Whats my line?

LULU LAND

The journey today took us seven and a half miles to the one store town of Lulu, nearly half way between Lake City and Lake Butler on a long, straight stretch of Highway 100.
Today, the journey began after six pm in order to try and escape some of the stifling heat from the day. Heading down CR252, the wind was to my back and allowed speeds on the bicycle around eighteen miles per hour.
Few vehicles passed and the journey was made without any glitches. In Lulu, I stopped at the First Baptist Cemetery and took several photographs of these tomb stones, all identical, all lined perfectly, except for this one oak tree, standing in like a contestant on whats my line.
Down the road, another abandoned church, out front, a nicely woven grape vine heart and cross hanging upon a real estate sign.
To the highway, and the view of the old country store, now reopened for business after many years being closed.
That was about it for LuLu. Down the road towards Lake Butler on the left is an interesting cemetery with crudely written signs announcing it as a slave cemetery.
So Now you can say you have been to Lulu.

Journey to Eternity

On A Hill Today

It was another extreme day for lovers of cool shady places. Unable to sit while Contador,Schleck and Armstrong stood upon podiums, for the third consecutive day, I got on the bike for a tour.
Today the tour took me through the farmlands of Feagle and Rogers. A twenty-one mile ride upon the columbus tubed Italian road bike with the Campagnolo Athena grouppo. In my mind, a swift, lean racer dancing upon the pedals.
In reality...
The road we choose to take. The decisions we make. The prayer as the tour continues onto eternity...to be worthy to cross the line within the time limit, to not be relegated to the back of the pack, not to be disqualified.
May our journey find you in this peloton of life with me.

Palmetto Blush

From the series, Beyond the Barbs by John Stokes

Nikon D40. 55-200 at 120mm. July 21st. 10:17am.
Shutter speed 80 at 4.8. ISO 200. Cloudy white balance. Center weight.

This palmetto frond against the large oak tree was at the edge of the eagle and deer trails, just before leading into my favorite swampy area.

The way the frond hugged the tree in a shy like fashion was what caused me to stop. I liked the play of the dappled light in the shadows under the canopy.

Natures Way

From the Series, Beyond the Barbs

Nikon D40. July 21st. 10:59am.

shutter speed 60 at 5.6. Fill flash. ISO 200. Cloudy white balance. Center weight.

At the end of the trail section leading though the swamp, before emering again into the sunlight, this dark palm frond against a decaying stump caught my attention. I had to use the flash to light the fronds, which seemed to be pointing with human-like fingers, toward the light.
Was it ushering me out, or ushering me in, to the secrets deeper in the swamp?
I had to use post processing to bring out the shadows without making the fronds too over exposed. The flash was held off to the left of the fronds and set at its minimum luminance.

Fairy Chairs

From the Series, Beyond the Barbs by John Stokes

Nikon D40. July 21st. 10:20am.

55-200mm lens at 200mm. Shutter speed 16 at 5.6. Cloudy white balance.
Center weight. Program mode.

On my way back to the vehicle, I went through one of my favorite sections in the park, the Eagle trail. This section goes through a thickly forested canopy of cypress and various hardwoods and is quite swampy. Along the trail are ferns and other plants. I decided to stop, get off the mountain bike and walk along.
These dried leaves resting on ferns caught my eye. They reminded me of little chairs used by fairies to oversee the forest.

We need to recover the capacity of the child to see again angels,unicorns and fairies. We live too rationally. We are void of mystery, of wonder, of awe.
It is OK to dream, to go beyond the barbs of your rational thinking. You just may find not only a little fairie, but a mighty still,small voice calling you.

Golden Silks

Photographed July 21st at 9:48am.

From the Series, Beyond the Barbs

Camera D40 Nikon. Lens 55-200mm at 200mm. Shutter Speed 60 at f5.6.
Cloudy white balance. Center weight metering. ISO 200. Program mode.

The golden silk or banana spiders are common in the woods and often have their webs sticking in my face as I walk and bike through them.

The large female and smaller male were photographed with the flash set to the left, set manually at minus three maximum so as to only slightly highlight the two. I tried various angles with the flash before deciding less was better.

Life Unto Life

July 21st. 9:40AM. Alligator Lake Park beyond the boundary.

Nikon D40. 55mm. 82mm 35mm equivalent. Shutter Priority. f4.0 at 100.
Cloudy White balance. 360ISO. Center Weight metering.

The base of this dead and decaying tree caused me to stop. The green lichen and algae slowly taking over. Yet all about the decay, new life sprouting. Even the green algae alive. Thus the cycle continues of life unto life.

Once Above

July 21st. 9:34AM. Nikon D40. 160mm f5.3 at 100. ISO 640. Shutter Priority. Center Weight metering. Cloudy white balance.

Just three minutes after leaving the one skink photograph, I started to head back to the barb wire crossing. Looking always down to avoid stepping upon a snake or other creature, I spied this turkey feather. Immediately I looked up and wondered what tree this gobbler had roosted in, and when.

At first I started to move on without photographing, but returned and tried several angles, including the flash. I could not achieve the desired affect with the flash off camera, on the ground next to the feather, and settled for this available light shot. If I would take more time, if it was not so hot and me so sweating, I would have tried harder to evoke for creativity out of this scene. As is, I am afraid it is just a recording.

Five Lined Skink

Photographed July 21st at 9:31AM. Outside the boundaries, beyond the barb wire fence of Alligator Lake Park.
Nikon D40. 200mm. f5.6 at 100. Shutter priority. Cloudy white balance. ISO 640.

Eumeces Fasciatus. The young Five lined skink displays the bright blue tail.
This was the only shot I was able to capture of this elusive skink. Soon after taking the photograph, I moved a step closer and he darted around the other side of the cypress tree, never to be seen again.

Motto being, always have camera set and ready for the unexpected. Never carry the camera in the bag, then try and take it out when you come upon a scene. Often, like this skink, the scene will develop and fade before you even have the chance to set up.

Lure of Other Side

Photographed on July 21st around 8:46AM. Old property line over Price Creek in Alligator Lake County Park. Nikon D40 at 200mm. F5.6 at 15. ISO 320.

The lure caught upon the barb wire is an obvious metaphor for our desire to reach beyond the boundaries. As goats, we tend to stretch our necks though the fence, straining for the lusher grasses upon the other side.

It is a great satisfaction to arrive at the place in life where we are content to cast our lures this side of the fence.

The bible speaks of this. Godliness with contentment is great gain. I Timothy 6:6.
Matthew Henry says, If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less.

Learn to love the one you are with. Delve deeper into the equipment you currently own. Do not heed the siren call luring you into the pursuit of the newest. Mend the torn, get as much life as you can from the worn. Renew old frienships. Call upon those in need. Do the simple things this side of the fence.

The fish may not be as large, the catch as plentiful, but they will be legal and taste much sweeter.