The sacred wind

Working from the old XP computer, I cannot get the facebook or smug mug transfer button to install. All I can do is send the photographs on this laptop to the blogspot. This is the old pump organ that was in the first church my father ministered at the Berry Methodist Church in northern Kentucky. My sister, who had her 61st birthday on the 14th, was born in Lexington while my father was a ministerial student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore and student preaching at Berry and Boyd. She, my mother, whose birthday was October 5th, could all play the organ. My father by ear, my mother and sister by note. My father, the Rev Luther Ray Stokes of Homewood, Mississippi passed away in March of 2011. His birthday is tomorrow, October 16th.
The organ has been one of the constant furniture pieces my entire life. It now resides in my sisters living room in Lake City, where we all now live except our younger brother Lewis, who lives in Gainesville. When I was but a little toddler in Sopchoppy, I punched the red velvet covering from the plate below the keyboard.
I think it was Lewis who punched out the filigree later, my father painstakingly replacing it.
It still pumps and plays. Tomorrow perhaps I shall have to visit my sisters house and pump a low note or two, trying to replicate my fathers deep gusto singing.

Empty

 

Just for you too

Lately I have stopped deleting the rejects. I am learning that often with a little help, the rejects can be coaxed into becoming a keeper. I am learning the impossibility of keeping up with the Morans and the Moynehans, causing me constant anguish.
I am no forensic photographer. I do not shoot as a record of just how it was. To go beyond is my desire and attempt to interpret or manipulate the reality into more of a dream or impression.
This does not require the best lens, the most expensive body, again, another futile and frustrating pursuit, never being content with the gear.
Working again with crafts as a little child, painting snakes and stuff, has helped to free me up from some of the stiffness and constant trying to be the best.
I will never be the best at anything. Few ever are. I just want to do my best and that will be enough.

Just for you

 

the squished squash

i am still not satisfied with my squash or zucchini tub...Melanie said she likes the pretty flower, it was meant to be seeds...oh well...colors are nice anyhow...

Distortion of the Craft

Moved the vege tub and pan garden to the privacy fence. Upon the tree in the side yard goes the snake den...

My Get Up

This is how I use the Canon S100 or the Canon S95, depending on which one i have along at the time. I usually shoot upside down, letting the flash fill from the bottom. I have the pop up flash covered with a homemade diffuser from a translucent film canister. I just cut a rectangle hole out of it. This particular canister was actually cut for the bigger Nikon pop up flash so it would not stay attached. Thus, I am holding it on with a finger. I use the cord on the camera on my pinkie as a tripod of sorts pulled taunt to lend stability. I set the exposure compensation to as high as minus two, but mostly minus one, depending on the mood or look I am after. I set the flash as well to minus two intensity, its lowest setting. Too much flash washes out the subject. I will bump this up as well to one and a half as needed. I also go with manual exposure, setting anywhere from four inches to two inches in focus. I then move the camera in and out until it looks in focus. I usually need three or four shots to get one good one, but it works best as it eliminates the infernal focus hunting the lens does on auto.
I usually go with auto white balance, but often like to opt for overcast, shade or even tungsten in daylight to give a blue cast.
I often start out with the big Nikon D3100 but wind up using this set-up. I just like the portability and mobility it offers, no weighing me down. I am seriously considering my next camera a higher quality little camera just like these little Canons.

No Shrines in Sodom

I am on a reading through the Bible plan from the ESV Study Bible from the YouVersion online bible.
I would be further along, but I stopped the McCheyne plan and began again the ESV.
In the reading today from Genesis 13, I read of Lot and Abraham. Both men had become very wealthy and the two men's herdsmen could not get along. Abraham had journeyed back to the place where he had first called upon the name of the Lord between Bethel and Ai.
It was Abraham, who said to Lot, in order for their to be no strife, choose where you would like to go.
Lot, as human nature would have it, lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordon Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar, or Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham did not choose what the flesh would call the best, but settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot moved his tent close to the wicked and sinful men of Sodom.
No altar in Sodom was constructed by Lot to God.
It was after this separation that God spoke to Abraham, that even from the dust he could make of him a great nation.
So Abraham moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
And so to this day, the fallen heart would choose Sodom  over Mamre, for to our natural eye, it so resembles the garden, though but a shimmering mirage upon the desert sand.

High Bridge

Across the Harrodsburg turnpike road from Shaker Village crossing the Kentucky river is High Bridge, once the tallest railroad bridge of its type in America.  It still is an awesome sight.

Pleasant Draft

The working horses of Shaker Village take an evening stroll.

Bike Heaven

Except for the narrow stone fenced Harrodsburg road, I can only image how pleasant riding a bicycle through this countryside would be.

Shooting Canon's

This fellow photographer was all over the place that day, firing away. I only wish I had his enthusiasm for the shot! He was non-stop. Perhaps like me, he knew his time there was limited and he was savoring every moment. I am much more subtle in my approach, almost to the point of stealth.