Two months after I retired, I took a trip with a couple of friends to photograph Colorado. One of the iconic photo-ops in that state is the Maroon Bells Mountain peaks at sunrise that you see above. The sunrise lighting up the top of the mountain is the prize at this location. Many photographers compete for space along the lake shore to get the “best” perspective of this event.
The next photo below gives you some idea of the crowd size, even though I took this pic 30 minutes after the one above, when the crowd was even thicker.
Crowd Thirty Minutes After Best Shot
I do like the so-called sunrise shot, but that scene also makes me feel separate from what I’m looking at. The mountains and lake looked huge, vast, and by comparison I felt so small and distant from it. I walked around the lakes edge until I found a different perspective. I like to capture more of the ground in front of me. It makes me feel more like I was there, and that I could walk into the photograph, the Aspen Stepping Stones.
Maroon Bells, near Snowmass, Colorado
I want to acknowledge my friend, Steve Ornberg—a master at photography trip planning, and an excellent landscape photographer. Steve has since gone on to concentrate on astro-photography and bird photography.
“Through the captured imagery of light, photography allows us to hold fast to one fleeting, ever so precious, moment in time.
~ Howard Simmons. Photographer
Photographing beautiful places in nature in beautiful light has been a passion of mine all my life. These photographs capture a precious moment in time, and my brain, my emotions, also somehow capture moments in time that I did not intend to keep. They may have been hurtful. I may have misjudged people. I may have broken a meaningful relationship. And those memories are still in my mind. They are not precious.
Today, as I think back on the people I may have hurt unjustly, I also wonder whether I can repair that now. What does it mean to be a lifelong friend if I am kicking people to the curb, as if they were nothing to me then. How can I today, years later, harness the power of love—Oneness—in my heart and head?
Perhaps I can look back at those moments with different lenses or filters on my eyes? Perhaps I can change the Lighting of memories that are captured in my head and heart? Perhaps I can edit or post-process or transform the image I have of them, and forgive them, forgive myself?
Perhaps I can recreate the love between us that we used to have.
A river can stop flowing or be rerouted if we allow the stones to accumulate in it instead of working to move them out of the way. The following quote helps me to remember this, to speak about a conflict from a perspective of authenticity and compassion, even though I want to avoid conflict.
I felt angry toward my friend.
I told my wrath. My wrath did end.
I felt angry toward my foe.
I told him not. My wrath did grow.
~ William Blake
Is my former friend really a foe, or did my silence make him so?
Today’s set of photos are about bridges. Bridges as a metaphor of how I can travel on them or construct them in my heart and head, to call that former friend I have left behind.
I believe making a phone call is not a bridge too far.
The Structure of Crossing – Bridge at Cascade Locks, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Otter Creek Loop Bridge – Oregon Coast
Into the Woods – Oregon
Black Partridge Bridge #2 – Black Partridge Woods, Lemont, IL
Falls in Fall – Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio
Great Smoky Mountain Bridge – Great Smoky Mountains NP, Tennessee
Light Bridge – Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
The Structure of Crossing – Bridge at Cascade Locks, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Otter Creek Loop Bridge – Oregon Coast
Into the Woods – Oregon
Black Partridge Bridge #2 – Black Partridge Woods, Lemont, IL
Falls in Fall – Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio
Great Smoky Mountain Bridge – Great Smoky Mountains NP, Tennessee
Light Bridge – Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
– From Article II of the Constitution
When my mind strays from where I am, I create a tension between two places that blocks me from the sensation of being fully alive, from being authentic.
When I incorporate a fullness of attention, or mindfulness, into my daily life, I seldom notice it. But if I should interrupt my flow of being by my mind straying somewhere else, I will stumble just as surely as if I were to stop seeing or breathing.
No matter how far or how long I am straying, it is the practice of returning to whatever moment I am living now that restores me. Only when I am fully present in each moment can I draw strength from the oneness of things.
I call this mindfulness.
Since I learned the result of the last presidential election, my mind’s strayfullness quotient has skyrocketed! I find myself angry, fearful, and sad at witnessing actions that are unconstitutional. From these emotions and thoughts, my mind strays to asking the question: What can I do to save our democracy? To that end, I was inspired by these words today from Joyce Vance from Civil Discourse:
“One of the most important things each of us can do is to continue to inform the folks around us. I had a fabulous conversation with some very smart people yesterday who told me how they were engaging their friends… We all agreed that “planting seeds” is important, and that can take many different forms. However you go about it, we have to do our part.”
Today, I spoke to two people at the gym who I consider friendly, and they agreed to receive from me an email about the independent news sources I follow via email subscriptions.
I am starting this daily practice of inviting friendly people to learn what is happening to our democracy by accepting one email from me.
“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”
What life experiences make you feel the rapture of being alive?
The Oxford Dictionary defines rapture as a feeling of intense pleasure or joy.
When the Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2005, and my son and grandson were together watching it on television, I have to say we felt tremendous joy, even rapture!
When I’m listening to rock’n’roll music coming into my head from my earphones and I’m moving my body to the beat of AC/DC during my morning workouts at the gym, my life experience on the purely physical plane resonates with my own innermost being and reality…and I feel the rapture of being alive!
When I hear a good stand-up comedian on a roll, when I can create and speak a situational comedy joke during a tense life situation that brings the laughter and joy to my current group … I feel the rapture of being alive!
And let’s not forget the pleasure of FOOD! Sausage and mushroom pizza! I can fill the page with my favorite foods, and you probably can too! These are all life experiences on the purely physical plane. When I am tasting delicious food … I feel the rapture of being alive!
When I am in intimate connection with someone I love, especially my beloved wife Marti Beddoe, I feel the rapture of being alive.
“We must risk delight.We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world. “
— Jack Gilbert
I aspire to amplify my attention and accept my gladness. I will seek those experiences of being alive that physically resonate with my own innermost being and reality.
Doing all this with gratitude for being human and alive.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL, February 18, 2012
I share my photographs, not for my glory, but to arouse in you the feelings of Joy, Awe, and Gratitude for the miraculous planet we inhabit. To showcase the visuals, this post puts philosophical musings about my life in the background and instead presents a Happiness Tour through 15 of my favorite works.
Enjoy Your Joy!
And if this seems a touch too much, there’s a video at the bottom to help you re-energize for the tour! Take the whole tour and let me know what you feel!
Water Color
“Water Color”, Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR, June 28, 2010
My wife Marti made me take this picture. I was
sleep-deprived, discouraged, and defeated by the cloud cover of the previous 36
hours. I reallydeserved a nap. “If you take a nap now, you’ll miss what you came
here for, honey.” God bless her!
Warm Creek Gold
Warm Creek Gold, Lake Powell, UT, August 15, 2011
My Cub Scout uniform had colors of blue and gold. In scouting I learned to love the freedom and beauty of the outdoors. Now in this age of digital photography, I get outdoors early for serenity, solitude, and to capture some stunning sunlit beauty.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL, February 18, 2012
Architect Frank
Gehry’s design glows under colored lights and a trellis supporting speakers
over the Great Lawn – a giant shiny ornament, a surprising sight during a Chicago
February, while nature sleeps in the cold and dark, preparing for Spring.
Majesty Doubled
Majesty Doubled, Owen’s Valley, near Bishop, CA, October 29, 2013
I usually look up to see mountains. Looking down and seeing them mirrored at my feet took my breath away. You can learn more about this location in my post Majesty Doubled.
Tufa Transition
Tufa Transition, Mono Lake, Lee Vining, CA, October 30, 2013
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Reinhold Niebuhr
Chicago Riverwalk
Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL, June 26, 2015
Many architectural details adorn the Chicago Riverwalk. A soaking rain lets their surfaces gleam and sparkle under an electric rainbow. Reflections dance on the water to amplify the gaiety. (Bring a tripod, a poncho or umbrella, and a friend!)
LaSalle Street Lights
LaSalle Street Lights, Chicago, IL, June 26, 2015
The city at night needs neither sun nor clouds – it makes its own light. These unlit streetlights form a parade of silhouetted posts, marching to the golden grain face of the Chicago Board of Trade Building. A little rain is the frosting on this golden cake!
A Band of Light
A Band of Light, East Beckwith Mountain, Crested Butte, CO, September 30, 2015
Our timing was perfect – the yellowest aspens I had ever seen! And the clouds were a photographer’s best friend, letting a little sliver of sunshine through. The beavers were still sleeping and missed this sight.
Aspen Stepping Stones, Maroon Bells, Snowmass, CO, October 1, 2015
I love capturing
mountains and fall color reflected in water.
This string of stones was a welcoming path into nature’s Fall Fantasy
Land!
Mossy Little River
Mossy Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, October 27, 2015
The presence of Moss means there is no direct sunlight. But the golden reflected sunlight bouncing from a canyon wall signaled me to trek down the side of this riverbank to capture the glow seen by these mossy rocks.
Little River Light
Little River Light, Great Smoky Mountains NP, October 30, 2015
“It’s all about the light!” AND the shapes AND the colors AND the perspective AND the time of year AND getting out of bed AND … the eyes and persistence to see what I might have driven past!
Beaver Marsh Dawn
Beaver Marsh Dawn, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH,
This calm scene was truly worth getting up early for! Hints of color of the sunrise to come, a lone twiggy tree stretching across the surface of the beaver pond to meet the lily pads, the fog creeping along in the horizon – all combine here to calm my frenzied urge to get the shot!
Saturday Night Pacific
Saturday Night Pacific, Cape Perpetua, Yachats, OR
On this Oregon Coast trip, 55 MPH winds and rain kept me in my car photographing seagulls who had hunkered down in the grass. But waiting long enough, the day comes when the seagulls fly, the light is perfect, and all the scenes are above average.
Wabash Avenue Magic
Wabash Avenue Magic, Wabash Avenue Bridge, Chicago, IL, September 13, 2018
I once visited Disneyland and was awed by the Parade of Lights – magical floats covered in thousands of tiny lights. Now, seeing the City at Night, I light up with an even bigger Magical Feeling than that 27-year-old father felt back then.
Under the Bridge R&B
Under the Bridge R&B, State Street Bridge, Chicago, IL October 30, 2013
I played with Red and Blue for this image. The bridge and I were both born in the same year—1949. Google does not know how many rivets it holds, nor do we know how many breaths are left for each of us to enjoy it. Both matter – for now!
This may boost your energy if you feel this post is a touch too much!
