Acceptance

"I live in a place that's only good for leaving."

~Courtney Summers

Sadie

In case you haven't noticed, I have posted more this month, the first month of 2019, than I did last year at this time. In fact, this is the most posts in January, since 2015! What changed? Well, I am finally comfortable in my life. The most comfortable as I have been since moving. I am not 100% happy, that probably won't change until Trump is out of office, but I am comfortable in the house, and in Stockton. I have learned to venture out of the house, and find my way around, and I have some confidence in my photography as it applies to my semi-rural existence. I have gotten used to San Francisco not being a heartbeat away. I have stopped fighting my grief. I guess I have finally reached the acceptance of my situation, that will finally help me heal.

Acceptance... the 5th and final stage of grief, is the most important step to regaining your life, is perhaps the most difficult of the 5 to achieve, at least it was for me. It is, however a necessary evil, and by having let go, I have completed the necessary steps to feel free from the overwhelming hatred I felt for 2015. I think I feel better, but at the same time, I feel an familiar feeling of sadness for what's been left behind. San Francisco is my love, but at least my new town, of Stockton, and I can be friends! Finally! So, here is a new gallery of photographs from the Central Valley, taken last Sunday, during that fascinating storm that came through he Big Valley. So much light. So many clouds. And the beautiful rural towns, a little bit east of my new home!

Sights From The Central Valley Towns

Ione, California

Herald, California

I am already looking forward to the next winter storm!

~Mood: Happy

~Me 

 

Altamont Pass Sunrise #4

"You've gotta taste the light, like my friend and fellow shooter Chip Maury says. And when you see the light like this, trust me, it's like a strawberry sundae with sprinkles"

~Joe McNally

The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets From One Of The World's Top Shooters

While I was photographing the sunrise last Monday, I was seeing all kinds of things on the Altamont Pass that I wanted to stop, and include in the photos, but instead I just tried to make some visual notes, and grab those fleeting moments as fast as I could. We were in a car, on the 580 freeway, and the whole scene was just unfolding so fast that I just kept clicking the camera as I saw the possibilities! One of those most striking aspects of the pass that morning were the power lines.

Ordinarily I don't pay that much attention to them, in fact I try really hard to keep them out of my shots, but like the wind turbines, the power lines seemed transformed by the colors of the sunrise into something really beautiful. I am glad I went ahead and included them in the series. I think I will be looking at them differently in the future. That's what I love about photography, it changes your world view and creativity. It changes the way you see things, and any chance for growth is a good thing!

And then finally as we exited the Altamont Pass the sky transitioned into a beautiful morning sky over Stockton. Slightly cloudy, slightly foggy and really cold. But I was happy inside. I got a lot done on that car ride. The photos I took were rewarding to me and I got them in one of my favorite ways to do photography, out the car's passenger window, as a casual observer, with no real time to overthink the photo, just the instinct and inspiration to take it!

Leaf Of The Day

November 13th 2015

Mood: Happy

~Me :)