I stare at a screen too much.
I don't take care of myself enough.
Blah. Blah. Blah.
OK, so I have heard it a lot from various sources (friends, co-workers, my eye doctor, and even the dentist).
Maybe it's true.
However, I can say this. When it gets to be a bit too much, I do have one way to stay sane and find my sense of self.
My great escape is photography.
I made that at Grand Teton National Park this past summer. Yeah, I used the word MADE. There's a big difference between MAKE and TAKE. Ansel Adams stressed that. We don't take, we make great images.
Who is Ansel? Well, funny you ask. He's one of my inspirations in life. He got me out to Yosemite several times. He encouraged me to reach for all the range of tone possible in an image and to really hone my focus. That's impressive for a man who passed away when I was only 10 years old.
Gosh, I wish I had met Ansel Adams.
OK, let's get this back on track...
Here's my secret to sanity and self-care, folks:
There's nothing more cool than hopping on a plane with a $5 to $10 ticket (thanks Southwest Flyer Mile program!) and jumping in a rental car with a map. Oh, and of course I pack my camera.
I don't just like to bop around out west, I can find images to capture in my own neck of the woods, no airline ticket required. Look at this one one below:
Funny thing about this image is that I made it at WHS right outside the West Wing Cafeteria.
I am so old... I mean "experienced" and "seasoned" that I remember when that area was Four Rivers Technical School. Yes, I said Technical School. Now, it's the West Wing cafeteria. Where have the last two decades gone?
So, with age and experience comes this thing called "getting to know yourself."
This is what I know. All those people I mentioned before are right.
I work too much.
I stare at a screen too much.
I don't take care of myself enough.
((adding, as noted)) I often am my worst critic.
However, I have photography. THAT keeps me on track. You can just ask my BFF, Kris. (If you can catch her, she's a busy gal.) Anytime she notices I am acting a little off kilter and unbalanced, she says it's time for me to get my camera and go for a drive.
She's right. Where's my keys?