Beyond Day SixMy sometimes-daily blog of a photograph or two with a few words, celebrating all the days of life that flow through creation into perspiration, inspiration, reflection, sabbath, and resurrection. An Amazing MorningI admit that before I went to bed last night I thought about getting up early for a photo trip, but I didn't really think about it too intently and fell asleep without any substantial plans for Labor Day. But we awoke early. The house might have been too warm and we grew restless. For whatever reason, we awoke at 3:45 a.m. I wondered what time sunrise was and how far it might be to drive north and take photos of the Illinois and maybe the Spoon. You see, I have a project of getting photos of 10 rivers in Illinois for the Conference Web Site. I already have the Sangamon, Cache, Mississippi, and LaMoine. I have one as well of the Illinois at Peoria, but it was rather lackluster and could not be cropped well for a banner. So, in the dark, I pondered if this might be an opportunity to get some river pictures. So we loaded up the car and drove north in the early morning dark. While there are few cars at 4 am, it is still surprising that some folk are out on the road so early. After a Hardees stop in Havana, we crossed the bridge and drove along the western edge of the Illinois. It was surprising to see fog in the lowlands and I contemplated what a picture might look like. The sky was rather plain, no clouds, but a nice rosy color from the sun below the horizon. I took a few preliminary photos along the road of the intermittent fog, but I pushed on to the little town of Liverpool that I knew from the map sat right on the banks of the Illinois. We parked just as two fisherman came to launch their boats in the dawn mist. The sun was coming up just over the fog and turned the river golden and the fisherman started on his quest and I pushed the shutter. Actually, I took a lot of photos from that site and surely one will be appropriate for the web. I know I was glad I got out of bed. A Quote for the Last Day of August"Any life, however long
is too short if the mind is bereft of splendor, the passions under worked, the memories sparse, and the imagination unlit by radiant musings." Norman Cousins On View at the Gallery!
Saturday, the September-October show opens at the H. D. Smith Gallery at the Hoogland Art Center where I am a juried artist. This time I have five photographs on display including the one above. The whole process of photography takes on another dimension when one begins to make prints for display that are exhibited for public viewing. While I earned money with my photography years ago when I was a student in seminary and for a year after graduation, I was still surprised that some anonymous person paid a substantial sum for a print in the May-June show. I guess it is a measure, certainly not the only one, of one's skill as a photographer to have someone appreciate your work to such an extent that they are willing to purchase it. Not only was I surprised, but it encouraged me to be more diligent to make the art that I exhibited as high quality as I could make it. For a number of years, I have given away framed photographs as presents and I believe the recipients have appreciated the gifts. And I consider the relationship between giver and receiver enhances the value of the photograph. But to have an unknown stranger pay more than what I expected has increased my awareness of my skill. Being accepted as a juried artist into the Prairie Art Alliance which represents more than 100 truly gifted, diverse artists is wonderfully affirming. And then to sell a photo in the first show was amazing. Now I have carefully prepared five more and I admit I am pleased and proud of what they represent. Maybe they too will go home with someone who is attracted to what I saw and the way I captured that vision. Who knows? It has happened before.Learn Something!
It was just a personal send-off of encouragement that bid farewell to my children each morning as they left for school. It is pretty easy as a child to learn something new every day. It is absolutely amazing to watch how real that learning ability is with our granddaughter, Madeline. Not yet 15 months old, she is of course the brightest child in all of Tennessee. What a delight it is to witness the knowledge that grows exponentially every time we see her. It may be more stunning to learn something at an age much older than 15 months. But as someone else said, if you are not learning, you are probably dead. So here I am learning about blogging and hyperlinks and information management and tons of other stuff. It is not surprising to my children that Dad is learning something new. My son observed some years ago that Dad seems to always be picking up a new skill. What one is it this year? Well, just take a look. Ain't this a hoot!
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© Day Six Pix, The Photography of John Hartleroad
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