I began this year ending an almost 34  year career with the firm I worked for, starting with them on October 1, 1974.  Ending the work for them wasn't totally by choice as the business group I worked with, was sold to another large company.  Thus a long history with what had seemed like an old friend, came to an end.  

To help with the transition we took off for Florida. On the way back a visit to Hilton Head Island was in order and this late evening sunset helped remind me that new perspectives are in order with the beginning of a new year.

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Reflection on the day

Reflection on the day, originally uploaded by Septguy.

There is a calmness about the early morning, the creeping sun rays and a perfectly calm sheen on the water. With all that's transpired in the financial work, employment world, political world, etc., we need a calm day like this to remind us to stop and enjoy the world in front of our eyes.

The softness of no sounds

A quiet beauty in southern France...

  Driving from Nice in southern France to the inland area around Gourdon was, to say the least, an experience that left many impressions. 

 It was September, the world wasn't in the middle of a financial crisis, I couldn't see the end of full time work around the corner and we were far enough past 9/11 that a trans-atlantic trip was seriously considered.  The drive from the coast inland is winding but not as breath-stopping as say, crossing the Cascades in Washington State.

Some scenes brought forward the question, "How did they build that?"  This scene comes to mind, I remember taking the photo.  The structure to the left is a restaurant, there are tables below the observation point but the sheer sense of a drop that seems straight down made one pause and just take in the view.

The village of Gourdon, according to Wikipedia, has a population of 379, one road entrance to the village and is 4,000 (+) feet above sea level.  What is life like here, on a day to day basis?  On a sunny, warm early Fall day, it had a sense of being on a movie set.  The villages of southern France give you that sense, however, especially on a beautiful day. 

Sitting at a small cafe, along the street, sipping a glass of wine this place seems so disconnected from the rest of the planet.

 

Mother Nature's Canvas

Mother Nature's Canvas, originally uploaded by Septguy.

The texture's and tones created by Mother Nature look like a scene on a canvas on the coast of South Carolina.

New Day

New Day, originally uploaded by Septguy.

It's a new year, an ending and a beginning.

The adrenalin, originally uploaded by Miss Aniela.

It's a new year which means time to think about something creative, how to use the time before us with no history attached as of yet. To get your creative juices flowing, take a look at Miss Aniela's photos on flickr, and this interview with her,

PPS08: Natalie Dybisz (aka Miss Aniela)

My creation, originally uploaded by Septguy.

When you start to lose light towards the end of the day and you are trying to photograph subjects moving quickly, you either pump up the ISO and get a lot of grain or make something out of the motion.

Day's End

Day's End, originally uploaded by Septguy.

A Blue Ridge Day, originally uploaded by Septguy.

It was a day to get out, let the mind wander and the eye fall upon what caught its attention. The air was crisp but not too cool, the hiking trail not too crowded. The distant views were clear, the colors of the trees catching the suns rays in the distance.

There's something about a lazy cat. Cat's have an interesting life, they are pampered in general, fed when hungry, have their coats groomed and generally have their way. I've never calculated how much time each day the cats sleep but I'm sure it's a statistic that's available somewhere.
Dogs on the other hand, tend to be directed and told what to do. "Come, fetch, sit, lay, " you know the drill. When I was growing up we had dogs. I had two hunting dogs, Pointers. We referred to them as "bird dogs", I've never known if that was an official title or not. I remember to this day taking my uncle hunting and the male dog finding his first covey of quail. I think my uncle had thought they were never going to actually show their talents.
Life on a farm was some much simplier than today.

For the past few months time has been an especially different element in my life. Everyone in the business I work in has been counting down the days until new owners take over. I enjoy visiting the mountains during these times, a quiet summer evening walk and taking in the beauty of the hillsides and views presents an especially quiet scene amid the turmoil of everything that has been occuring in our lives.

Distant views

Distant views, originally uploaded by Septguy.

The other day I was thinking about "work" and how being creative really isn't required in the job I've held for the past several years. It's much more about working within the rules and guidelines of a large organization. About 10 months ago I spent half a day with a group of photography enthusiasts and a few models that agreed to pose. The sense of breaking out of the mold and exploring my photographic interests made for a great afternoon.

San Francisco art from above

San Francisco art from above, originally uploaded by Septguy.

It had been a long time since I'd flown into San Francisco. The colors and and patterns reminded me of an art piece as the pilot began the approach.

By The Rocket's Red Glare

By The Rocket's Red Glare, originally uploaded by Septguy.

Concentration

Concentration, originally uploaded by Septguy.

I like catching athletic movement and stopping the action. Even thou the movement is frozen the sense of flow and movement is there, I can hear the sound of the racket and the ball connecting.

Theresa Logar of the itf/USTA women's was captured during a recent tournament.

Intensity at a glance

Arizona Biltmore

It's the hat...

It's the hat..., originally uploaded by Septguy.

I couldn't help but notice the hat...