photography

Bluebell day in Jenkinstown woods

My Grand Canyon memory trip worked very well. In spite of the bad forecast I woke up early and boldly went off to Jenkinstown. To my surprise, the weather started getting better, and by the time I arrived, there was summer.

Jenkinstown Park is a gem. At any season. It is sad to see that so many trees are cut down, home for the owls, pine martens, stouts and squirrels… I didn’t see any animals, but crossing a tiny path I felt a strong odor of a small carnivore. Might be a weasel…

Today I came to Jenkinstown Park for a special purpose. Early May is a season for bluebells, and this is the place!

A breathtaking carpet of blue overtakes the forest floor and glorious smell fills the air. Photographers of all kinds make their annual pilgrimage. Like today. The sun is shining through the leaves ( the sun and the copper beech tree have special relationships); a little robin is singing his simple fluting song… I wish I had time to stay here all the day, walk all the trails, catch a glimpse of a badger, find a sleeping owl or watch baby foxes playing… I only have two hours: one hour for photography, the other hour for having a marvellous time while walking back to the car park…

This year the bluebell season started late. I could come here next week and get a brighter blue, but I think that this delicate hazy shade is lovely.

I met a good few photographers, and even took a picture of a couple by request. Young and old, they came here because people need beauty. It is so wonderful that there are places like this one where you can come and fill yourself with beauty and peace.

Heraclitus said that no man ever steps in the same river twice. I got caught twice in the same rain today – does it count? First time it showered me after I left the woods, on the way to Freshford, and then it got me when I was leaving Clonmel. Fresh, aggressive, dedicated to wet you to the bone… My bluebell season is over for this year, but I will visit Jenkinstown later in summer again.

Photography tip of the day: When taking pictures of bluebells try to either get down low to the ground or position your camera as high as you can.

Have a great weekend!

Way of living

A few days ago I went to the Kilsheelan woods to check out the bluebells. Reckon I have to wait another week or two… Nevertheless, I had a pleasant photo shoot and lots of reflecting that wasn’t too pleasant though.

I took this photograph because the old tree root looks like a threshold: one step over it and you are in the magic world. I was ready for the magic:).

I made a stop to take a picture of the winding road. The air was full of the bird songs and gurgling of a stream below the road – all the sounds of Nature that invite tranquillity and purify the mind. I walked towards the stream and started to set up my tripod. At first I couldn’t believe my eyes and just stood there, staring. Right in the middle of the beautiful stream there was an old sofa rotting away, covered with algae and dirt. I didn’t take a picture of it because the sight of this sofa was too insulting… Why people tend to litter water???

I have met many people who changed their ways of life to become a happier person. People give up smoking and overcome drug and alcohol bondage; they stop eating junk food and pick up a hobby; they go back to education, reconcile with their family and kids, book a skydive, do some voluntary work – everything! But I have never met someone who said : I have littered the Earth, I have dumped my crap in the clear water, I didn’t bother to recycle, I had been a pig, but I want to be a happy man from now, so I will litter no more!

I took another picture of the stream next to the Woods gate. I wonder if people who dumped those tires read the information on the stand before they did it? Just out of curiosity, to educate themselves?

Is the civilization evil or it is only some individuals finding delight in their dark side? I don’t know…

Anyway, there are a few photographs to enjoy. I didn’t go to the woods, will wait for the bluebells to come up.

I wonder, does the Nature still wants more humans?

Photography tip of the day: If you are taking pictures of your children running, ask them to run toward you. The pictures will come out clearer.

Have a great day!

Gentle teachings

Taking advantage of the unusually sunny weather I got up early Monday morning and went to the river to catch some beautiful fog. A pair of swans floated by as i walked towards the river bend to get a nicer view.

I set up a composition, ready to press the shutter button. I completely forgot about the swans, but suddenly they just floated into my frame! Making it through the fog they looked so mysterious, almost ghostly. I got a few shots of them, and when they were gone I just knew it was the time to go back home because I wouldn’t get anything better today.

I was thinking about the days when I was very young. My Dad and I would go to the woods, and he would show and explain me everything he knew about the wild life and survival. And he knew a lot. My Dad spent many weeks hiding in the woods and running for his life during the World War II. I remember mushroom and berry picking with him. Being very young I didn’t understand the limits of things, and I wanted more and more of those mushrooms because it was fun to find them. My Dad taught me to never be greedy. He taught me to know where to stop. If I need many, fair enough, but I have to decide how many, exactly, and stop when I am done. And this applies to everything. I cannot tell that I have been following his teachings all my life; definitely not. But still, it is nice to know that your Dad was right, and that he, actually, did exactly what he taught.

Photography tip of the day: Ask yourself these questions: What is my subject? How can I give emphasis to my subject? How can I simplify my photograph?

Have a great day!

Magic Hour

I woke up at about 6am and just on impulse went out to catch the sunrise. Not having any plans I just crossed the bridge and headed up the hill for a greater view. After taking a few shots I looked down and saw that beautiful fog over the river near my house. Should have walked there first! Hurrying down the hill I reflected with a slight annoyance on so human “the grass is always greener” concept. Now my magic hour was running out!

Nevertheless, I still have got a few minutes of magic.

When I move around making compositions and keeping my eye on the settings, somehow I always manage to think about the matters that seem not to be related to the subject of photography. So, I cannot tell now how I ended up thinking about forgiveness. I was walking around the willow tree, shooting close-ups into the rising sun, and thinking about hate, broken relationships and general chronic unhappiness we humans sometimes experience. They say that there is a universal cure: we have to forgive to free ourselves and be happy. That is nothing new, and many of us practice forgiveness for the wrongdoings on a daily basis. Is there anything else we fail to forgive?

Perching on the rock I was looking through the viewfinder trying to make a composition of the willow catkins. And then I knew it. Humans are forever unhappy when they don’t forgive each others differences. It is nothing new either, but usually differences are “accepted” or “tolerated”, and this doesn’t make anybody happier.

Differences can be strange and annoying. Differences just don’t fit! This person is doing it wrong! I do it right! Differences can trigger arrogance or envy. This person is plain stupid! That person is just being lucky! Differences take our focus away from the things that truly matter. It won’t work if we only accept them.

So, I am making a statement here. I am forgiving your differences, people. Please, forgive me for being different and let’s move on and enjoy our life!

I had a wonderful morning. I found magic so close to where I live. A different kind of magic.

Photography tip of the day: First hour after the sunrise is the best time for landscape photography. Fog is a bonus. Fog softens objects in the background, mutes colors, and makes everything look mysterious.

Have a great day!