alignment

I often think of that rare fulfilling joy when you are in the presence of some wonderful alignment of events. Where the light, the colour, the shapes, and the balance all interlock so perfectly that I feel truly overwhelmed by the wonder of it. 
--Charlie Waite (b.1949) English landscape photographer.

Above: Seeger Chapel at sunset.

Here's to the Crazy Ones

My crazy friend Peter at "Twin Tunnels" along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

"When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money.

That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact, and that is - everything around you that you call life, was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.

The minute that you understand that you can poke life and actually something will, you know if you push in, something will pop out the other side, that you can change it, you can mold it. That’s maybe the most important thing. It’s to shake off this erroneous notion that life is there and you’re just gonna live in it, versus embrace it, change it, improve it, make your mark upon it.

I think that’s very important and however you learn that, once you learn it, you’ll want to change life and make it better, cause it’s kind of messed up, in a lot of ways. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again."
--Steve Jobs (1955-2011) American entrepreneur and inventor.

stand firm

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. 
--Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th US President. 

Above: Brothers Joe and Mickey standing on Table Rock, overlooking the Linville Gorge in North Carolina.

golden opportunity

Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail. 
--Og Mandino (1923-1996) American Author and Psychologist. 

Above: Grain silos and historic clock tower in Downtown Kingsport, TN.

I was up in Kingsport last night for a car show put on by the Kingsport Antique and Rod Club at the old train depot downtown. My guess is that there were two hundred or so antique and vintage cars and trucks on display, with money raised going to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. For a comprehensive list of upcoming local and regional car show events, click here.

These photos were taken during the golden hour (also called the magic hour) -- the time of day prized by photographers for its warm light and long shadows. It occurs in the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, when the light from the sun passes through more of the earth's atmosphere, softening the light and making it appear warmer. The term 'hour' is misleading -- it sometimes lasts only a few minutes, but can last longer, depending on your location and time of year.

There are various golden hour apps out there to help you identify or remember when the magic hour is happening.  This is the one I use -- it's very simple and straightforward -- and free (iPhone only). Just a good reminder that I should be out taking photos during that time!

dazzlement

Statistically the probability of any one of us being here is so small that you would think the mere possibility of existence would keep us all in a contented dazzlement of surprise.
--Lewis Thomas (1913-1993) physician, author, educator.

crayola sky

Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.
--Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003) American caricaturist