Seeing 2013 (#30)

For your consideration:  a man of tremendously generous spirit, a man of brilliantly optimistic demeanor, a man of self-made means, a man of deep, practical wisdom . . . a man possessed of a firm work ethic and an easy sense of joyous play.

The rare and extraordinary gift of agape love, based on an emotional yin/yang synchronicity, is deeply felt and, occasionally, quickly developed when people of open hearts connect.  When this happens, a spiritual treasure is wrought from the ethereal chemistry which can neither be touched nor seen, yet is purely sensed and recognized — an enlightenment — as a gradual, wholesome, comforting and healing tie between souls.

The subject of this image has indeed become one of these jewels for me:  a kindred spirit, an encouraging, caring, good-humored friend who is at once a mentor and a sponge for life experiences both known and sought.  Steve is a free-floating, buoyant guy who is truly the master of his domain even as he is thirsty for the panorama of new ideas, experiences and challenges which life has to offer.

Steve has a good line on the direction of his life, and a clear vision of what he wants.  He is disciplined, yes, but like the coil in his pool, knows when flexibility and riding the currents is the proper path.

I, for one, am greatly pleased, and blessed, to share the gift of his friendship.

Steve, #5966-7D

© 2013 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.

(click image for larger version)

Details: June 22, 2013, Canon 7D; f/9 @ 1/500 sec; ±0 EV; ISO 250;
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM @ 24mm

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Visit my full photographic repository at jwmurray.smugmug.com

Seeing 2013 (#29)

For your consideration:  instant Karma . .. or at least a snapshot of what appears to be exceptionally energetic chaos.

Which rather aptly describes the interior of my cranium of late.

A myriad of transitions compete for my attention;  some are genuinely weighty with long-term implications, others less ponderous yet no less demanding, competing for my focus . . . and more than a few others ramble and gallop  scatter-shot across the projection screen of my consciousness for their own development.

In the days, weeks and months ahead I'll (likely) delve into the details, but for tonight suffice it to observe that with revelations also come attendant opportunities and callings for action — concrete choices and steps specifically in service of making manifest the visions and insights at hand.

This bounty of plots is at once exhilarating, frightening, challenging and . . . exhausting.  No surprise, though: any and all movement, whether physical, mental or spiritual requires the expenditure of energy — often in significant portions.  As it should be:  rewards tend to be proportionate to the effort put forth.  An elegant balance, that.

Thus, this image, submitted at the end of a long evening wrestling with one of these new callings: a self-imposed decision to utterly restructure my entire photography catalog database, as managed by Adobe Lightroom, a task which is quickly revealing itself to be far more nettlesome than I'd expected.  Of the major adjustments to my life's course this one is of lesser import . . . yet is also exquisitely symbolic of the overall state of affairs in play generally, and of the care, attention to detail, fortitude, stamina and persistence which each of these adventures demand.

A peek into my soul this evening.  A new birth, incubating.

Vector Birth,  #7747-7D

© 2013 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.

(click image for larger version)

Details:August 24, 2013, Canon 7D; f/9 @ 3.2 sec; ±0 EV; ISO 160;
Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8 DX @ 15mm

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