ART CENTRIC Photography, 3D Art, Technology plus Diverse Art Centric Inspirations

ART CENTRIC Photography, 3D Art, Technology plus Diverse Art Centric Inspirations




		Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by outside actions. "You do not need to seek freedom in some distant land for it exists within your own body, mind and soul. Bliss awaits you but you must choose to embark on the inward journey to discover it." ~ BKS Iyengar ~ send me your thoughts original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Rain + Sun = Brilliance original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Absolute stillness. Not a leaf moving. The canal a mirror. An osprey calling in the distance. A palm rat sqweeking and scurrying. It's September: no cars, few people. Our quiet, reflective, enriching, renourishing time. Be mindful. It's now. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. Buddha original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Everything Changes in this world But flowers will open Each spring Just as usual. ~ excerpt from A Zen Harvest original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		When the tides are high or the rains have been heavy low places fill with water that reflects the surrounding trees. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Night Heron original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Canyon Road in Santa Fe Even the most normal things like doorways and gates, steps and walls, are artful in the right light. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Canyon Road in Santa Fe Art is everywhere. The matching red caught my eye. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		The best fireworks ever! Hearing the water lap on the shore, the crowds cheering and the fabulous fireworks...all with great family right there together. What could be better?! original photo by dmdart ~ See the finale here: https://youtu.be/vt5jQBHqHlM Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		July 4th, Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. There is much dispute and debate over the actual date of the signing. Nevertheless, July 4th is the date our nation has picked to celebrate. So let's do celebrate, in whatever way is personally meaningful, that we live in the greatest nation on earth. Give a thought to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, among the others, who had the courage to draft and sign the document. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		New growth of life blooms Nurtured by water and light Look within for peace ~ Joseph Spence Sr. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Olive shells make amazing tunnels under the sand, emerging to show their brilliant glossy patterns. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Why do you hear the ocean when you put a seashell up to your ear? First things first: no matter how much it may sound like the rolling waves, it's not actually the ocean you're hearing in a shell. What exactly is it that you're hearing? In a word, noise; the ambient noise that's being produced all around and inside you, which you normally don't hear or pay attention to because it's too quiet. To amplify this noise so you can hear it clearly, you need a resonator, a Helmholtz resonator, where sound is produced by air vibrating in a cavity with one opening. The seashell you're listening to has many hard, curved surfaces great for reflecting sound. The ambient noise, the air moving past and within the shell, the blood flowing through your head, the conversation going on in the next room is resonating inside the cavity of the shell, being amplified and becoming clear enough for us to notice. Different sizes and shapes of shells sound different because different resonant chambers will amplify different frequencies. The fact that all shells sound just a little bit like the ocean is purely coincidental. Holding any sort of Helmholtz resonator to your ear will produce a similar effect, whether that object is associated with the ocean or not. Put an empty glass over your ear or even cup your hand over it, and the sound you hear will be just about the same. ~excerpt from: http://mentalfloss.com/article/22573/why-do-shells-sound-ocean original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		A lone gull seeming to contemplate its reflection in the Gulf waters. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Summer Solstice This year it's June 21. The summer solstice always occurs between June 20 and June 22, but because the calendar doesn't exactly reflect the earth's rotation, the precise time shifts slightly each year. This year, the sun will reach its greatest height in the sky for the Northern Hemisphere on June 21 at 12:38 P.M. The sun will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. While the entire Northern Hemisphere will see its longest day of the year on the summer solstice, the sun is only directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer (23 degrees 27 minutes north latitude). The name comes from the fact that the sun appears to stand still. The term "solstice" is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the sun's relative position in the sky at noon does not appear to change much during the solstice and its surrounding days. The rest of the year, the Earth's tilt on its axis - roughly 23.5 degrees - causes the sun's path in the sky to rise and fall from one day to the next. The hot weather follows the sun by a few weeks. You may wonder why, if the solstice is the longest day of the year - and thus gets the most sunlight - the temperature usually doesn't reach its annual peak until a month or two later. It's because water, which makes up most of the Earth's surface, has a high specific heat, meaning it takes a while to both heat up and cool down. Because of this, the Earth's temperature takes about six weeks to catch up to the sun. ~excerpt from: http://mentalfloss.com/us/go/64980 original mosaic and photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Remains This is all that remains of a once busy island establishment. Time and storms have washed away the structures and only these small portions of pilings remain to gather barnacles in the clear summer waters. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sea Grass Dew shines on sea grass on the beach in early morning. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Who Am I? My head knocks against the stars. My feet are on the hilltops. My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life. Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny. I have been to hell and back many times. I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God. I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible. I know the passionate seizure of beauty And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading "Keep Off." My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe. ~ Carl Sandburg original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Island Canal The water in the canal is ever-changing with the tides, the birds, dolphin, manatees, floating coconuts, leaves and sometimes boats. This image, that floated by one day, reminded me of an impressionist painting, muted, soft and quiet. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Dazzling bright sunrays Falling on water surface Sparkle like diamonds. ~ by Nandita Das original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Sunset Sky original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Peace New growth of life blooms Nurtured by water and light Look within for peace by Joseph Spence Sr. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Bridge Join the pelicans and enjoy the view from under the bridge. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Remember original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Island Lighthouse The Sanibel Island Light or Point Ybel Light is the first lighthouse on Florida's Gulf coast north of Key West and the Dry Tortugas. It is located on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, and was built to mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay for ships calling at the port of Punta Rassa, across San Carlos Bay from Sanibel Island. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Island Bridge Biking or walking the island paths leads to some great views on a sunny clear water day. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Island Causeway Since I live on Sanibel Island, I take many photos of my island. A while back I was taking some photos for the SantivaChronicle.com on an evening cruise around the island and this image presented itself. The causeway is the best entrance to the islands anyone could want. The waters of Pine Island Sound are beautiful, no matter the weather. So, even on a cloudy grayish evening, the view is perfect. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Sanibel Beach Welcome to the Sanibel Beach on a warm, summer-feeling day. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Brown Anole The brown anole, also known as the Bahaman anole or De la Sagra's Anole, is a lizard native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, by being sold as a pet lizard, and is now found in Florida and as far north in the United States as southern Georgia, Texas, Hawaii, Southern California. This species is highly invasive. In its introduced range, it reaches exceptionally high population densities, is capable of expanding its range very quickly, and both out-competes and consumes many species of native lizards. The brown anole's introduction into the United States in the early 1970s has altered the behavior and triggered a negative effect on populations of the native Carolina anole, also known as the green anole, which have generally been relegated to the treetops. These 2 anoles are enjoying each other's close company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_anole original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Happy Mother's Day Here is an orchid for your Mother's Day. A friend sent me the following thoughts and I think they are quite appropriate. In reflecting on this spirit of what this day is meant to commemorate, we thought of the love, time, and energy that mothers put into the hope that one day the world might be a better place for their child. We too want to strive for a better world for our children. One in which we've transcended our narrow utilitarian approach to other human beings, ensured a healthy planet that can sustain humankind, and have held corporations and our government accountable to the belief that they should be maximizing love and caring, kindness and generosity, empathy and compassion, social and economic justice, peace and nonviolence, and environmental sustainability. Happy Mother's Day to us all. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." -Charles Darwin original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Chickee Chickee ("house" in the Creek and Mikasuki languages spoken by the Seminoles and Miccosukees) is a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides. The chickee style of architecture - palmetto thatch over a bald cypress log frame - was adopted by Seminoles during the Second (1835-42) and Third (1855-58) Seminole Wars as U.S. troops pushed them deeper into the Everglades and surrounding territory. Before the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles had lived in log cabins. Similar structures were used by the tribes in south Florida when the Spanish first arrived in the 16th century. Each chickee had its own purpose and together they were organized within a camp-type community. Chickees were used for cooking, sleeping, and eating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickee original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Hibiscus This is the time of year in south Florida that the colors are staggering. Everywhere you look something is blooming and the buds are emerging. The scent of Gardenia and Night Blooming Jasmine is in the air. The hibiscus is not native, but it has lovely flowers that grace us for a day, before they fold up as the light dims in the evening. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Save the Elephant Day (4/16) Once common throughout Africa and Asia, elephant numbers were severely depleted during the 20th century, largely due to the massive ivory trade. While some populations are now stable and growing, poaching, conflict and habitat destruction continue to threaten the species. The largest land mammal on earth, the African elephant weighs up to eight tons. The elephant is distinguished by its massive body, large ears and a long trunk, which has many uses ranging from using it as a hand to pick up objects, as a horn to trumpet warnings, an arm raised in greeting to a hose for drinking water or bathing. Elephants are of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant, although some evidence suggests that African bush elephants and African forest elephants are separate species. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Elephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savannahs, forests, deserts and marshes. They prefer to stay near water. They are considered to be keystone species due to their impact on their environments. Other animals tend to keep their distance, predators such as lions, tigers, hyenas and wild dogs usually target only the young elephants (or "calves"). Females ("cows") tend to live in family groups, which can consist of one female with her calves or several related females with offspring. African elephants are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while the Asian elephant is classed as endangered. ~excerpts from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Mindset So, we often get down, we wish things were not as the are and we allow those thoughts to overtake us. And when we do this, we forget what's important. I am reminded of several quotes. Jo Dee Messina said in one of her songs: "It's a beautiful day not a cloud in sight so I guess I'm doin' alright. I got a good old friend here with me tonight and I guess I'm doin' alright." If we have real family and friends with us, supporting us and caring for us, then life is good. Gandhi said: "We must be the change we wish to see." This reminds me that the mindset I am currently experiencing is entirely my choice. And Carlos Castaneda said: "We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." So when I feel like I need a mindset alteration, one place I head is the beach (see above). Kind of puts things in perspective. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Edward Burtynsky : Exploring the Residual Landscape "Nature transformed through industry is a predominant theme in my work. I set course to intersect with a contemporary view of the great ages of man; from stone, to minerals, oil, transportation, silicon, and so on. To make these ideas visible I search for subjects that are rich in detail and scale yet open in their meaning. Recycling yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries are all places that are outside of our normal experience, yet we partake of their output on a daily basis." "These images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting pools of our times." "[we] come from nature...There is an importance to [having] a certain reverence for what nature is because we are connected to it... If we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves." - EB ~excerpt and image from: http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/ Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Vernal Equinox March 20, 2015, is a date that most of us recognize as symbolic of changing seasons. As we welcome spring, people south of the equator are actually gearing up for the cooler temperatures of autumn. Far from being an arbitrary indicator of the changing seasons, March 20 (March 21 in some years) is significant for astronomical reasons. On March 20, 2015, at precisely 6:45 P.M. EDT, the Sun crossed directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox. Translated literally, equinox means "equal night". Because the Sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes. ~excerpt from: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/riteofspring1.html original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Giovanni Ozzola's Industrial and Desert Visions Ozzola is driven by his interest in our place in the universe - enormous when compared to an ant's, infinitesimal when contextualized by time and outer space - as well as the seemingly ungraspable concept of infinity. He is fascinated by light, which often suffuses his work, or, sometimes, is absent from it. His attention has been focused on light as a necessary material for vision. In the centre of his work he puts the interest for three dimensional space and light. Giovanni Ozzola was born in Florence in 1982. He now lives and works in Tuscany. https://www.artsy.net/post/editorial-giovanni-ozzolas-industrial-and-desert-visions-come?utm_content=bufferb20d8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=subpost http://www.giovanniozzola.com/biography.html Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		My sister told me: "You should write poems." That comment reminded be of poems I wrote when I was a teenager that were published in our school literary magazine, "The Academe". Even then I was entranced with the beach, shells and all island things. Here is my poem that took top place in poetry in 1967. Amidst Wandering Thoughts The sand is cool and soft beneath my feet As I walk at random 'neath the midnight sky, A-strewn with diamonds much too pure to buy. The world across the vast expanse of deep, With eyes shut tight, is held in unroused sleep. The daily rains have cleansed the mountains high; The volcanic sand is shifted by the tide, As peaceful waves their silent creatures keep Beyond the eyes of domineering worlds. The sea grapes fan the soil with waxy limbs, While golden clouds the new-found dawn foretell; The glistening sun now beats with brilliance unfurled To praise, aloud and clear with silent hymns, The beauty of the land that it o'er swells. -- Well, maybe it's a bit stilted (I was young), but it shouts my love of the nature of the islands and beaches. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Happy Daylight Savings! Yesterday was the end of the Sanibel Island Shell Fair. This is an annual event that draws artistic and scientific entries from around the world. One artist traveled from Japan with his amazing entries. I have made portraits of shells over the years. Living on this barrier island, which is ranked the 3rd best shelling location in the world, means that shells are ingrained in my life. Besides walking the beaches admiring, and occasionally collecting, shells, there are shells everywhere, on signs, in names of streets, names of stores, names of restaurants, names of houses, on driveways, on the roads...everywhere. Even after inhabiting these islands part-time and full-time for over 50 years, I am not tired of shells. They are delicate and strong, every color in the universe and the designs are not to be described. And to know that the are alive, grow and change is almost unbelievable. So here is one portrait. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Abandoned in Key West Abandoned buildings seem to draw you in. You wonder why they are abandoned, what were they used for, whose lives did they affect, what interesting stories could those walls tell. Whenever I walk past an abandoned building I must photograph it. The historic area of Key West is filled with beautiful restored buildings, lush and colorful landscaping and lots of tourists. This building posed a stark contrast. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Winter Rain Southwest Florida doesn't get much rain in the winter. It's our dry season. So when it does rain, we really appreciate the water. The foliage perks up, the rain itself makes lovely sounds on the leaves, the streets and the water, the smell is fresh and the grayness is quieting. Saturday evening the rain left behind 1/2 inch of water. Local landmarks, like the Sanibel Lighthouse, appeared in silhouette and the rain falling on the canal muted man-made sounds. Listen to the rain here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Dc_nMXr79DmjFTqmOUNMQ original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Vivian Maier, The Mysterious Nanny Behind A Trove Of Brilliant Street Photography The story of Vivian Maier is probably one of the art world's most compelling mysteries. A nanny by profession, she was an alarmingly talented and vastly prolific photographer whose keen eye for the mundane produced some of the 20th century's most intriguing works of street photography. The juxtaposition of being a lifelong caretaker in one moment, chasing kids and bickering with parents, and a relentless documentarian on the other, churning out rolls of film a day, is enigmatic in itself. But the real kick is that Vivian Maier is a name no one truly knew until about 2007. It was then that a former real estate agent named John Maloof unknowingly purchased a box of her photographic negatives for $400. Fast forward through a heavy dose of research and detective work, and you have "Finding Vivian Maier," the Oscar-nominated film that recounts the life of a woman the art world reveres, but no one actually seems to know. This is an artist who used her occupation as a nanny to allow her to execute her work. She was an artist first; an extremely private person who made thousands of photographs in her lifetime, never really showing them to anybody. ~ excerpt and photo from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/12/vivian-maier-documentary-oscars_n_6664148.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular&utm_content=buffer7726c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target=_blank Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Fog Driving across our Sanibel Causeway today reminded me of this photograph. All day today the fog muted our island. Colors are gray. Sounds are softer. The air is wet and cool. And still the birds go about their business of flying, the fisher-people work busily to bring in stone crabs and people still walk the beach, because, after all, this is a wonderful day. Any day we are alive, with our loved ones and friends caring for us and providing us all means of support, we are truly lucky. I took this photograph years ago when visiting the northeast U.S. with someone who once was a friend. This was in the film days and when I received the slide I fell in love with the image. In those days "Coastal Living" magazine had an annual feature that included images of the coast submitted by readers. I submitted this photo and was amazed to see it win a place and publication, along with 4 other photos, that year. I still love the image and it evokes thoughts of gentle times. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Trico Shrimp Company The back roads of Fort Myers, Florida let me here. I loved the painting on the side of the truck. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Cuba We all know about the old American cars that drive the streets. In 1999 I was fortunate enough to travel with a photography group to Cuba. This is one image. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Abandoned on Nevis Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean Sea. It is conical in shape with a volcanic peak known as Nevis Peak at its center. The island is fringed on its western and northern coastlines by sandy beaches that are composed of a mixture of white coral sand with brown and black sand which was eroded and washed down from the volcanic rocks that make up the island. There are many back roads and paths to travel. I found this abandoned and overgrown truck on one of my outings. original photo by dmdart Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Photochroms:The Forgotten 19th-Century Photo Technology that Romanticized America Photochroms were the creation of a Swiss lithographer named Hans Jacob Schmid who, in 1888, devised the earliest example of commercially viable color photography, although the process is actually a hybrid of traditional photo-developing techniques and stone lithography. They start with a black-and-white negative which is exposed on lithographic stones, as many as are needed. Four stones - one each for red, yellow, blue, and black - were the minimum for most Photochroms, but some were created using as many as 14 stones when subtleties in color were required. Each stone was individually inked and its image, or piece of an image, was transferred to a sheet of paper, which was printed layer by layer until a full-color version of the scene originally captured in black-and-white was revealed. Photographers cataloged the natural and man-made marvels of the continent, bringing their cameras from the great cities of the Northeast and Upper Midwest to the mountains and deserts of the still-wild West. Read much more about this process and see many great images at: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-forgotten-photo-technology-that-romanticized-america/ The image above is: A Monday Washing New York City, photographer unknown, circa 1900. Send this link to anyone you think would be interested in reading this entry.




		Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tampensis) I love this little native Florida orchid. It grows naturally and wildly in my yard in several locations. It's always a delight in the summer when it starts to bloom. Details: This is a rather conspicuous epiphytic plant with pseudobulbs typically an inch or less in diameter supporting one (sometimes two) slender, grass-like leaves six to twelve inches long. Roots are slender and white when dry, and can run several feet up and down the branch where the plant grows. Flower stems emerge from within the leaf axil, to bear a raceme or panicle of attractive flowers, typically fragrant in the hours around noon. The flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches across, with green sepals and petals suffused with varying amounts of red, a tri-lobed lip with two lobes on either side of the column and the third lobe fan-shaped and typically blotched with purple. ~excerpt from: http://www.flnativeorchids.com/natives_gallery/encyclia_tampensis.htm If you want to harvest any for sale from the wild, you must get a permit. If you want to collect more than 2 for personal use from private lands, or any at all from public lands, a permit is required. original photo by dmdart




		Apple A simple apple. Tastes good. Looks good. Crunchy. Sweet. Healthy to eat. Great in apple pie. And what about apple crisp? Cut up in a salad. Dried in trail mix. A great addition to a breakfast treat called a Dutch Puff (with a little powdered sugar). Pork chops taste special baked with apple. Apple sauce. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples. Apple cider. Yellow, red, green. About 70 million tons of apples are grown annually worldwide. Apple blossoms are lovely. An apple has about 57,000 genes, the highest number of any plant genome studied to date and more genes than the human genome (about 30,000). It's possible the earliest tree cultivated was the apple. The first apple orchard in the U.S. was planted in Boston. Crab apples are native to the U.S. The apple was considered, in ancient Greece, to be sacred to Aphrodite. Apples must cross pollinate and growers usually use honey bees to do this. Baked apples. Apple butter. Caramel apples. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" was originally "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." Apple fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C and beta-carotene. Simple? original photo by dmdart




		Cerro Pedernal In the heart of the Jemez Mountains lies Cerro Pedernal. Pedernal means flint in Spanish, and this peak was aptly named. The volcanic process that created this butte left plenty of stone around the peak that is perfect for fashioning crude tools. The native peoples of the area used the rock around this mountain for arrowheads and other tools. Cerro Pedernal is essentially a high, long butte created by a volcanic process. Viewed along its East-West line, it appears as a tall point rising out of the New Mexico desert, but viewed along its North-South vantage, its true shape is more apparent as a long ridge. This mountain creates an inspiring vista among the high desert terrain around the Abiquiu region of New Mexico. Deep reds, greens, and browns mark this area. Its highest point is 9,862 feet. The famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe lived for a time in this area and painted Cerro Pedernal many times. She referred to Pedernal as her "favorite mountain." ~excerpts from various locations and http://www.summitpost.org/cerro-pedernal/154399 Perdernal is visible from miles away and seems to beckon the viewer onward. In the summer, the valley below is filled with sunflowers. At sunset, the colors turn red and purple. At all times, it is an extraordinary sight. original photo by dmdart




		Sanibel Shell in Jemez Springs Not long ago I visited Jemez Springs, NM. What a spectacular place! Staying in a relatively remote location, in a solar powered house with views that stretched many miles was a unique experience. At night the skies were covered with stars and the black part of the sky was....black. Altitude is about 7000 feet. Mostly low juniper and sage covered the ground. The hummingbirds zipped around humming throughout the days. What I most remember and what was so special was the silence. No A/C units needed. Very little wind sound due to the low brush. Silence. It was almost like a pressure on the senses. Silence. And on an adobe wall surrounding the dwelling was a fighting conch, just sitting there. Like a welcome from home. Sanibel Island, FL visiting Jemez Springs, NM. original photo by dmdart




		Beach Morning Probably the majority of people who walk the Sanibel Island beaches are looking for shells. That's why the beaches are famous. But when you walk the beach in the morning you are treated to that special water color that exists when the sun is low on the horizon. The birds are particularly active and some areas can bring a quiet peace that makes you know why you live here. original photo by dmdart




		Cumbres & Toltec Built in 1880, the Cumbres & Toltec railroad was part of the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, with tracks running from Denver through the ore-rich Rocky Mountains to Silverton, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its path through steep passes and deep gorges was an engineering feat for the time. The decline of silver mining in the 1890s ended the railroad's vital role. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad filed for abandoment in 1969, but the most scenic part of its route, its equipment, and its buildings were saved by the states of Colorado and New Mexico. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a 3 ft narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over 10,015 ft Cumbres Pass and through Toltec Gorge, from which it takes its name. Today, the railroad is the highest narrow gauge steam railroad in the United States. original photo by dmdart




		Florida Sugar Cane A sugar cane field in central Florida near the south end of Lake Okeechobee original photo by dmdart




		Local Travel On Sanibel Island, bicycling is a wonderful way to get a feel of the place. You can ride pathways not open to cars, view the lovely native foliage and generally slowly take in the essence of island life. The island has grown greatly since the beginning of my relationship with Sanibel in the 1950's when there were many unpaved, sandy roads, few restaurants, only a couple stores and basically only the noise of nature. Fishing and shelling were our reasons for visiting and we spent the days outside making the most of what the Gulf, the mangroves and the waterways provided. Even with the changes, this place is most special. Hopping on a bike and taking the time to see what's out there is a great way to go. original photo by dmdart




		Brown Pelican Even on gray days the pelicans are out there soaring gracefully overhead, hovering near fishing boats, perched on dock posts, diving head-first and twisting into the water to catch fish, gulping down their catch, and generally living their lives. In groups or alone, they are a sight to see. original photo by dmdart




		Enter A Secret World Sanibel, Captiva and surrounding islands abound in "nature", from the multitude of birds (too many to list), raccoons (even during the daylight), armadillos that leave little nose prints in the sand, brown anoles that skitter across bike paths, dolphin and manatees in the surrounding waters and sometimes even in canals right in front of our houses, fiddler crabs in the marshy areas, snakes (poisonous and not), otters gliding through the water, and ..... many other breathing creatures, along with flora of all colors and shapes. A great place to experience the nature of these islands is along the watery pathways through the mangroves. Slipping under the branches, through the quiet, you enter a very special place. If you listen carefully you might hear pistol shrimp make their little cracking noise and if you watch closely you might see a cormorant dive under water to catch its dinner. With eyes and ears tuned to the moment, you will be treated to a secret world. original photo by dmdart




		Jasmine Jasmine comes in many varieties. This is commonly called Star Jasmine. The plant is very viney, sending out long shoots, and when it's in bloom, the white stars cover the plant and give off a wonderful sweet scent. You can find the plant throughout Sanibel and Captiva islands. original photo by dmdart




		Rainbow Over Sanibel Island Many people fly into or out of Regional Southwest airport (Fort Myers, FL) this time of year. Some flights travel over Pine Island, Matlacha and Sanibel/Captiva and it's fun to pick out places you know. You get an entirely different perspective from the air. I returned from a trip into a rain storm. We circled a bit and on one of the passes before landing a rainbow made an arc over the causeway entrance to Sanibel. From this vantage point you are looking from Sanibel toward Fort Myers, you can see the first causeway island, a bit of Cape Coral and up the Caloosahatchee, with a great view into the waters of Pine Island Sound. The sights flying into southwest Florida are usually quite astounding: the waters are clear and the colors just explode. Even this rainy evening brought a gift of beauty. original photo by dmdart




		Queen Conch (also Pink Conch) Nevis, in the Leeward Island of the West Indies, is a lovely, slow-moving, tropical haven. In my youth I was lucky enough to spend time there, being minimally involved with a family venture. Years later, the island has remained mostly unchanged. It's fun to drive the roads, some paved, some not, all with spectacular views up to the mountain or down to the sea, a rain forest, tropical fauna and flora and colorful structures around every corner. This display of conchs was just on the side of the road and eye-catching for each person passing. original photo by dmdart




		Rural Routes Having lived a good portion of my life in Florida, I remember less-crowded roads, secluded places to stop on drives to the Keys, across Tamiami Trail or up the coast. Most roads are now fairly packed with cars and people on their way to vacation destinations. Summertime has a much quieter feel. I take to get out and drive the back roads, sometimes being the only car in view. The photographs I take during those drives show the rural landscapes that still exist, but are not seen in the tourist ads and are by-passed by most drivers. Here is one back road view. original photo by dmdart




		Wealth "How rich will we be when we have converted all our forests, our soil, our water resources, and our minerals into cash?" Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, an American cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes. I am a Staff Photographer for the SantivaChronicle, an on-line news source for Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida. Being that the Chronicle "lives" on these fragile barrier islands, many of the articles report on events, issues and situations rooted in nature. Their holiday card included the above quote. It's always good to take a moment to ponder our future, whether it is our personal future or the future of our planet. original photo by dmdart




		Anhinga The Anhinga is a long-necked, long-tailed swimmer of southeastern swamps and is often seen perched on a branch above the water, with its wings spread to dry. These birds appear throughout Sanibel Island, along the many little canals and waterways. When swimming, its head and neck are usually the only part to show above the water. They are sometimes called a "snakebird" since they swim underwater to catch their primary diet of fish. original photo by dmdart




		On this Christmas Day I bring you a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Published in 1850, the year he was appointed Poet Laureate. It is recited throughout the world at this time of year. It is partially an elegy to a friend of Tennyson's, but also brings a feeling of renewal and hope: the spirit of Christmas. *** Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. original photo by dmdart




		Under the Bridge on a Rainy Night As the sun set on a rainy evening, a sliver of sunset appeared and it was vivid. Boating around the causeway islands and under the Sanibel bridge is a wonderful way to watch the daylight turn to dark. Even in the mist and rain, when the wind is calm it is a peaceful ride. And when the reward is a lightening of the sky that turns the water golden and delivers such a sunset color, we understand this place is indeed special. original photo by dmdart




		Cayo Costa: a Landscape Photographer's Dream Previously I have written about and posted a photograph relating to this wonderful island. I returned from the trip I took with Captiva Cruises in the early Fall with a wealth of wonderful photographs and over time I plan to share them with you. Cayo Costa is a small island just north of North Captiva Island, Florida. It is accessible only by boat. With nine miles of soft white sandy beaches and 2,506 acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps, the Florida State Park has a wealth of photographic topics. Rent a boat or join a Captiva Cruises trip. The trips leave from McCarthy's Marina on Captiva and provide a lively and informative narrated voyage. Once you arrive you can wander the shores searching for shells and/or photographs. The southern end of the island is filled with the remains of trees damaged by Hurricane Charley. With the Gulf of Mexico as the background, wander this island and be inspired. original photo by dmdart




		Old Forida I just returned from a car trip through central Florida. Deciding not to use the Interstate, with it's harried and hurried drivers, I chose the less traveled road from south to central Florida. In earlier days, Route 27 was known as the "truck route". There are still the occasional 18-wheelers full of oranges or other items needing transport, but now it's mostly cars. The driving pace is slower and you can still get a feel of the Florida of the past: towns have names like Alva, La Belle, Lake Placid; moss drapes live oaks that shade herds of cattle; unpainted structures are frequent; and the feel is just "older". The image here is from an off-the-beaten-track road in Florida. The flowers bloom, the house slants and there is a certain nostalgia for those of us who grew up seeing "old Florida" outside our doors. original photo by dmdart




		Kasha-Katuwe The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument on the Pajarito Plateau in north-central New Mexico, includes a national recreation trail and ranges from 5,570 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level. The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a "pyroclastic flow." The area offers prime hiking with slot canyons leading to a 360 degree view at the top. ~excerpts from www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/kasha_katuwe_tent_rocks.html original photo by dmdart




		Under the Bridge Bridges disappear into the fog when it's thick. The moisture in the air is visible. The underside of the bridge takes on the feeling of a tunnel, with the smallest glow in the distance. Fisher-people drift in the quiet morning. The tide is low, the sandy flats are exposed. Birds mostly walk the flats for food, few are flying. It's an early morning under the bridge on the causeway islands leading to and from Sanibel, FL. original photo by dmdart




		Florida Fighting Conch On the day of this photograph, live Florida Fighting Conchs filled the water swale left by the receding tide. They dug into the sand, they moved through the shallow water and congregated until the tide returned them to the Gulf of Mexico. These are common shells, but it's still a wonder to see such masses of them grouped together just under the water, sun glistening off their shiny reddish color. Details of these guys: Strombus alatus. There are about 11 true conchs in the Americas. They pry themselves forward with a narrow foot armed with a horny, sickle-shaped operculum. The colorful eyes are at the ends of short stalks that branch from the tentacles. They feed on red algae. Walk the beaches during low tide and you are almost sure to see this shell. original photo by dmdart




		Walking this marble lined passageway is like walking through milk. The white glows with life, warmth and reflections. This is Santiago Calatrava's elegant World trade Center PATH Corridor, a 600-foot underground walkway linking the World Trade Center PATH Station, the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal and Brookfield Place Pavilion. It is called the World Trade Center West Concourse and is a marvel of design. original photo by dmdart




		The castle of Bourtzi is located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplio, Greece. The Venetians completed its fortification in 1473 to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea. original photo by dmdart




		No Two Alike original photo by dmdart




		Zebra on the Maasai Mara, Kenya original photo by dmdart




		Live Olive Shell Thanksgiving morning, the tide was very low, leaving large sections of exposed beach with a swale of water on the upper area. The sandy area between the Gulf and the swale was full of live fighting conchs and live olives like the one here. Live olives are such beautiful shells, shiny and smooth, with geometric designs, rare to see so many live ones in one place. original photo by dmdart




		Our Prayer of Thanks For the gladness here where the sun is shining at evening on the weeds at the river, Our prayer of thanks. For the laughter of children who tumble barefooted and bareheaded in the summer grass, Our prayer of thanks. For the sunset and the stars, the women and the white arms that hold us, Our prayer of thanks. God, the game is all your way, the secrets and the signal and the system; and so for the break of the game and the first play and the last. Our prayer of thanks. -excerpt from "Our Prayer of Thanks", Carl Sandburg, Chicago Poems original photo by dmdart




		We left our beds in the dark, chilly morning, climbed into an open jeepish tour vehicle with 4 other people and headed out into the center of Monument Valley. We were the only vehicle on the road. Our guide "raced to the sunrise", through stone out-croppings, along sand roads, past a dark hogan or two. We were wrapped in silence, with only the wind in our ears. The dark lifted slightly as we approached our destination. Our vehicle stopped and the silence became an overwhelming presence. We waited. And this is what we saw. Sunrise was truly magical. original photo by dmdart




		Cayo Costa: a Landscape Photographer's Dream Cayo Costa is a small island just north of North Captiva Island, Florida. It is accessible only by boat. With nine miles of soft white sandy beaches and 2,506 acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps, the Florida State Park has a wealth of photographic topics. Rent a boat or join a Captiva Cruises trip from Captiva and wander to your heart's content, creating photographic memories as you go. The southern end of the island is filled with the remains of trees damaged by Hurricane Charley. With the Gulf of Mexico as the background, wander this island and be inspired. original photo by dmdart




		This sand dollar scooted into the sand along the Gulf shore on Sanibel Island. One morning several months ago, I walked the beach and came upon a section filled with sand dollars of all sizes. The small area was absolutely filled, hundreds of the live creatures partially covered with sand, in the low tide, presumably waiting for the tide to turn so they could head back to their underwater habitat. I sat and watched for a very long time, amazed at their number, all in this little area. original photo by dmdart




		Rust "The mission of art, science and religion alike is to teach us to see the beauty in everything that's true, not just in what happens to be pretty." -Timothy Ferris physicist, lawyer, Pulitzer prize-winning science writer original photo by dmdart




		Left Hook "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes." -Sherlock Holmes original photo by dmdart




		Sanibel Causeway Bridge The high span of the entry section of the causeway was a topic of hot debate when the county was determining how they were going to build the bridge that was to replace our low draw bridge. Whatever side anyone was on back then, I think most people today would say that the view from the top of the high span is inspiring and breath-taking. I work on the Fort Myers side and live on the Sanibel side, so I get to have the best commute in the world (humble opinion). Going to work I regularly see dolphins, osprey, fisher-people on the shore and in boats, crab haulers, tide changes and sunrises in all weather. Returning in the evening brings magnificent sunsets. A calmness overtakes me, erasing the stress of the day. I remember when it was being built, my son and I joked about whether we'd be able to see across the island since the span was going to be so high. Now, each day as I return home, I look to my left, and just to the right of the lighthouse, I can see the other side of the island! It's just a snippet of water, but every day I smile as I remember. original photo by dmdart




		Days Like This Today is a cooler, rainy, gray day. In southwest Florida we aren't fans of days like this. It's definite that visitors to the area are not happy with days like this. But sometimes days like this can bring great images. This image was not taken today, but was taken during a stormy period and I was reminded of it when today dawned. I love the beach on days like this. Some people venture out in slickers, jeans and sneakers to hear the squawking of the birds as they wheel overhead, feel the wind surround them and hear the waves on the sand. Stormy days like this can wash up treasures from the waters. Getting outside in the elements is exciting, even on days like this. original photo by dmdart




		Road Out I was told once that this should be titled the "Road Home". Perspective is interesting and compelling. To me this image means unlimited possibilities, all waiting for me to take the road to find them. To some this means they are heading to loved ones and the safety and comfort of home. Whatever your personal perspective, the road leads us to places we expect, and also to startling and inspiring experiences. Some might say it's the road of life: I envision it as the road to life. original photo by dmdart

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