CONTEMPORARY EXPLORER

"Roadside Melody" - Tradesville SC Love can overcome all the faults in life to become a thing of beauty.

“The Camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” – Dorothea Lange I have too many cameras. Even the store where I buy cameras has told me that. Still, I treasure each of them. The way they look. The special photography purpose that makes each camera unique. The art of learning how to use them. The places in mind and spirit that they take me. Many though are predicting the demise of these traditional cameras. Headlines like these  -          “SMARTPHONES COULD HALVE CAMERA MARKET IN TWO YEARS” -          “CANON CAMERAS CAN’T COMPETE WITH SMARTPHONE SNAPPERS” Smartphone cameras have changed the photography industry. The operation is simple. The post production (iPhoto, Prisma, Clips, Google Photos, etc.) ingenious. The results often unexpectedly impressive. Ones that can be shared instantly. Despite all this, it’s my hope that the traditional camera is ...

21 Stairs He knew chances of meeting were slim. Her dark eyes and soft smile. Still, there were 21 stairs. Maybe tomorrow, reason to hope. Each stair whispered be patient… Kathleen Young

Sometimes gritty, always colorful, the walls you pass in Newark, NJ reflect a vibrant place filled with life and edge. Most think of Newark, NJ as an inexpensive place to stay when visiting New York City. It offers much more to a visitor who takes time to explore it. The city is proudly working class. There are close-knit multi ethnic districts. The architecture seems frozen in place with a distinctive stock of art deco and century old buildings. The restaurants are unique, filled with savory flavors and tastes.  Two of the more interesting districts are 4 Corners and Ironbound. Here you will find strong Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian heritages and the push and pull of new and old generations. All paced by the coming and going of bus and rail transportation at the nearby Newark Penn Station. These areas are a favorite destination for photographers like Camilo Jose Vergara. As you walk the streets, the many colors and drama of the area plays out. Some ...

On a dark rainy night, all I cared about was my place at the bar. A good Sake and bento box. All other of the day's problems melted away to "just right" on a rainy night at Kim's.

“Life is messy and hard and worth it and all that stuff” – Robert Downey Jr There are many corners in our lives. Ones we pass and deal with every day. Many more messy than we want.  Some cry out for attention, but are so complex we just pass them. Each day wondering what it is that draws us, suspecting it may have meaning. All like a jazz player vamping at a jam session waiting for the just right response. Others we must compete at, pushing through the crowd to get the bus, muffin or item we want. Ignoring everything else in that space.  There are already others at some corners, shouting their views. We sometimes listen, the city beating in the background, trying to hear the message among the words. Its difficult to sort it all out, sometimes we just need a corner to talk it out. Our desks and work area make sense to us but to others just messy. Life is not perfect, maybe we are always trying to unravel the messy corners, maybe it’s all about life ...

Arrows, cotton, indigo, Industry, Rail Roads, Movies and Political Intrigue all crossed paths here. Through all of this, Chester remained a picturesque little city on a hill only one square mile in size. Chester is not a tourist destination, but there is much of interest here. All painted against the colorful hues of the buildings and steadfastness of it’s people. It’s a place where you can take your time to wander the hillside streets, get to know the people and enjoy a good meal. I find myself traveling back to Chester numerous times with my camera, always discovering and learning something new. Chester County dates back to 1750 and the city of Chester was charted in 1840. The area has seen a lot of history. Located between two rivers, the Catawba to the East and the Broad River to the West, the surrounding land is very fertile. The Cherokee and Catawba Indians fiercely fought over this land they favored for its hunting and fishing. The tribes eventually came to an agr...

The promise of the day. The ending thoughts. The small wins and stumbles. All jumbled there mixed with business, people, traffic, and static of the city. The experiences that made sense and ones left tangled. All there in the reflections of the day.

There are experiences in life that draw us in, make us pause in life and feel our being. They only happen rarely but can linger like spirits in the mind. I remember one spring when I drove into the high desert with my camera. Snow still capped the Ruby Mountains as I drove down route 93. The grayness of the day and cold wind made the drive long. Then suddenly I turned a bend in the road and there stood an abandoned train station. The rails grown over with grass, the faded planks and train signal still standing tall. I stopped and grabbed my camera from the back seat. When I turned, the wind stopped and sun broke through the clouds. The desert warmth bathed my face and being. The station made brighter by the sun, almost like it wanted to live again. As I leaned against my car enjoying the sun, I imagined the goodbyes and greetings that were once part of the station. The people roaming about. I wondered what might have befallen this place. The desert eerily quiet, without the wi...

  "A place is not really a place without a bookstore." - Gabrielle Zellen