Who made the rules? All the definitions? Who created reality as we know it?  If i had been consulted for some input I would have taken more care in defining the gods, good and evil, monsters, and I really would have reworked the definition of love. It would be undefined, like anything divided by zero. Both undefined yet infinite. Clearly unclear. It’s supposed to be a paradox and perfectly unknowable. This would make it perfectly subjective and refute ages of philosophers. This blurred photo of roller derby girls kicking each other in the teeth is a fantastic reminder and testament to the fact that you can’t know what something is until you have decided what it is. Things don’t exist in a vacuum, they exist through our interpretations of them. We make the world the way it is, the way we want it to be, every day just by living it through our eyes. And that’s all i have to say about that.

From the shallow theological training I have received in my lifetime, I was led to believe that the earth resides somewhere in between heaven and hell. But do you know what I believe, that these are stories created to keep us in line with everyone else. One could argue that mass murderers are free-er than your average Joe, and the millionaires sitting on their wealth are also capable of things we cannot imagine bestowing upon ourselves with our meager means. Point being, hell keeps you from being a greedy millionaire or a serial killer; but only if you believe in it does it have any power over you. So the question then becomes, if less and less people believe in religion, what will keep us in line? The true test of morality is upon us, I’m hoping it will come in my lifetime.  All of this stream of consciousness from a silly building in downtown Philly. This is why I love photography, its like coke for writer’s block.

Elephants have to be some of the cutest animals alive. Yea they are massive and probably smell disgusting but they are gentle, mostly harmless, and all they want to do is be alive. They don’t kill things, they don’t complain, and they don’t get in our way. If any animal has emotional draw, its the elephant. And maybe this piggy bank shaped like an elephant.

Youth Bestows upon us gifts such as speed, agility, decent vision, a good sex drive, fantastic drinking abilities, sharp intellect and a general awe at what the world has in store for us. Age Reclaims each of these, one at a time, until you are dead and all your gifts gone. Take this boy for example, he has his whole life ahead of him, he might be 8 years old. Now look at yourself, maybe you’re 22, that’s already 1/4 of your life gone, maybe you’re in your 30’s in which case you should probably start going to the gym asap, maybe you are in your 50’s and you don’t even recognize popular music as being music at all (it probably sounds like trash to you)  or maybe you are 80 and literally on your way out. Wherever you are in life, stop to smell the roses because I can’t believe how fast 22 years have gone by and I don’t think I have had a chance to smell many roses.  I am jealous of an 8 year old, this is bad news.

You know how the saying goes, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”. Well this my friends is what i think beauty means, this photo is just one example of what beauty there is in the world. Unfocused, refracted, unfiltered, random, dirty, beautiful light. This is a Ttv photo of the skylight in the Girard College building. Shots like these are why i love XPLR.

Jason Schlabach. Thanks for taking a swig at that moment, it turned out well

A color created window pane from Shiloh.

Some sentimental old wooden lockers, they were begging to be photographed, i was forced to oblige.

Macro of the blue window panes at the Shiloh Church, color created in PS.

The second art exhibition xplr hit up on this day located at Girard College. Very cool setting. Ttv fun to be had here for sure.

I remember the opening sequence to the sci-fi series “The Outer Limits” where there is a house whose basement turns into the roots of a tree that descend into an abyss. Its a very interesting image, and when i saw this room of pale blue light with its windows of blazing white, i couldn’t help but imagine myself in that house looking out onto a washed out world of pure white. Or maybe the house is inside of a person, and looking outside of the windows would be like seeing through their eyes. Howe6ver you look at it, these particular windows do more than look outside, this i assure you of.

Why did these ever go out of style?

At the Hidden City installment of XPLR last week, we visited Shiloh church to see some wicked cool art exhibitions. The blue rooms were by far my favorite. Kudos to all of the artists for creating amazing atmosphere.

Taking pictures of art is easy.

Hypercubes are so interesting, i wish i could see in 4 dimensions.

Me, except old skool. Duh. Everywhere i went there were birds in pictures of me, so odd.

For Fathers, part deux

A really cool exhibition at the Pompodore. Can you figure out the shape of this? Hint: not convex

The tower at night.

me! except rusted like the tin man!

People outside of the train on the way to Paris.

A crazy fun event with XPLR in Philadelphia. Jumping at the art museum and avoiding the security presence. Tons of fun indeed.

The wind whistling through the desolate branches of this tree, its buds shaking like a candleflame amidst the frigid surroundings. It was nice to look straight up.

I hate the wintertime, the cold, the false sense of “cheer”. I also hate it when it snows and i cant ride a bike properly because of it, but sometimes, when everything is frozen and unmoving. When everything is so cold it just all stops vibrating, stops all motion, and just lays still and quiet. Well i guess what im saying is, it can be a beautiful thing. The sounds of silence, and the rest of peace.

Untitled. If i cant think of a title, i usually cant think of anything to say about it either. It is what it is.

The snow had frozen in a most peculiar way, owing this to the on and off raining and freezing cycles, that i thought was beautiful.

A dog chasing a ball in Clarks Park against the snow. That dog must have slipped and fallen 5 times in the time i was there.

Life is short. Fall in love. Miss those who are gone, appreciate those who are there. Always wait for the ones you love to come back to you.

I had Rusty come out for a nightcap. I hate artificial light that has a yellow/orange color. Its my least favorite. Its just dirty light. I am also not one for color-correction, because i often color-create rather than correct. This color reflects my mood and my state of mind. Alone, in the middle of the road, blue.

A little girl ice skating decided to pose for me. I guess she didn’t really have a choice, i was going to snap the picture either way. But i think in the end it worked out for the both of us. What i didn’t capture was her smile after the shutter clicked. I’ll settle for a squint

Just something I captured over Christmas in Harrisburg. The best christmas trees live outside.

Hip, Hip, Hoorah!

Part 2 of my laundry saga. The poor man who runs the place seems just as decrepit as his building and his rattling machines. The kind of rattling that is the machines way of telling the world it is about to break down. The owner is truly in the shadow of his machines.

Things never do seem to go according to.

There’s only one thing I love as much as Rusty, and that thing is this. Fog. Cloudcover. The general inability to see further than 10 feet ahead of you. Its scary and clostraphobic and yet it isn’t anything more than water in the air. Its beautiful. It puts the world just out of reach, and barely within sight. Its like being swallowed by nothing, in a very safe way. I could ramble on about how fog makes me feel, but nobody wants to hear that. I have said enough.

This began as a statement, and it ended in a question. America is on everyone’s shit list in the world, but we are about to make a monumental change of routine. Can we break down this fence of stupidity and shortsightedness and become the country the world expects us to be?

I loathe doing my laundry. I am one of those people who waits until the I have worn my last pair of socks thrice before finally setting out to wash the mess. And when that time comes, it is alot to deal with, and I end up losing my whole day to wash cycles and dry cycles. And about $12 in quarters. Lets just say its alot of weight on your back to and from when you bike. Loathe.

A bright day out with XPLR down at Penn’s Landing taking some pictures of the skating rink. I’m pretty sure the entire world was overexposed that day. So i feel okay about my blown out sky. I think it adds more than it detracts.

The company I work for just moved into a new space last month, and the office next door to us still looked like a warehouse for storage because it was “under construction”. I thought the contractors did a great job with this abstract painting. I think it is lovely.

Another trip to New York City. I find myself there once every few months, but i have no idea why. I hate the trip up, something bad always happens to me while im there (like missing my bus back last time), and i never really enjoy myself. I often spend more time going to and from than being there anyway. I hate the whole mess.

Screw following the rules. Lets modify the shit out of pictures and make them into something else. Lets be creative.

I don’t often do sets, only because they bore me. But in this case, i wanted to redo the picture in a different way. I think it created a completely different image, a different feel, and different emotion.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

My second attempt to do this.

Philadelphia’s Ireland. Thats what this scene made me think of.

What did you expect.

If i had to choose a song to match with this picture, it would be “How it Ends” by Devotchka

They have nothing to do with one another, buts the matching emotions, that makes it perfect to me. And maybe this occurrence is unique to me, but its worth a shot for you to try it too.

I truly hope you enjoy the photo, created by Rusty.

Rusty took this shot, using my reversed 50mm macro solution.

Different direction on this one. I tried to do something my fellow photographer does very well over on Oeilonirique.  http://www.oeilonirique.com/

Enjoy

There are times when i dream of having more megapixels, just some more, so i can record the beauty i see in the world more precisely. Just a little more.

I deal with what i have.

An awesome modern art piece at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Credit goes to the original artist, i just changed the color.

What i woke up to, before the skies went dark and wintery.

Rusty, looking into the brim of her hat, “at the blue light”. It kinda reminded me of an idea light, except its blue, so therefore, its a blue idea.

The lovely view outside of my window.

Saw light shining through this glass tea dispenser and thought it was stunning. Do you agree?

Rusty showed this to me in a parking lot. It made me chuckle.

This is a very loud dog.

I love taking photos of chairs. Something about this empty place that begs for a human to be present. Without people chairs are useless, this sort of existence defined by purpose and vice versa. That and i thought the lighting was cool. Ha.

An attempt to make something abstract out of water and reflections. Mixed results.

Handmade native american beads. Rusty bought a pair (or did i buy them?).

I want to start by apologizing to everyone who looks at my photoblog for my unforgivably long (and quite unexpected) hiatus. I missed almost two entire weeks, so much for daily. I apologize profusely, and will certainly attempt not to let that happen again any time soon.  But enough talk, onto the photos!

An Austin Healey at Kapona in Harrisburg.

What happened to the old professions, eh?

Hallways of shrubbery leading to a stone bench. Id like to sit there and not move for awhile. Slow down a bit.

Quite literally.

It reads:

Dear friends, for me do not weep.

I am not dead but here do sleep.

The side fire escape of BZBI. They wouldn’t let us in. Shame on them.

Left or right, light or dark, up or down?

Credit goes to Rusty for seeing this beautiful capture. I love how the mask looks out of focus!

There were a couple of these, this was my favorite.

A knight rides off into the sunset with his prize.

Anyone agree? I like this shot anyway, the sky was intense, and the fountain was an interesting subject.

Ren Faire

Whenever i go to Harrisburg, it pours right after i get off the train. On this particular day, there was an added surprise.

My personal favorite in the Acid Print series. It feels like an abstract painting to me. I love it.

Up, or down? Lets all go sideways, instead. Or round in circles. How childish, and existential of me.

Don’t want to ruin this one with words. Silence.

Time has a way of moving too fast. Leaves already falling? Ah let it not be true!

The secret stairs leading down to the amtrack train tracks. Shhh, top secret.

Some pidgeons wasting the day away on platform 5.

Eastern Standard. But really, fuck time, its whatever time you say it is. Time is irrelevant, alot of people would be happier if they didn’t worry about it so much, myself included. That would be an interesting experiment, get rid of all modes of accurate time keeping and live without them. Maybe an experiment i will try myself someday.

A chair out on the street right by firehouse cycles and satellite. I find it a metaphor for many peoples hearts. But not mine.

It was not dark enough for my eyes in the station. Much Better.

Took this on my second trip with the XPLR photo club group. Lots of great photos to be had around 30th Street Station.

I’m pretty much the most unpatriotic person ever, mostly because i find alot of this country idiotic. But regardless of my personal views, i couldn’t help but appreciate the view. Enjoy.

A silly turtle statue for kids, also in my Acid Print series taken through the viewfinder of a Kodak Duoflex II

Taken in Clarks Park.

The second (count started at zero) in a series of blurry colorful abstracts. You will probably see a one more in the next few days.

Dark and starless night on the asphault sea of Pattison Ave.

Also have a color version of this, which one is better?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21053427@N03/2714208265/

Is that the proper diction? Anyhow, it would take some serious strength to do this.

Named after a really fun song Rusty and I enjoy. I don’t usually take photos of the sky, but the clouds were interesting, what do you think, how did this turn out? What could i have done differently?

This is the last in my series on fountains, hopefully this will be the last fountain you see on here for a long time.

Two kids cooling off at the fountain, while their mother looks another way.

A TtV of a sculpture near the art museum. The other guys had no idea what i was doing with two cameras at once, it was nice to know i was doing something that was new to them because im usually the one learning from everyone else. Suffice it to say, i love TtV.

The thing about public fountains is that by and large kids are in the water while adults sit around watching. Therefore, the kids are a far more interesting subject to me. Though i will snap the occasional picture of a parent watching. I really enjoyed the out-of-focus element of this, as if the cameras eye had just come out of the water, unable to focus immediately.

I noticed the way the waves of the water distorted the font of the text. It is very interesting to see it in motion.

Two boys wanted me to snap one of em. Done.

My first time out with the XPLR photo club, biking around Philly and snappin photos of fountains.

I love music. All kinds. As long as it makes me move, or gives me chills.

Another taken at Penn’s Landing, looking out on the bridge to Camden, and the PATCO trains running across.

A silver path laid out to me,

Upon fair waves and dark motion,

Its keeper meant it to be seen,

But captured it was, instead.

A powerful scene from one of my favorites.

This truck annoys me every night with its tinkling jingle down the street from my home. Sigh.

A leaf caught in the wire.

Not. German.

An abstract ive been playing with. I think Macro can make anything into an abstract work of art.

I can’t do that, but Rusty can. Oh the genes our parents pass on to us.

A dying leaf curls up in agony.

hydration is very important, far more important than showing your face.

Using the Comcast building as a huge mirror to photograph nearby buildings. The fun-house effect is so fun to work with.

Ive been away for a few days, sorry about the lapse in photographic spew. A blast from the past here, from an African dance class. This woman kind of reminds me of the singer from the 5th Element. Except not blue.

Looking up at the new comcast building and its friend next door.

Mom, doin her thing. Self-portrait style.

I wonder how many emergencies this button has aided, murders prevented, or otherwise kept the public safe?

I want a small porch, with a sturdy rocking chair, and a glass of cold sweet tea that never runs out. Sometimes we all just need to slow down, and relax.

On a walk through Doylestown a few things caught my eye.

A fly perches on a flower petal, inviting a portrait.

I believe Rusty gets original credit for taking this shot, it was very well scene. I think this is a very beautiful abstract.

Burning scraps in the backyard. The smoke is my favorite part.

A very soft and flowy sort of capture, water passing in between two lily pads. My eyes floated up and down this for awhile.

I wanted to post this right after the last one to contrast the sober cold tones with these bright and fiery ones. Enjoy.

Another in the texture series.

A wasp staying still for me. How thoughtful.

At Rusty’s house there is a shed, it seems to be dedicated to fishin, without a g.

Another texture macro, there will be lots of these as i love love love photographing different textures and patterns.

So once upon a time an idiot in love took a bike ride to Harrisburg from Philadelphia, this was a rest stop along the way.

A screen over a bathroom window, dusty and stamped with the signs of age.

A picture of TP using the Rumford Modified Snooted Flash Method.

A very large door at the Zeigers Farm.

Macro at the beach.

This one peaks for itself, if you are familiar with the Ford GT. Don’t see these too often.

A marshmallow burning on the stick. Charles helped with the lighting for this one, thanks mate.

Ive got nothing to say about this one. Fancy that.

The feet of a very accomplished runner, dangle off of the edge. Beauty is in the details.

This really does speak for itself. I am a wonderful painter, am i not!?

The paths we walk down, are filled with beauty.

Taken at Washington Crossing Park in NJ.

Its what i want to say when i look into your eyes,

Its what happens when emotion overrides all thought,

Its nothing, its blank, its being caught up in the moment

Its what it means to love you

Two kittens we found on the street, we were about to wash them, you can see their fear of water, its the eyes.

As the sun sets in bands of energy and the shadows creep into the world.

A beautiful set of roses, pink and glorious Ttv. Rusty helped with these, since everything is upside down and backwards, she guided my lens. Thanks love.

The lights that surround the door of the CEC in west Philly are made of soda can holders. Genius. The generate some beautiful light as well.

I really liked this one but was saving it. Cheers.

A macro of my lighter. I love the striations in the flame.

A night at the Phillies game. I happened to be wearing shorts with Marlins on them, bad choice, as Rusty so wonderfully pointed out.

Refuse, otherwise known as leftovers, otherwise known as i will pay $5 to the first person that can figure out what this is. Rusty is excluded from the competition, because she already knows.

This was not meant to look like anything you know or which you can place. It is itself. Even i don’t know what it is. It is Abstrakt One.

My first attempts at TtV, the on camera flash helped create the dust particles looking like this. I am happy with it, and will continue to post more Ttv stuff, i hope you like it!  Thanks for posing, Hookah-Wine-a-saur!

A test shot with my new macro lens…a.k.a  a reversing ring and my handy 50mm. Im going on an abstract stint, heads up.

What pretty patterns water does make.

I just really like the word debauchery, and sometimes the act of. And tea. I like tea very much.

A blast from the past. I captured this from a different angle, and i actually liked this one more. Opinions?

Cracked. Paint. Is. More. Than. Just. Cracked. Paint. To. Me.

A rose bush breaks through its glass tomb.

Through gritty and unwashed glass,

through dark and troubled times,

through broken smashed and disintegrating reality

Beauty. Lives.

Rusty’s favorite color.

The steam tower at Ziegers Roses

Molly says comments are bad. End.

Thats me! Riding a bike! With mi madre at my side!

I love this picture: blurry, fuzzy, saturated and all.

To be fair, i did not take this image. Credit goes to Rusty.

Sometimes things don’t lay well. Sometimes colors hurt our eyes. Sometimes reality is harsh. Love tends to be harsh, it tends to feel great, it tends to hurt.

It is far better to be out of line, than to idly follow the leader. Think for yourselves, and stand way out of line.

Rusty playing with a little itty-bitty caterpillar. He was released unharmed into the wild of Washington Crossing Park, scouts honor.

Wet hair after a shower. Water droplets hang on for dear life, but are wiped into oblivion with a towel anyway.

For Mothers, who teach us compassion and hugs still count for something. Happy Birthday Mom.

Well this basically sums up most of my mornings. Finding welcoming and loving messages of endearment lying about the house.

Got rather lucky with this capture. This guy was good. He also enjoyed poking needles through his tongue all the way through the bottom of his mouth and out of his neck. Nuts.

A very interesting piece of lighting, it casts a crimson glare about the room.

A Juggler with torches at Carnivolution at the Ellen.