Simon

I was walking around with my son on a nice day recently, and came across this small tree that had been decimated by some landscapers. I’m not sure why they sliced and diced the trunk after felling the tree, but I assume it’s a way of ensuring that the tree will be gone for good. Leaving all those gaping wounds no doubt allows for moisture and insects to permeate the stump and speed the decomposition process. Still, I can’t help but think of new beginnings when I see things like this: no doubt the tree was removed for a reason, which was likely so another one (or more) could be planted in its place. At least, that’s the story I’m going to tell myself :)  I also took another version of this photo from directly overhead which you can see on my Flickr page which I think is interesting but not as compelling.  It’s not entirely obvious that the photo is of a tree, and it doesn’t have the same sense of depth and context that this one does.

This is also the first Weekly Fifty photo I have taken with my new Nikon D7100, and I must say I am pleased with the results. If you click through to the Flickr page and view the image at a larger size you will notice how sharp and detailed the bark on the stump is, and while I think my D200 could achieve similar results at low ISO values, it’s nice to know the D7100 leaves plenty of room for cropping afterwards as well.

I don’t know if these are actual berries or not, or just some red seeds that happen to look like their fruit-based counterparts, but I liked how they were covered in ice after a recent day of freezing rain. The sun was just peeking over the horizon out of frame, which added a nice glow to the frozen bulbs.  When I went out to take this photo I promised my wife I would only be gone for a few minutes, because I didn’t want to leave her stranded with two kids to dress and feed while I was out tromping around in the snow with my camera.  Because of that time limitation I had to find some subjects to photograph in relatively short order, and thus I ran over to our neighbor’s house where I found these red berries/seeds/whatever encased in ice like Han Solo in carbonite.  I tried several angles to get the shot I wanted, but to be honest I wasn’t entirely sure just what shot I was even going for in the first place.  After a little while I realized that rather than shooting into the bushes I could point my camera outwards and use the morning sunrise for a bit of backlighting.  I shot this at f/4 which, in retrospect, might have been a bit too wide.  There’s a time for everything under the sun, and not every photograph calls for ultra-shallow depth of field.  A smaller aperture would have mitigated the issue with the big blurry branch jutting vertically through the middle section of the photo, but then, I do like how the viewer’s eye is brought to the red seeds on the right-hand side instead.  But photography is all about experimentation, and if nothing else this gives me a few things to try the next time we get a freezing rain.

Normally these little guys are always on the move, but I think this one was looking around for food and didn’t really care too much about the weirdo pointing a lens in his face.  This photo was almost a classic case of camera regret in that I walked past him while taking a box of stuff to my car, and for a few frustrating seconds wished I had brought my camera with me. It was back at my office and I thought there was no way this bird would stay put in the meantime. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try though, so a few minutes later I returned with my trusty D200 and 50mm lens, and much to my surprise this roadrunner was still hanging around by the west side of Murray Hall. The next part was tricky though, because I had to get quite close in order to take his photo. Since prime lenses have no zooming functionality this meant I had to creep closer on my hands and knees while doing my best to not disturb the little fella. He didn’t seem to mind too much, and let me pop off a couple of shots before rushing off to find some insects or small animals to munch on.

I saw these as I was biking home the other day, and was struck by a few things. I liked the primary colors and thought it was cool how these carts were just sitting around like this–each one from a different store.
On another level, I think this image says something about our modern consumer culture. I took this photo on December 18, but am putting it up the week after Christmas (I usually take my photos for this blog a few weeks in advance) because right about now is when things are returning to normal after the brisk shopping season that has just ended. Kids are back in school, parents are back at work, and all the presents and gifts that a few days back seemed so fresh, new, and exciting are beginning to gather bits of dust as their owners begin to move on to other things. Like these shopping carts, unused and neglected in the back of a parking lot, soon the gifts and presents which they once contained will also be relegated to toyboxes, closets, and possibly even garbage bins. And in eleven months we’ll do it all over again.

Where, then, can we find true meaning and fulfillment? Such things can never be found in tangible objects, but only the Creator of all objects. The Creator of the universe, the earth, and all that is in it. We are taught as such in Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Something to think about the next time we feel the need to load up our shopping carts with ever stuff to buy. Stuff that will ultimately matter quite little in the long run.

We don’t have much in the way of pine trees here in Oklahoma, so when Christmas rolls around we have to make do with what we’ve got. Merry Christmas everyone, and here’s to a happy new year!
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
-Luke 2:9-14