Killer Downtime Claims Victim Jon Hillenbrand, May 20, 2008October 17, 2019 I’m sure no one has ever died from downtime. I can only imagine the downtime that soldiers or combat photographers have. Stories of hours of sheer boredom followed by moments of sheer terror permeate the milblogs on the net. Personally, I almost never have downtime. But when I do, it’s killer. The face of my screen looks back at me expectantly and all I can do is click on old folders of photos to see what I’ve done. It’s good to periodically review what you have done to see how you are doing or where you are going, visually speaking. But, to borrow a phrase from “Seven Years in Tibet”, “Too much time to doubt oneself is…not good.” So where’s my path to liberation? Certainly not returning my phone calls. My most recently messed up relationship has just come to a crashing halt with the finality of driving headlong into a bridge upright. And as the glass skids to a halt across the asphalt and my brains exit my cracked skull once again, I’m reminded of my age, my psychology, my past errors, and the comment made to my by my dear and long gone friend who said, “Perhaps you choose relationships that you know won’t work, as a way of avoiding committment.” I’ve gotten good at ignoring pain and moving forward. And being the son of a psychiatrist, I’m aware of the impending danger of past injuries exploding into the foreground of my life portrait. But that hasn’t happened to me yet. The only consequence to self-evaluation comes when I have downtime. And I begin to doubt myself and worry about the future. So to borrow a phrase from “True Lies,”You know what? Let’s concentrate on work. That’s what I do when my life turns to dog shit; I concentrate on work.” Because afterall, “Clark Kent is who I am, Superman is what I do.” Photography Thoughts photography
Photography What is the point of this plant October 20, 2009October 17, 2019 I can look around at the little lives around me and see their purposes. The small black flies I kill in the bathroom are just trying to mate before they die. The spider I don’t want to kill is trying to catch those flies. Maybe the spider looks small and… Read More
Photography Color Saturation of Fence-blocked Grass March 23, 2007October 17, 2019 Earth, Air, Fire and Water all conspire against you and me at times. We look distantly through the fisheye lens of our lives at the greenery others dance on without a care. Is the cliche true? Who and where are these people who are so better off? My life as… Read More
Thoughts The Missing Ingredient December 5, 2011October 17, 2019 There are many things in this world that are almost perfect. Pringles, for example, would be perfect if they satiated you. Unfortunately, you crave more the more you eat which, lucky for Pringles, keeps you purchasing can after delicious can. My sister used to joke that they were laced with… Read More