca/

I must admit, it was quite unlike any other show I have attended or participated in.
For a start there were only two 'guys', myself and Eric the Purple. We took over the front entranceway and declared it 'the man cave'.
Unfortunately most of the male visitors were the one's whose wives had come to visit the "Estrogen cave" next door. The menfolk stood around jiggling strollers, keeping the young 'uns in line and keeping Eric and I company.

Well Eric is one of those people who knows everybody in Guelph so he had lots of visitors who came to do just that, visit. Sales were few and far between in the man cave. However there was a steady stream of people coming out of the other cave carrying paper bags and bundles.

And lets not forget the music and the dancing (when there was enough room). African / Jamaican dance rhythm's swirling out of the Estrogen Cave drowned out my little iPod, even Led Zeppelin couldn't compete...

Christmas Music ? Forget it...

And as for sales, lets call it a day for "networking" or better yet a party in the thin disguise of a 'show and sale'.

So, was the day a success?

Lets just say, I'm working on it.....

"That man is successful who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much, who has gained the respect of the intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Winter comes sneaking in - Rockwood

Winter comes sneaking in - Rockwood
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Why is it that we photographers travel many a mile in search of places and things to photograph and in so doing drive past some of the best places we have ever visited?

A case in point, last Saturday morning we decided that another visit to the Rockwood Conservation Area was warranted, for no other reason than "it had been awhile".
As usual the comments were along the lines of "why don't we come here more often"? "it's so close to home but we drive right by".

Yes it is and yes we do, but why?

Rockwood is one of the most beautiful places for miles around, so accessible and oh so scenic.
As Grant mentioned "it's like being somewhere around Georgian Bay" and it is.
However Georgian Bay is several hours drive away but we do not hesitate jumping into the car to make the trip but to drive 20 min down the road to Rockwood ... it doesn't happen.

I think it is because it is so close and accessible we tend to overlook it in favour of less accessible places. As Bill Mason once said "part of the attraction of a place is its difficulty in getting there".

Maybe I should start taking the long way round to get to Rockwood.

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ~Anatole France

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

On the 11hr hour
of the 11th day
in the 11th month, we shall remember them and offer our thanks.

It's the least we could do ...

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae

Door Chimes

Door Chimes
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

No man's an Island ...

I'm still recovering from this damned cold/flu or whatever it is I have.
However this weekend was an absolute joy;

On Saturday I met up with Doug and spent an hour or so at "Tim's" drinking tea and catching up. Eventually we ventured out for a walk but Doug was ever conscious of my weakened state and thank goodness because I would have overdone it had he not been.
Yes he told me I had had enough and brought me home, I had taken 3 photographs that day.
Thank you my friend for taking the time out and giving up yours for a short walk and not much photography, I needed that.

Sunday Cathy and I were invited to visit Grant and Cathy in Milton. Grant had photographed my son David's wedding and he had all the proofs ready. So the gang descended on their house, Cathy and I and David and his new bride Siobhan.
We had a great afternoon laughing and talking, watching a slideshow and movie's of the wedding and gorging ourselves on Chinese food.
Not too much exercise but that meant I could stay longer :-)

All in all a wonderful weekend organised by wonderful friends, I thank each of you and hope you don't get sick ...

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard