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In early November 2012, I traveled down to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 4 days of celebration and the birthday of one of my oldest friends, Ed Gale. Ed and I went to high school together at Fountain Valley School, outside Colorado Springs, in the late 60s. Along for the ride were a couple of more high school chums, Kurt Swingle and Ernie Steck. We all arrived on Thursday, enjoying a wonderful dinner in downtown at The Shed, which I highly recommend, if you are down that way! I also recommend Harry’s Roadhouse, where we had breakfast the following morning, after which we ventured eastward to Cowles, which is little more than a sign post on a road with a smattering of cabins, here and there. That said, however, it was definitely a home away from home for our overnight. Once we had unloaded the truck and settled our gear, we took off for a scan of the river for Ernie, who had brought his fishing tackle, and for me, camera in hand. They found a likely spot for Ernie to return to and I caught this candid shot, the faces of the innocent kept in confidence:
Perusing the River
We continued along our merry ways, whether it was Ernie donning his fly-fishing gear or myself continuing to shoot photos, as I am wont to do in a new environment. I traipsed about the shoreline as I studied the river and how various things got in its way to impede its course….that is, the rocks and boulders, felled branches and trees, detritus of one form or another, or whatever may be pushing it this way or that. While my concentration was the Pecos River itself, I was, occasionally, distracted by various bits that caught my eye.
Pecos Spanish Moss
The best of that afternoon follows………………………….
Battering Ram
Downstream
In the Afternoon Sun
Sluice
Waiting At the River’s Edge
Rapt
In Time
Before Sunset
River Rolls
Vortex
Striations of the River
Crucifix
Whenever I am at a river or creek (or, for that matter, a place where I am surrounded with stone on various sizes), I take the time to build a cairn, as some call it. My “name” for it is World In Motion because no matter how fast or slow the world spins, the testament of the stack will remain, even if it gets knocked over by wind or some other element: the fact that it stands at all, for whatever time that it stands, is an homage unto itself….and myself….and the Universe. They take concentration to build and this one was actually quite simple despite the fact that it took me a good hour of concentration. [If you’re interested in learning more about them, try this link: cairn.] I’ve also been known to build them in Sedona, AZ, which is home to some of the greatest energy vortexes in the US but that is another story (as well as a previous post to this blog). I always make a point to make my stacks with an uneven number of pieces for the simple rule that nothing in nature is perfect except for Mother, Gaia, Herself; I believe this stack was 17 pieces:
World in Motion – Pecos River
…and the day done, we retired to a terrific pre-birthday meal and each other’s good company by the warmth of the fire………..
And Then It Reached Out As If
Jump In
The next day, we packed up Ed’s truck and said adieu to our Pecos River repast and relaxation…..but not without getting a picture of us on the cabin steps. I have to, honestly, admit that I didn’t take this picture and give the credit to Kurt because it is a damn fine picture of the four of us.
Ernie, Ed, Kurt, and myself (l to r)
Happy Birthday, Ed, exceptionally belated! I hope you have enjoyed this afternoon jaunt on that wondrous river that passes by your place on the Pecos.
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Reaching Out To, Santa Fe, 2006
THIS IS FOR JESSICA.
I met you last night and one I hope that our friendship blossoms for a long time to come. In the brief moments we had to talk, we cut straight to the cores of things and connected in ways many people still have no clue about. So, consider these photos as a way to see a little deeper into me………..
Minions Reaching for Their Garden God, Edgewater, 2010
Getting Out of Hell, Edgewater, 2008
Shadowboxing, Monterey, 2004
Sunflower Bud, Esalen, 2006
Passionflower, Monterey, 2006
Bubbles at the Bottom, The Highlands, Denver, 2005
Lime and Grapefruits, The Highlands, 2005
Sand and Waves, Edgewater, 2007
Waterfall, DBG, 2007
Temporal Shift, Edgewater, 2009
and one of my all-time favorites:
Lotus Raindrops, DBG, 2004
HOT Engine. Wheat Ridge, CO, 2010.
Every Friday night, there is a spot on 32nd Ave in Wheat Ridge, where old and hot muscle cars line up on display for anyone to see and for their owners to hob-nob about their cars. I went along with my friend, Elliot, and his son, Syd, for the first time tonight. I’ll definitely be going back for more. Here are some of the best shots I took and the “shifts” I turned them into.
Speeding Towards the Sun
The Rocket's Red Glare 2
Rocketship Hinge
Rocketship on Wheels
Flying Dog 2
Rocket Rearview
Truth be told………….I am smitten with how this photo came out…………….on SO MANY levels!
Graduation from Training for the Red Rocket
Blue Flame. Denver, 2005
Flames on the Floor. Denver, 2005
Defying the Flame. Edgewater, 2008
Garage in Red. Denver, 2004.
Putting on Firehouse Clothes, Firehouse #2, The Highlands, Denver, about 1885**
Rohn Stokes the Fire. Shoshoko, 2006.
Firewood at Shoshoko, 2006.
Energy Pulse 2. Edgewater, 2008
and two of my all-time favorite photos………..
Getting Out of Hell. Edgewater, 2008
which, upon further workings and machinations, produced this from the same photo:
The Disappearance of the Deep Blue Sea. Edgewater, 2008.
[**I’ve included this photo (of the firemen) simply for one reason: my friend, Rohn, whose magnificent piece of land in the CO Rocky Mountains has been immortalized in many of my photos, used to own the building in which this photo was taken, sometime in the mid 1880s. Firehouse #2 is now an apartment building, which Rohn turned it into when he bought the building in order to save it from the wrecking ball. I believe it is a National Historic building.]
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Columbine and Ponderosa. Shoshoko, 2008
Take a listen** while you study the photo…………
There's A Red House Over Yonder, That's Where.... Denver, 2009.
Here are the lyrics, if you find you want to sing along (feel free to play air guitar b/c I think you’re safe….no one’s watching!):
There’s a red house over yonder, that’s where my baby stays.
There’s a red house over yonder, baby, that’s where my baby stays.
Well, I ain’t been home to see my baby in about ninety nine and one half days,
’bout time I see her.
Wait a minute, something’s wrong.
The key wont unlock the door.
Wait a minute, something’s wrong, baby.
The key wont unlock the door.
I got a bad, bad feeling that my baby don’t live here no more.
I might as well go on back down,
Go back ‘cross yonder over the hill.
I might as well go back over yonder
Way back yonder ‘cross the hill, (That’s where I come from)
‘Cos if my baby don’t love me no more.
I know her sister will!
** For those who want to listen to a longer, bluesier version, take a listen to this amazing piece of music!
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Pickled Plums on Kitchen Windowsill, Edgewater 2010
I shot this photo with the camera on my phone, which is a habit I’ve taken to in recent months….because I take A LOT of photos of food I prepare nowadays [mostly because I have a lot of Foddie Friends]. When I placed the jar on the windowsill, it struck me as though I was standing in my Great Aunt’s kitchen in IA back in the mid-70s, when I first started to learn canning.
Canning: a lost art known, almost only, to those in agrarian areas [yes, and a lot of it happens in cities as well].
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DBG Pond and Changing Trees, 2005
