Tim Johnson Thinks Ink, Images, Expressions & MORE

Where IS Christmas?

2011-12-21T21:32:00.000-05:00

Now just where is Christmas?

Something has changed about Christmas in the year 2011.

It's not that the first holiday items appeared in August and it is not about the overabundance of potpourri, candles and other sources of scents (some 2-legged) assaulting us in very location.

It is certainly not the travesty that Whitman's (parent company, Russell Stover) has visited on the concept of the communion elements of bread and wine and changed them into chocolate.

[This deserves a bit of explanation. You can buy a box of chocolates, Forest, Forest Gump, with the name "JESUS" on the box. Theologies of transubstantiation and other opinions aside, it is a stretch to think that Christ Jesus abides in boxes of cocoa and sugar. Someone looking for Jesus in a church, a temple, the Eucharist or in the scripture might find it just too convenient to think that the Person and Nature of the Prophet and Redeemer could be bought for $4. Of course, I am waiting to see the boxes of "Jesus" discounted 90% AFTER the 25th. A blasphemous and discounted idea of Jesus is what many people hold on to, but this takes the fruitcake, rum balls and throws away the manger, away, far away. Of course, chocolate has important nutritional and medicinal uses and maybe someone's good health might be helped by just a little taste of ... !?!]

"I want" is a good thing to know and refine. This year, it was a chorus when little minds saw plastic, electronic and other items and responded like Pavlov's dogs to his famous bell.

During this season some people went to some stores and found that their layaway items had been paid for. In every place there are collections and the distribution of food, toys and financial help. That is charity. Charity is great and altruism is commendable, but where is Jesus?

You see it was not the incarnation that made the ancients excited. Jesus' parents, the shepherds and a few Magi, a priest and so very few, knew about that.

Jesus was in and around the Sea of Galilee, made trips to Jerusalem, spent a deliberately vague adolescence and young adulthood in the backdust (not backwater, it is a dry place) town of Nazareth. His mother comes to prominence early in the Gospels, we learn about his other family members later and then he makes his presence known at about age 30. Maybe a good idea for most of us.

The New Testament has various stories from different people and records the reaction of folk to what they heard about Jesus. Born yes, lived for about 34 years, was crucified, rose on the 3rd day and then, after a few visits with his closest followers and some larger audiences, did what places him forever where there is reverence, respect, wonder and grace ... he ascended into the heavens. (and did not start a school of religion or build a single building and certainly did not found a chocolate factory)

Come January, Easter merchandise will appear. I hope the ghost of Mr. Whitman haunts the whole company if they come out with pink or yellow Jesus eggs chocolates or bunnies.

So where is Jesus? Above and beyond anything we can sense. However, he promised, "I am with you ...". And, if you look and listen, you will find him ... in your heart I pray. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

2011-12-11T19:52:00.001-05:00

http://www.volopt.com/

This is a plug to introduce you to a different kind of search engine.

Cleaner, deeper and more specific results will become an expectation rather than a surprise.

Enjoy the views. Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

2011-12-11T19:46:00.000-05:00

Just a note to everyone already planning to have a healthier 2012. I invite you to log onto www.Qihub.com and order a copy of David Peter's DVD: Embrace Tiger, Return To Mountain. The contents are also available as an app from Apple.

You will enjoy the music and be inspired to DO a healthy workout every day. Qigong and TaiChi will help energize and heal your vital systems, all dependent on your swimming in the Qi.

David's workouts and exercises are accompanied by the fabulous flute and diggeradoo music of John Dumas. To see and hear more of this music, just visit www.Johndumas.com.

BTW – you can neak in a few exercises BEFORE the New Year. What a thought. At Qihub.com you can also connect to the other services and products that David offers. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-23T01:13:00.001-05:00

Thanks … for life, love and passion.

[This special prayer of thanks is given to the people who were involved in my recent brush with death.

For 8 days I suffered with acute pancreatitis – a sometimes fatal condition.

The team of physicians, nurses and specialists took care of my failing body. Others joined around in prayers, ministries and healing touches. The talk and expectations became somber, but healing filled my body and I am grateful to praise God for mercy and healing.]

To the Almighty who is omnipresent and ever-present.

To the blessed twins who are also the mothers of the grandest children.

To Susan who applied her skills and determination that I should not die just now.

To Grace, Jessica and Christa who were ministering spirits and annointed me with oil and Prayer.

To the EMS folk that got me quickly and safely to the hosptal.

For pain medication which was the only alternative to a noose or hand grenade.

For applesauce and Eggland's Best.

To my healers David Peters and Dr. Dan Mudryck who tend to my body and soul.

For the understanding clients who have waited for their work to be done.

For sleep and building strength.

For my desire to pick up the pen and camera and keep working to make pretty letters

and take good photos.

For green tea and phosfood.

For rice.

For the rest and peace I have enjoyed.

Happily, gratefully and before God's throne – Thank You.

Cool Class, Photographer On Fire

2011-10-11T03:39:00.001-04:00

Our Wake Tech digital photo class is going to be a sideshow at the NC State fair. It always happens.

Take a dozen beautiful and smart people, cameras in hand and tripods in tow and it is a scene. That is the case even before the tuna and pineapple cans come out.

People will wonder if this is the papparazzi that knows something they don't. Some will stop and look at what is the main subject.

Others will just remain bewildered as they are over fried Coke, roasted corn and the sow that had given birth to a dozen or more pink little piggies. They'll look and think that we are just a club or cult, but certainly not “normal”.

We are used to it. It's hard not to go public when you're trying to get a photo image of the “feel” of the fair.

Monday's class was busy and covered multiple and timed exposures and even writing with light onto media.

Then, too soon, class was over and I packed my little rolling cart.

I approached the exit, managed to get the door open despite my burden and stepped outside.

Just then another sense kicked into gear. I wondered just who would burn a tire and why. I didn't see a fire and the smell turned from rubber to electronics.

THEN, I felt sharp pain in my right thigh and saw a jet of flame push through my twice-worn slacks, a rare pair – not black. I liked those pants.

I was the source of the fire.

During the class I had taken my WT ID badge off and it made its way to the coin and key slot in the pockets – very handy and cool, normally.

Now though, there were 2 bright pennies making contact with a very healthy power cord attached to a 12 volt battery pack I forgot I was wearing.

Volts don't hurt, amps do and I was just ground enough to juice the amps, burn the cable and ruin the new pants after doing a number of my thumb and index finger – the chain, pennies and battery were HOT.

I got a personal charge from the discharge and won't repeat that trip-saving action.

Rarely do I make an ALWAYS or NEVER rule. In this case I can quickly say that if you are putting conductive material in your pocket, don't place a hot power supply on top of it.

I am not smarter now, though it does smart and I have 3 blisters from the chain on my thumb, but I am a tiny bit wiser. And I will miss those pants.

Thank you Steve, you made it fun!

2011-10-06T11:40:00.000-04:00

There are already many tributes to the genius and sweetness of the recently deceased Steve Jobs. This is as it should be.

His work (and play) in bringing into the world the Apple Computer brand is worthy of note.

Over the years I owned and used a parade of Apple products and learned to dance with their strengths and deal with their quirks.

IBM and primitive diskware (160K, 5.25 floppies that were written on both sides and were really flipped to get work done) was my first exposure to Personal computing. That was 1982 and about $5000 for the 8086 processor and a handful of 4K Ram chips. It would remember what I wrote, hammer out ink from the 9-pin IBM printer and later on a cool and noisy daisy-wheel.

The IBM was efficient, effective and expensive. I later zoomed into another level of power with an ITT 386 (running Lotus 1, 2, 3 & Wordperfect) that had a true (sad, but true) color monitor.

The business computer was everything except personal.

Then, the Apple rolled onto the scene. (There was a knockoff Orange, but you had to be there to really laugh about that with me.)

My first was a IIe and then a Mac and later, for pictures and publishing a PowerPC with SyQuest and Zip drives. These things were more approachable and fun that the other PCs.

I also bought a Unix-based machine that did a lot of work, was fast and powerful, but had no bell, whistle or gong. Compuserve connected me to a raw idea called internet and databases and email. (Appreciating Unix and Linux, I now tip my cap to Red Hat, a corporation that has gotten things right. Professional support for Open-Source ...Yes!)

The Apple co-founders were idealists and kept refining their machines and building relationships with software vendors. There were corporate battles and separations and periods of making up.

Adobe loved Apple and tolerated Intel/AMD powered machines. Corel was there for EVERYONE.

Today we can have in our hands more computing power and resources than was available to NASA, while putting humans on the moon.

A dear friend knew I liked significant history and made a gift to me of something that today is a rarity.

I OWN a screen-print image of an ITT 4116 chip design. This chip was big and hot and could handle 4 whole K of info. K's turned into megs and megs into gigs and gigs into terabytes. (Time To Revisit the PP "Power Of Ten" presentation.)

Every sermon I ever preached can reside with every lesson I ever taught and each of the books and magazines I created on a single flash drive.

Apple forced business computers to turn toward a GUI and that made the hardware more fun and less expensive.

However, remember that user-friendly does not mean user-effective.

WYSIWYG is, for many a dream because what people create may not approach what they have imagined.

Steve Jobs saw what he saw as practical, profitable and fun. His WYG is really what WE got.

He forced our thinking out of any boxes, coloring outside of any lines and merging tech with life.

Humans discover fire – ouch. Humans learn to use fire constructively – OK. Computers move beyond the realm of business applications – Yes.

Humans adapt computers to their uses and computers light the path to a smarter, better, more connected and more tolerant humanity … we pray.

Thanks, Steve, for the work and the laughs. © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

Heads UP - from NASA

2011-09-22T14:58:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I just have to share.
NASA has made video and audio files available for your education and enlightenment. Cool ringtones and other entertainment can be created from this new resource. NASA will keep you up to date with the latest news when you sign up for their bulletins.
If you are a subsciber to the World Wide Telescope you can now have sounds to go with the images.
Of course, in space there is no

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds/

Enjoy the treats. tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

AN ORDINARY, EXCEPTIONAL DAY

2011-09-11T01:49:00.000-04:00

Remembrances

The poor and wealthy, the young and old, the powerful and pitiful will gather, contemplate and reflect on the tragedy and aftermath of the events of 9/11.

Our happy and productive nation received a shot to the gut. People watched in disbelief at what had happened in New York. One of the World Trade Towers had been struck by a jet.

Then, the second tower was hit by a second jet.

Drama was also playing out over Pennsylvania as brave passengers foiled an attempt to assault another American icon with a third jet.

This attack had been months in planning and was perfect in execution. Osama bin Laden was behind the assault and he has paid for this criminal act with his life.

The goal of the attacks was to create terror in the United States. It did reveal our weaknesses – but instead of terror it created a determined counter-terror culture that will never rest.

Revenge has not brought back the professionals, loved ones and precious people that lost their lives and livelihood due to the attack.

But revenge is being meted out and will be executed whenever a plot for another attack is discovered.

We applied our energies and technologies to the problems, our best and brightest are an army of volunteers fighting a war that is keeping the conflict a half a world away.

We mourn and honor the loss of our soldiers – but there is a lesson … terror has lost; resolve has won.

There may be attacks on the US in the future. We even have homegrown idiots that engage in destructive plots.

The US will continue to deliberately and effiently play deadly “Whack-A-Mole” with any fresh crop of insurgents.

With the same reverence that we have for the Concord Bridge, Gettysburg, the heroes of the Battle of the Bulge, Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima and every foot of land in which American and allied troops have fought and died – we honor the victims, the heroes and the nation that has lived a decade past 9/11.

Monuments in concrete and steel, glass and light and water will remind us that an ordinary day may turn into a world-altering event. It will also remind us that this nation is great, strong, sweet and dedicated to the idea that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are things that evildoers cannot destroy.

There is a prayer, deep resolve and devotion to this land in every American heart.

Future generations may ask what any or all of these monuments mean – and a voice will rise to remind them of just who we are and the rich heritage they have received.

Irene, You Destructive Lady

2011-08-29T22:25:00.002-04:00

Hurricane Irene's damage to people, property and the whole of life on the US Eastern seaboard is just being measured.

Some people's lives were ended and others lives were shattered by the extent of the damage.

There is kind of a weariness people are experiencing because she arrived just days after a pretty strong, but nameless earthquake.

There was a little rescue and human kindness work to do that took me "Down East".

While there I surveyed a field of cotton - promising profit and fiber from our favorite comfort fabric.

However, this field had been lashed by winds and pummeled by rains. What you see is the inside of the not-yet-mature cotton boll.

Hundreds and maybe thousands of tons of cotton are ruined.

There are no denim trees or any decent substitute for this wonderful plant.

We will all be amazed at the cost of the loss of this cotton crop and at the cost of our next pair of Wrangler jeans.

We'd cry, but a tear in a poly-cotton hanky just isn't right.

GOTTA BE THERE, PREPARED & LUCKY

2011-08-25T03:16:00.000-04:00

Much success with photography comes with a great deal of preparation.

Primary, your mind has to be set to got TAKE pictures. Your equipment must be ready to do the job and then you must SEE the things you want to photograph.

Some of my early blog posts have a lot to do with the technical and mental preparation you must have. Dig through the nearly 140 posts and find a few that ring your bell.

Luck is a wonderful thing to accompany all of your preparation.

It was my good fortune to have a week to spend with my family at a great NC beach location. It was a favorite location, near places I had photographed many times.

Our week had been pleasant, relaxing and fun. On this particular day we decided to take the ferry from Fort Fisher to Southport, a nice trip and sweet destination.

The 5 grandchildren made for some fine snaps but the photos of the day came due to the weather. People started yelling, “There's a tornado!” It is always better to photograph one than be in one and I grabbed my Pentax, polarizer and joined the group taking pictures.

The interesting thing is that the twister was near the place we were staying – but the only thing I could really do was take photos. I got some intersting and dramtic shots. People with lesser equipment snarled, but I gave them my card and told them to look for my images on my website.

Then, about 45 minutes later, Elizabeth said, “Dad, there's another one.” She was right.Off to the southeast there was another waterspout. This one was joined by 3 other downward spirals but they never joined the dance.

So 2 tornadoes on one trip.

Prepared, yes; equipment in hand, yes; I was there and got the images.

People closer got some dramatic footage, but I got what I got.

In September I am teaching a digital phot class for Wake Tech. It is at Millbrook High in the evenings. Come and get ready to get some great phoos of your own. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

BELKS FOOTPAUX REPORTED IN N&O

2011-08-22T01:08:00.000-04:00

The N&O is always good for something. Josephus Daniels was a kingmaker and used his newspaper like a hammer.

He was valuable to this city, state and nation.

I still read a paper paper and like the touch and smell to go along with my steel-cut Irish oats or filling Southern breakfast.

I recycle responsibly and today I share this little funny with you.

I read this article and did not have to read any of the comics. This provided laughs enough.

I love Belks, their employees and most everything except their new logo that looks like a collision of letters on a California freeway. The "b" and "e" stopped too soon and the "lk" just crashed into them. Maybe our friends at Haddock Collision could help them out - or a matter of kerning could be applied.

Anyhow, the BIZ article should have everyone looking for the new developments in the Cary Belks shoe department. I'm taking my camera for the opening.

I know that some women looking for comfy footwear will be there to see the new offerings and I just wonder when Belks is going to apply this development to undergarments.

The math is simple and we gotta see the show. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

BTW - I did take the liberty of softening the appearance of most of the article and sharpening the lovely, funny sentence.

2011-07-24T01:34:00.002-04:00

The heat that is unbearable to our bodies is potentially destructive to our electronics.
Just as film is vulnerable to heat, so are the components in your cameras, MP3 players and computers.
A good rule of thumb is that when you retire to the air conditioning, take your electronics with you.
At special risk are your expensive batteries. They can lose their power and, in the extreme, can leak or explode inside of your expensive devices. Make sure you allow your rechargeable batteries time to cool down before you charge them.
The CCDs and CMOSs inside of your cameras and video equipment can't handle the heat.
A situation may arise if you do have a cool camera and the heat and humidity are high outside is that if you see something that needs photographed, and you rush outside to get the picture, be prepared for lens fog.
Some lens cleaners add a touch of fog-proofing, but don't count on it.
Protect your investments as you protect your health.
© tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

2011-07-24T01:17:00.001-04:00

Many people died in a horrible way in the last several hours. For a time our attention is fixed on the victims of the bombing and shootings in Norway. We also look at the death of a talented, 27-year old singer who died in London, England.
The murderous Communist dictator, Joseph Stalin, said that one death is a tragedy but a million deaths is a statistic.
He is wrong.
The people of Norway did not see dozens of people die, they grieve today, and we with them, for each individual life that was ended abruptly.
Each person, each name, each life was taken by a hate-filled, vengeful person. His is the name that should be lost.
There are laughs that will not be shared, loves that will never be discovered, inventions and processes that might never be realized because of the abrupt passing of these precious people.
We pray for the families and friends and we mourn with the nation and world.
That this should happen in Norway is a puzzle to many. Norway is generally pacifist and neutral.
However, hatred and destructiveness know no national borders.
I earnestly hope that the family and friends celebrate the lives that were and will live in the hope of the greatest eternal reunion.
© tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

2011-07-13T16:33:00.002-04:00

This invitation from NASA can be fun. Think, play and submit what you think might work. Have a BLAST off and a safe landing. tj

WASHINGTON – NASA, through the Harvard-NASA Tournament Laboratory, is supporting an online challenge for artists to design a T-shirt commemorating the final space shuttle mission and the program's contributions to exploration.

The challenge is run by Threadless, an online design site, and the Harvard-NASA Tournament Laboratory. The lab is administered by Harvard University, which is under contract to NASA to study crowd sourced innovation that leads to tournaments for scientific and engineering challenges.

Threadless, an online community of amateur and professional designers, is challenging its 1.5 million international artists and the public to design a shirt about "The Final Frontier" by July 22. Threadless will produce the design chosen through online votes. The chosen designer will receive a $500 cash prize, a $500 Threadless gift certificate and a shuttle-flown patch from his or her home country. The Harvard-NASA Tournament Laboratory will provide the patch.

For more information about the final space shuttle mission and the shuttle program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about the Harvard-NASA Tournament Lab, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/ntl/

To submit a design, vote or view current submissions, visit Threadless at:

http://atrium.threadless.com/nasa/

Come Fourth And Read! It Is Your RIGHT

2011-07-03T15:35:00.002-04:00

Just a few weeks after the cover of TIME magazine asked if the US Constitution was valid for our generation and for generations to come, I worked through a catalogue of other important Documents in our nation's relatively brief history. This list is just 100 of thousands of documents that have helped define our nation and, upon your reading, I guarantee will you pause to consider their place in your life and in world history. TIME illustrated its cover by showing a reproduction of the Constitution as if it had begun its path through a shredder. I got the design intent, but the significant part of the document, the bottom, is home to the signatories who took their stand and placed their lives and fortunes in jeopardy to nurture our country beyond the powerful Declaration Of Independence. Signing either document was treason against Great Britain. I'm glad they had the courage, parchment, quills, ink and courage to put their names and lives on the line for us.

Many of the most ancient treaties were settled with ceremonies, marriages among neighboring tribes and were not written down. However, we do have tablets, scrolls and letters patent that have helped our world civilization come to terms with the nature of power, law, civility and societal survival.

Torah, the additional books of Wisdom and Prophecies, the New Covenant, the the Acts, Letters and the Revelation are words that form the heart of the Judeao-Christian faiths. Other faiths have their own wisdom and intention of making good people better and making bad people pay for their crimes.

Fordham University has catalogued a massive library of ancient works by region, language and source. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook-law.html

We must understand the relationship between rights and freedom, the source of authority and the consequences of accepting the rule of law.

America is enigmatic, has been and shall be. Our constitution guarantees our right to protest – even to oppose established law. We agree to be governed as we are. That is why elections are important. We bow to no king or queen but we can prosper or suffer at the hands of the leaders we elect.

A teen character on General Hospital is asserting her right to independent actions. “I am 18!” “It is not your business”, she declares to her parents and concerned friends. She does have right to be foolish and stupid, but when your mother is a lawyer and your father always packs heat, patience and silence may be a very wise choice of action – at least until she turns 21, 25, 30 or so on.

In addition to happy celebrations, I urge some thoughtful study and reflection of how we got to this moment in history. For perspective, a visit to a National Cemetery may be the lens through which you could look. I have and there are images from my visits in my photo gallery. It would be interesting if, in addition to the exciting fireworks in the sky, the firing of our collective synapses might also be an even brighter light.

Enjoy the 4^th and join me in a long and deep study of the precious documents that help us continually redefine and better our nation and our world. ©tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

Tribute To Howell Peele

2011-07-02T19:18:00.001-04:00

A Tribute To Howell Peele

Tim Johnson

July 2, 2011

As we gather to pay tribute to the memory of Howell Peele, we also pay tribute to a generation that grew up in hard times, fought a war against tyranny and made the best of their lives and wanted even better for their children.

It was December 5, 1970 that I realized I was not only marrying Susan, but also marrying into a dynasty. Others, like myself, understand. I don't know about your wedding, but at ours the odds were 250 for Susan and 250 “We'll see” about this guy she is marrying.

A few months later, there was a gathering of the clan at the Peele's epicenter in Martin County, North Carolina.

The Peele Farm was a working farm. Miss Annie, the mother and matriarch, was loved and respected by her 10 surviving children and their spouses and offspring.

A few of her children still lived in the area of their birth. The rest were drawn from points afar to assume their place when the occasion dictated.

The cousins, nearly grown and independent, chatted and enjoyed every reunion and relived their shared childhood experiences. The brothers and sisters took care of the necessity of feeding, clearing and washing the dishes and sorting out who would take what home and sometimes share recipes.

They had been doing everything "just so" for so long it was interesting to watch and dangerous to step in. Everyone knew who was who and what had to be done.

It was Uncle Howell who noticed and first approached me, told me a little of what was going on and gauged if there might be some common ground where we might talk. The church, music, the wonder of the family and the population growth in Cary sufficed for that day.

With an ear always turned to hear his name attached to some task, he covered family history, tried to point out the couples and who was who and explained how the 10 had survived and thrived through some interesting times.

At the core was a reverence for his father and mother and an appreciation that this site was hallowed ground.

No matter where any of the family would live, work, or raise their families, belonging to this family and this place was emotional, physical and connected one another with spiritual glue.

On one occasion Uncle Howell was my company as we traveled from a funeral in Virginia Beach back to Cary. Music, the First United Methodist Church, other musical choruses, his work at the NCDOT, interesting bits of NC and family history, his pride in his children and his love of gardening made the trip fly. (His friends knew that he had an opinion or two about society and politics.)

He was concerned that Aunt Sally would not know when to expect him and I said to call her. He didn't want to stop but this was a new age. At the time I had a 12 pound, 3 watt bag phone. That was before phones got smarter than their owners.

He felt compelled to speak rather loudly and tell Sally he was talking to her in a moving car and would be home within the hour.

The time flew but the stories endure with me as your own Daddy, Granddaddy or Howell Peele stories abide in your own heart.

Susan's favorite Uncle Howell phrase came after the family had mostly dismissed itself after Uncle Charles' memorial service back near the home. He reflected that it had been just the brothers that had passed on to that point and that he thought it was time for one of the sisters to take a turn.

He was a man proper and sweet, precise and kind, and comfortable in the home and life he and Sally had created.
He extended his kindness to our twins, taking Crissie and Elizabeth to the theater, NCSU ballgames and to the opera.

Years ago, the first of the brothers and sisters died, and in the time intervening, the number of survivors diminished. Recently, Miss Doris, the baby of the family, passed on. Howell did not want to be last but that was not in his hands.

Once again, he is home. The reunion is complete as he joins the “great cloud of witnesses”. He is better off now than any of us. He is at a table more grand than the one spread in Martin County.

Our Lord gave us the greatest commandment and we are to honor His words with our lives.

Howell's life fulfilled what many rabbis called the “hardest” commandment:

To honor your father and mother.

With his voice, hands and heart he obeyed that commandment as he also honored his Father in heaven. Tim

Howell's Obituary:

Howell R. Peele, 89, passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at Carriage House in Greensboro, NC. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, 11:00 am at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC.
Howell was born on Aug. 3, 1921 in Martin County, NC, the son of Charles M. and Crissie Ann Peele. He served his country during WW II as a corporal in the US Army Air Corp. Upon completion of his military service, he attended North Carolina State College where he played tuba in the marching band. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked as a Highway and Bridge Designer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Howell was a member of the Cary First Methodist Church for over 50 years where he sang in the choir. Other activities included Cary Kiwanis Club, singing bass with the Sir Walter Chorus of Raleigh, gardening, Friends of the College, Raleigh Little Theater and lifetime membership in the NCSU Alumni Association.
Howell was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sally Peele in 2008 and five brothers and four sisters. Surviving are his son, Howell R. Peele Jr. of Montgomery, AL and his daughter, Ruby P. McGhee and husband Craig of Jamestown, NC; grandchildren: Joel McGhee, and Kevin McGhee and wife Alicia Raymond.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christen Foundation, Amedisys Hospice, 1111 Huffman Mill Road, Suite 102, Burlington, NC 27215.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/01/1313579/howell-r-peele.html#ixzz1QzbkJJdH

GREAT GRAD IMAGES!

2011-04-26T01:42:00.000-04:00

Many people are graduating really soon. Everyone supporting and celebrating their graduates from Preschool to post-Doctorate levels want great photographs.

Here are a couple of hints:

1. Check your batteries and memory cards and bring plenty of backups. A failure here will be the source of disappointment and ridicule.

2. Closer ... closer ... closer. This rule applies to every level of imaging and especially big events.

One "secret" is that the bigger the camera and lens and the better you are dressed, the closer you can get to the real action. A Hasselblad and tux will get you closer to the stage than a Brownie, ripped jeans and flip-flops. A tux also makes you pretty much invisible. You can move up and down and in and out and people just don't notice or care because "He must be a professional with that big-A camera."

3. Gather important people before they run away. Despite declarations of annual reunions and staying in touch, graduation day is the time to catch people in a generally civil and decently dressed atmosphere. At their 50th reunion, the images will be priceless. And what WILL the clothing and hair look like in 2061?

4. Be the hero and bring water, hankies or towels so people can refresh. Then take the shots.

5. Gowns, shoes and mortarboards are fun, especially if they are decorated. You can even have the grad put their gear on family and friends and even pets.

6. Have an ND, polarizing filter or sharpening filter handy. If you have time, drag out your Lensbaby.

Enjoy the pomp, circumstance, fellowship, meal and rest.

Lens Cleaning - Nothing To Sneeze At

2011-04-13T02:25:00.002-04:00

Much information is available about cleaning filters, lenses and cameras. However, I am offering a plea for a higher level of prudence.

When traveling I use multiple cameras - if I wish to use a variety of lenses. This spares the camera body and lens attachments and ... in a time like the Spring - or while on a trip to the beach or while attending a big dustoff at a dirt raceway, keeps dust from invading the camera.

Lenses are fragile and they are probiotic. I have seen hundreds of lenses sporting fungal growth. Nasty.

This Spring is especially dense with pollen and dust. Pollen is a particulate with particular characteristics - it is sticky and sneaky.

You have seen it on a bee's knees and you find it inside your house - no matter how tightly you seal your doors and windows.

For people who are highly allergic, frequent baths, shoe cleaning and pet cleaning (green cats and ham are common right now) are important.

For your camera, cleanliness is critical.

Dust can scratch the emulsion off of film and it can mess up a sensor.

For the next few weeks plan to keep your camera sealed and occasionally blow out the card slots and other crevices with canned air.

NEVER - on any lens or filter - should you blow straight onto the glass or onto your sensor. The propellant and sudden cold can damage the coating on any glass. (Just pretend your lenses and filters are like your teeth. Do YOU like it when the dentist blow air onto your abused teeth and gums?) if lenses and filter could scream - they would.

If you must change a lens outside, especially at the beach, do so inside a changing bag or use a large plastic bag to keep out the dust and salt.

One more note - if you have allergic tendencies - leave your camera sealed until you stop sneezing. THAT is something that no repairman does not want in his workshop.

Use your microfiber cloth lightly, no tissue or paper towels. Rarely should you need liquid cleaners and always lightly rub from the center to the edges.

It is interesting to this senior photographer that rarely do you see a lens ad on TV or in magazine with a protective filter. Now, guys and girls we all know better than this. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-12-30T00:16:00.000-05:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century

That was THEN. NOW, we have a fresh calendar.
Have a look at the WIKI article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011
Yes, a long backward look is a valuable exercise - but not while driving or kissing. Look back to the end of the first decade of the first millennium as measured by the somewhat wacky and politicized Gregorian calendar. Asian, Mayan and Hebrew calendars are a lot different.
This New Year marks a new year and fresh decade.
There may be appointments, events and plans marked out on your 2011 calendar. Only the passing of time will tell what really happens.
Many people begin a new year with resolutions. We did the same with the new decade 10 years ago and tried really hard to make things better as we entered the new millennium.
Look at the new year as you would a reformatted hard drive or flash card. Many things will happen without your help or concern. Other things are the direct result of your choices.
Choose LIGHT. Light is knowledge, understanding and faith. Gathering knowledge, experiencing life and encountering new people enriches and broadens your life. Light will win in the new year! Be the light in a dark room. Teach anyone who will listen and live your faith.
Choose LOVE. Love has been defined, blasted for being too vague to really handle and yet I think that it is love that is the real matter that holds the universe together. When microscopes get strong enough to get to the root of the nature of matter - the root energy (matter) at the core of everything will be little hearts and smiley faces.) It certainly holds and heals our hearts and, when shared, is the healing energy that can help others.
Choose to make a DIFFERENCE. By helping, guiding or making a difference in one life you will make a difference in your own. You can ignore pain or enter into a person's loss and support them. You can set your hands to useful work and bring stability and joy into your own life.
This last year I learned how to stand correctly so as not to bring strain and injury to my legs and back. I've been standing since 1949 and doing it wrong all the time. Need help understanding how to stand up? Let me know.
I hope to encounter people wanting to know about photography and calligraphy. Common interests are key and maybe someone will bring a new skill or interest into my life.
That can't be put on a calendar - but it would be nice if it happened early in the year. We'll just see.
BTW - my new business cards do have the handy/dandy calendar people seem to appreciate. It will be interesting to see what goes on. After all, it is a time to drop the old ball, old acorn and old pickle (New Year's traditions) and leave your hands empty to pick up something else. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

A SHARED CHRISTMAS PRAYER

2010-12-17T01:21:00.003-05:00

Not only on Christmas Day, but until I see You face to face may I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day -- Mary Fairchild

Tuning In For The Holidays And Beyond

2010-12-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

'Tis the Season!

Following a too hot summer we have fallen into the deep freeze.

Wooly worms and an overabundance of leaves and acorns have foretold a chilling winter. Some prophecy - it is here.

We may or may not dash through the snow - but the sleigh will have the top up and heater on.

The other part of dashing is from one warm place to another. These are definitely 3-dog and 4-cat nights.

I am sure this raises the spirits at the electric and gas company offices and, along with the increase in gasoline prices, sees them merrily grinching themselves into our wallets.

A few seasonal (and beyond) treats might be worth mentioning.

One delight is for Time-Warner cable clients. Switch to the Free Movies On Demand (free, my &%$!) and select the Yule Log. There are a couple of other choices, but this continuously running feed shows a comfy fire, plays Christmas music and even has the roar and crackle of real wood burning. Other choices have snow falling, but that is not the reason I moved to North Carolina.

Two other choices for grand music are the radio channels available through Napster and iTunes.

Although the stations are available all year and offer just about any kind of music, their holiday stations are grand.

Just log in, go to RADIO and select your station. Then you can minimize the website and enjoy any music you like.

I am impressed that iTunes radio offers exclusive "Adagio" and "Mezzo" stations. If that does not suit you they will please you with Taylor Swift or any number of performers representing every genre.

Now,at the very least, you can be uncomfortably cold - but have great music in your ears. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

SPIRIT REUNION

2010-12-09T00:56:00.001-05:00

For years the sculpture has stood as a testament to a life tragically cut too short. The love of parents for any child cannot be measured, but sometimes it can be eloquently expressed.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery has been a favorite photographic haunt of mine for decades.
Angels and angles paired with light, texture and tone offer many opportunities for poignant and powerful images. Grave markers in soft rows and small clusters marking little family histories, some so very telling and sad give anyone a chance to feel a sense of place, the impermanence of a lifespan and quiet dignity within these grounds.
On a secluded hilltop hovers a marble angel. This image is loosely anchored to the earth and her face and hands cradle the image of a boy's face.
The angel's soft gaze and the hands that cradle him evoke love and loss.
Her ropy hair is a testament to the talent of the sculptor and there is little damage from the constant dirt and acid rain.
I have hundreds of images of this sculpture and have been there on bright days, wet days, before sunrise and after the sun has rested well behind the image.
This memorial is there to mark the life and passing of Wade Edwards, the son of Elizabeth and John Edwards, whose lives have been observed, judged and made so very public. In my opinion, no matter what they experienced in the past few years, their ability to honor and esteem their child's life was always their mark of true character.
With her passing, Elizabeth's remains will join those of her son.
She lives now beyond her tortured body and in the gentle hands of the Eternal.
Cancer never wins - the human spirit and soul are the true victors.
Elizabeth's interment in Oakwood may create, for a while, a pilgrimage of admirers wishing to pay their respects as best they can.
Maybe the smaller tokens of memory for Wade around the sculpture will be moved for a while, maybe the reflecting bench will be moved and surely the grass will suffer.
Come Spring, things will be back to normal and the little flowers in the plot will burst forth and the little turn in the gravel road will be more quiet.
I will leave the space alone for a while.
I will think about the angel, its creation and my thought that the hands that hold Wade's head are modeled after those of his mother.
I will also think that, in a far more wonderful place, the forever young Wade will cradle his mother's weary head, welcoming her into an eternal, celestial embrace.
© tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

reFRESH In The Fall

2010-10-22T01:57:00.001-04:00

The Hubble image at the head of this post is just one of many recent images that raises our eyes and consciousness to know that we are a part of something universally grand.

Schoolchildren and their families are in flow of school arrivals and departures. Work goes on.

Here and there we see signs of fresh projects … newly turned earth and piles of building materials on a potentially pretty lot.

We are in Holidayland. Summer merchandise is on sale, Halloween, Thanksgiving and all the end of year/first of year special spending opportunities have hit the stores.

Food has taken on a richer quality. Stews, soups and other comfort foods cry out to fill our stomachs and warm our hearts.

I watched a little locust tree with bright green leaves on one branch and crimson leaves on another turn magical in the golden moments just after a rich sunset.

The familiarity of all these things helps bring clarity to the use of familiar tools, utensils, special pots and pans and expected good results from our efforts.

Smooth wood, fresh paint, crisp bedding and warm clothing all speak of a certain goodness that is to be treasured.

I have watched a friend plow through 30 years of photos, slides, 8mm film and more recent videos getting them into a manageable digital format.

I have another colleague that had 500 3.5” disks that contained hundreds of recipes, sheaves of book chapters and short story projects and the goal was to get them on a flash drive. That is done.

Dynamics of change can force an intense look into our personal history and that is grand … but, for me, since I have 2 and a half terrabytes of files, a fairly neat collection of projects and the means to put them all together, the really big issue is: What’s next?

I eagerly look toward the next image, the next sitting to put ink to paper and the next great conversation.

Heritage is significant, challenges are things we deal with on a daily basis and yet our commitment is to the next opportunity to create excellence.

As my body and brain allow I am excited, determined and ready for the next call to excellence.

The cameras are ready. The paper and ink are fresh. The truck is dependable and we will just see what is next.

I hope you follow and enjoy what you see. tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

ALL INCUMBENTS ... OUT

2010-10-18T23:43:00.001-04:00

Put them out ... put them all out.

This is going to be an interesting post-presidential election. Two years have dragged by and our nation's woes have increased partially to to the lack of a presiding president and a senate that has projected senility.

Fractious bickering, fearful party players and a willingness to do nothing that would hint of resolve, we are a nation that has pushed its citizens down into a cave of debt and have nearly sealed it shut.

I am the first generation of my family not to to make a living death out of going into the coal mines as a way of life.

I did listen to many miners' hacks and coughs from rock and coal dust and have performed more than my share of funerals for miners and their family members.

The rattle I sense now is the echoing sigh among people whose lives have been rocked by the lack of courage by our so-called national leaders.

I am very non-political. So very little is ever accomplished by any committee and the lack of commitment to the national good in Washington may finally choke our country all for the worse.

What the House and Senate has proven is that a charismatic leader (Remember The Obama Inauguration? Good. There might not be another.) can quickly become an empty suit.

I have yet to see many dem-O-crats invite the sitting president to speak on their behalf in their home states.

There is no room for rePUBlicans to gloat. Many years of do nothing or doing badly have helped dig the current fiscal mess.

People are sad, people are worried and many people are energized to higher levels of self-help.

We remain AmeriCANs! We are not defeatest and things will be made better.

A Washington, Lincoln or an Eisenhower may be hiding at some college or university.

They may be too smart to volunteer for public service, but maybe heart will win out.

In the meantime ... it is time to change all the stationery in every elected office up for election in DC. The colors, paper and envelopes are fine. All the names need to be changed to help protect the people of this great land.

INcumbents ... OUT! © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

LOVE & DEATH IN THE MIDST OF BLOODY STONES

2010-08-18T00:28:00.007-04:00

Siddiga and Khayyam are names to be linked with the deep tragedy of love suffering in the face of hatred blended with insanity.

This young couple was stoned to death by the Taliban and then their family, friends and neighbors because they did the “BAD THING” of eloping and marrying one another.

They died together surrounded by a frenzied crowd satisfying a warped understanding of Koran and their own anger that such a true love can exist in this sad and sick world.

Participating in the murders were Khayyam's father and brother and Siddiqua's brother.
These were more than lovers and their story is not fiction. They were husband and wife and were murdered in an agonizing deluge of fist-sized rocks that wounded, fractured and finally killed them.

To anyone that can see, LOVE was the victim and there was none in the hearts of the participants or onlookers.

These mindless, heartless and murderous people may, I hope, bear the weight of their bloody cruelty they inflicted and celebrated.

Know that there is a HIGHER COURT to which they shall answer.

Was the Taliban court sinless? “All have sinned ...” Were the ones who chose the stones, drew up their muscles and cast them at their neighbors innocent? “Let the one without sin cast the first stone ...”

I pray that the blood that freshly beat in the hearts of Siddiga and Khayyam cries out from the sand in that village and rings in every bell, makes bitter every breeze, fouls every bite of food and makes toxic every drop of water. May their sleep be visited by the sweet and battered faces of their victims.

This is a self-damned village of cruel, unjust, soulless and cowardly sub-humans.

They did not have the courage of Brutus who at least held the knife to his friend, Julius, as he dealt the death stroke to the emperor. Et tu?

These murderers in this village picked their rocks, felt their deadly weight and, at a distance, propelled hatred and death.

Their hearts were harder than the rocks they cast.

Perhaps some voyeur made a tape of this incident.
Let the world see. Let the world know of the murderous act.

Did they not feel the Eyes Of The Almighty on them as they acted out their hatefulness?

Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Heloise and Abelard, Gwydion and Rhapsody – are each tragedies and all heart-wrenching stories.

Siddiga and Khayyam, are a tragic, painful and sad reminder that Hate strikes out at Love, Judgment abhors Mercy and Evil has its day – but God Almighty has our Eternity in his hand.

I pray that Siddiga and Khayyam are resting in the bosom of Father Abraham, together forever and at peace.

Would not the bloody stones be a true monument to their love?
Disagree? Take your argument to the bloody stones. Let THEM speak more clearly than my poor tongue.

Siddiga and Khayyam, names joined in the line of immortal lovers.
I pray that True Peace and genuine Love will come before these stones turn to dust.
© tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com