No Apologies

No Apologies

Moral ambiguity and opinion,
Things we are taught as a child.
Etiquette displayed for the minions,
Yet within, our spirit runs wild.

In times of solitary contemplation,
Individuality rises to the surface.
Abstracts written into dissertation,
Perchance forming into poetic verse.

Concepts in subconscious photographs,
Brush and paint transferring to canvas.
Not displayed fearing scoff and laughs,
From these judgmental social classes.

Shapes hidden in blocks of stone,
Visible only to eyes of the sculptor.
Objects familiar while some unknown,
Things closed minds seldom explore.

Movement captured on strips of celluloid,
Moments in time enshrined forever.
Voice of propaganda warning to avoid,
Stifling the true message of the creator.

To outside masses we lock our doors,
In public we play our expected part.
Creations should be displayed and adored,
Artists should never apologize for their art.

TAH

For Charlie……..

Moon Over St. Petersburg

Recently I acquired this Phoenix 650 – 1300 mm zoom lens with a 2X converter which allows up to 2600 mm capability. I have not had a chance to test it out until last night when I snapped these photos of the moon. Due to its size, this is a manual focus telescopic lens so it was quite a feat to keep the moon in focus while it was traveling across the sky. I had to use the infra red remote to prevent vibration whenever I pressed the shutter. Overall I am pleased with the “first time” results but hope to get even more details in the future if I can find a dark secluded area with no city lights. I think these are incredibly “cool” and hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

TAH

Butterfly Effect

I don’t usually see many butterflies around my house. I just had some landscaping completed so I guess something must have attracted this little guy. I managed to get a couple of good shots before he flew away.

TAH

Honda Grand Prix 2006

Living in St. Pete, I’ve always wanted to be a spectator at the Grand Prix races our beautiful city has hosted here the past few years. On April 2nd, I finally had the opportunity to do just that. I hung out with a couple of friends, one of which just purchased a new Nikon D50 SLR camera and we had a great time playing “photog” all day, drinking warm beer and eating bad food. The weather was perfect and my skin is still peeling away as a result of the sunburn! The day started with a couple of warm up races with an air show before the main race. Gene Simmons of the band “KISS” gave the “Start your engines” introduction for the race. (He is looking rough these days! What is he…in his 60s now?!? If not, he must be close.) I managed to get a few shots of the lovely Danica Patrick who drives for the #16 Argent car as well as Doug Robb of the band “Hoobastank”, (one of my favorites), who ended the day with a free concert. All in all, I took about 500 shots over the course of the day with my camera and kept less than half of those. Here are a few commemorating the event.

TAH

Scars

Scars

Each mark a thing of art and beauty,
With individual memories or names.
Blemishes of mistakes, badges from duty,
Others small reminders of past shame.

Those outward worn as raiment,
Visible for the entire world to see.
Internal vestige more deep and private,
Observing outdated rules of propriety.

Distortion of once youthful skin,
Slightly discolored above the knee.
A bulbous mass below the shin,
Resulting from a bicycle flying free.

Faded tendrils spiraling on an arm,
Discoloration on a wrinkled elbow.
Exposing their individual charms,
From forgotten playgrounds long ago.

Inside mortal frames lay damaged souls,
Partnered hearts that once yearned to melt.
Unseen to naked eyes of this world,
Dear to the owner, old pain that was felt.

Scars are not scant eloquence of martyrdom,
Yet more often the sum of all of our parts.
Though some are whimsical and others maudlin,
As a collective they define who we are.

TAH

Wind of Blood and Tears

Wind of Blood and Tears

A perceptible change in the wind,
On my skin I feel it blowing.
Into the gale once more I descend,
Where it takes me, never knowing.
To survive, like the reed I must bend.

Northward, frozen tundra of memories,
Tears locked in time as icy glass.
Southward to sweltering tropic seas,
Heat of broken hearts and loves past.
Of these, the desire to be free.

Westward into a vast brilliant unknown,
Exploring mind with arms wide open.
Eastward toward rising crimson sun to atone,
Seeking truth or wisdom once again.
On this journey always traveling alone.

Perhaps today the tempest will cease,
Sands of time forming into dunes.
Blood of all broken hearts released,
Clay thus formed washed away in monsoons.
A lingering breeze finally brings peace.

Invisible force on flesh pressing then stinging,
A tranquil atmosphere has changed today.
Faintly my ear hears slight humming,
It builds once again to spirit me away.
The wind has changed, something is coming.

TAH

"V" for Vendetta

Due to my travel schedule for work and a busy social calendar when home, I have not had a chance to publish anything. However, I saw the most extraordinary well written movie adaptation of a graphic novel recently that I wanted to share. If you like political satire, emotionally touching action heroes who have a love of art, music and quote classical literature while kicking major butt!!!!!..........go see “V for Vendetta”. I will not ruin the story, plot or outcome but I am including the main characters opening introductory monologue. As an amateur actor, I can only imagine how long it took to get this one small paragraph committed to memory. Go see this movie!!!

“This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.”

I just love that!

TAH