Wild Wind, Big Waves

...

Gravewalking Again...

Ah autumn, when I young man's thoughts turn to ...death, I guess...

We'll Leave The Light On For You

I took a walk in the cemetery tonight just before sunset hoping to catch some interesting shadows as the sun streaked low across the tombstones.
That didn't really work out but the night was pleasantly warm for October, it's smelled fantastic as autumn always does and besides the birds flitting and squirrels rustling through the fallen leaves, I had the entire place to myself.
I wandered the winding, leaf covered roads and dirt tracks, shooting here and there when the urge hit me, using the tripod since the light was rapidly fading.
As darkness descended, I headed back in the direction of where I had left the car, tried a few more shots using flash and then finally gave up on shooting with little light left to work with, even when using a long exposure.
As I approached the car, I noticed a dim light down one of the nearby rows. Curious, I went to investigate and found this lonely lantern glowing orange on one of the headstones. Creepy-cool.
When I saw the image on the computer screen for the first time I immediately thought of the old advertising slogan of the Motel 6 chain, "We'll Leave The Light On For You". After all, both the motel and the cemetery offer a similar service...a place to rest...although, admittedly, the service provided by the latter is for a considerably longer term than that of the former.
I found the light very accomodating...

The Freakiest Fungus I've Ever Met

I took a short afternoon walk in my usual haunts, the forest of the Baird Creek Parkway, with no particular goal in mind but to enjoy a beautiful early autumn afternoon. I brought the camera along knowing I'd regret it if I didn't but was not intent on using it.
It almost goes without saying that I didn't get far down the trail and across the creek before I came to my first good reason to have brought the camera...interesting texture in the end of a broken limb on an an old log. I set up my camera and got a few shots. My eye was drawn next, 15 paces ahead, to a very green leaf resting on the rotten red trunk of an oak lying nearby. Amazing color contrast. I set up there. Another interesting shot.
My intention had been to take a short walk as other responsibilities tugged at me so with time running short, I regretfully packed up my gear, preparing to head back in the direction I'd come. As I turned to leave, my eye was once again drawn to something...but this time it was no leaf or log! There on a tree's trunk was a massive fungus that had been out of my view from the direction I had approached. Had I not followed my eyes to my other two subjects, I'd never have discovered it there.
It's at times like this that I almost feel as though I'm being led...very strange.

The fungus, known as Chicken Of The Woods, is an edible type that is said to taste very much like poultry. As a vegetarian I'd be interested to find out for myself but even had I known when I came across it, it was really too beautiful to have destroyed. The amazing photos are certainly just as delicious.
And those aforementioned responsibilities?
Well, a photographer must have his priorities...

A Street So Very Hard To Find

I've finally made it to Easy Street. Who knew it was just on the other side of my very own city?

Photo by me.
Lyrics by Dave Pirner.

Soul Asylum - Easy Street
Did you hear the one about the friend of a friend who tried to end it all?
At the last moment he picked up the phone and gave you a call
You thought about letting it ring, but you answered after all

And there you were, put on the spot at the end of the other line

For questions that you never thought you'd ever have to answer to
Who do you turn to when the ones you always turn to go and turn on you
It leaves you in the dark, feeling for a switch to turn it on again

There are no easy answers, the questions remain tough
There's no shortcuts to easy street, no corners you can cut
Can you cut this diamond in the rough

And it's good to see you alive
Sign your will to survive
A look into your heart before it sees its final hour
(Lived?) each day like there is no tomorrow

Beyond this mess ahead there is a street so very hard to find
Though I have thought to lay my head down at this dead end so many times
And if we ever get to easy street, you can say with a smile

I came just for the ride