More Last Moments

Tags

basement window, final resting place

Two years ago, I came across a hatchet in the basement of my in-laws home and not only did I write about it,  I’ve had a hard time letting the idea of “last moments” in a persons life go.  Every now and again I see something that sets the wheels in my head turning and I can’t help but think how important it might be, to someone, if they could have the foresight to know that what they were doing would be for the last time.

A perfect example…as a mom, it’s something as simple as knowing ahead of time that today would be the last time your small child would ever ask for your help to take a bath.  Doesn’t that seem like an important event!  Something to celebrate or cherish?  It’s crazy to think about how many of these moment happen without you even realizing it.

This is not about living in the past because all things must continue to move forward.   It’s about remembering to stay in the present and to try to live in this moment…right now.  We live in a time that life is a very busy place to be, but by running at this speed…how many moments are we missing.

These screwdrivers sit in front of an old basement window sill…cobwebs stretched across them. I can hardly believe that anyone could have guessed he was putting away his tools for the last time.

My first “Last Moment ” I doubt the person who wedged this hatchets blade into the wood and walked away knew it would become a final resting place, never to be used again.

I can only imaging the day this pole took it’s final resting place. Resting on two nail driven into the floor joist–fishing hook in the cork handle. I can’t believe the one who placed it there realized it was the last time they would use it.

Every now and again you come across a last moment that puzzles you. How and why the last time this mower was walked away from looks like this. Did the person who did this know he would never come back.

I just don’t understand why people just get out of a car and walk away…never to return. Is it really a conscience thing? Did they really know they would never return?

This train depot has been out of business for at least 20 years. It’s hard for me to believe that the last person to place the sign in the window knew it would stand there un-moved or thought of again.

© Dana M. Gray, 2013 | GrayspaceStudios

 

 

Cairns–A Marker that Shouts “Hey I Was Here”.

Tags

cairn, hiking, meditation, nature, spiritual, stone

I’m always a bit excited when out walking in the woods I find a cairn.  Some of them are no doubt trail markers, but other times I’m at a loss to what their true meaning is.  These rock sculptures always make me stop what I’m doing and take an extra moment to enjoy this little piece of art.  For most cairn I find, eagerly I add a rock or stone before I move along.  I find myself making the start of a cairn myself if the sight feels right, and hope that the next time I encounter it, its size has increased.  Using only rocks that present themselves in the middle of the woods, the creation of a cairn is not only truly  organic art it almost becomes a lesson in concentration and meditation.  A sacred space.

How many of you add stones to the cairns you find?  If the addition of that stone causes the sculpture to fall, do you re-stack it?  I’ve only knocked down one, and I chose to leave it as it fell…only adding a new stone to the top of the largest rock. The above cairn was found on a rock ledge at Beauty Mountain, in Fayetteville, WV.  This rock art stands about 7 inches high at the very edge of a rock cliff.  I didn’t add a stone to this one…it was too close to the edge for me, but I love that someone left this marker behind.  A calling card of sorts that shouts “Hey, I was here”.

Photographers Rights

I wanted to write today and talk a little bit about your what your rights as a photographer are. Most times I’m out I’m never questioned or asked to move along.   As a nature photographer primarily looking for wildlife and landscapes, I’m rarely seen as a threat to anyone.  Today was different.   As I was out walking along a rails-to-trails, I kept my eyes open because I know that there are multiple Blue Heron that call the area home.  I had my 200mm lens out and it’s hard to get that great shot, but with the leaves off the trees sometimes you never know what’s going to happen.  As I walked I spooked a heron, and I stood in awe as this beautifully majestic bird flew across the river in front of me.  I grabbed a quick shot, but the distant between us was pretty far.  I waited for quite awhile, but finally the cold won, and I left the rivers edge before the heron took off from its perch.  I climbed into my jeep and with the heat blasting, I headed home.  As I drove up the road, there perched on a branch over a feeder stream to the river was a beautiful heron!  I stopped the car and grabbed my camera to take a few shots.  These heron are pretty easily spooked, but when you are in a car they can look straight at you and not seem to be worried.  There was a dog barking by the streams edge, but that didn’t seem to bother the bird either.  I soon spotted close by another heron…this one a bit smaller so I pulled the car up and took a few shot of this second bird as well.  It soon took off and flew over the water until it perched in a ver high tree out of my cameras range.  I drove down the road, turned around and again when to see the first heron to get a few more shots from a different angle.  That’s when it happened.  The owner of the dog started yelling “What are you doing?”  ”What are you looking at?”  ”You need to get out of here!”  It took me a minute to realize he was talking to me, but as he repeated himself I understood.  But here’s the thing…I was taking pictures of a bird in a public space from a car on a public road.  I had every right to both be there and to take as many photographs that I wanted to.  The man never came to confront me further but it does bring up a good point.  It’s important to know your rights as a photographer.   In the United States, as a general rule, you have the right to take a picture of anything you want.  There are a few exceptions

• Certain military installations or operations, airports and dams

• People who have a reasonable expectation of privacy…you can’t shoot through someone’s window with a telephoto lens.

That’s about it!

Now, if you want to sell photographs that you have taken, there are a few additional restrictions, but I think I’ll leave that for a different post.

If you are interested in reading more about your rights as a photographer, check out Bert Krages’s “The Photographer’s Right.” You can print out this copy your complete rights so that you can carry them with you as you shoot.  Remember if you are confronted for taking a picture the best thing to do is be calm and stay professional as you try and explain your right to be there.

2013 Scenic West Virginia Calendar Announced

WOW, I’m so excited to announce this years Scenic West Virginia Calendar.  I am so excited to present to you…by popular vote, this years 12 month calendar.  It’s always so much fun or me to go back and take a look at what I’ve done through out the year, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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This calendar has already been sent to the printers…and will be back in plenty of time for Christmas.  Please consider going local this holiday season and adding this calendar to your shopping list.  You can order it now online at danamgray.com/store.html

1. January 2013—with 55% of the votes “Big Ditch Lake”
2. February 2013—with 82.5% of the votes “Burnsville Dam”
3. March 2013—with 75% of the votes “Purple Crocus”
4. April 2013—with 75% of the votes “Spring Lamb”
5. May 2013—with 60% of the votes “Sunset Spider webs”
6. June 2013—with 62.5% of the votes “Spruce Knob  Blue Mountain View”
7. July 2013—with 62.5% of the votes “Baby Fawn”
8. August 2013—with 51.16% of the votes (won by 1 vote!) “Lake Trail”
9. September 2013—with 55% of the votes “Cedar Waxwing”
10. October 2013—with 82.5% of the votes “Autumn Drive”
11. November 2013—with 82.5% of the votes “Late Fall Farm”
12. December 2013—with 87.5% of the votes “Stormy Passage”

Thank you so much for your help!  Dana

Bridge Day 2012 is in the books…and what a great day it was!

Bridge Day 2012 was a day to remember.  The excitement of the 33^rd annual event–sponsored by Subaru–started in the lobby of the hotel my husband and I stayed in on Friday night.  Continental breakfast on Saturday morning seemed like the best start of our day.  As we entered into the lobby, the tables were packed.  I had to ask if we could share a table with the only one that still had chairs empty.  I introduced myself, and almost instantly the conversation turned to Bridge Day.  “Are you heading to Bridge Day today”, Bobby of Wheeling WV asked.  He told us that he was meeting his brothers to attend the festivities for the 1^st time.  As we continued to talk, a little girl interjected with much excitement that she was heading to Bridge Day too.   A moment later the lady at the nest table reminded us to wear extra clothes as “it tends to get pretty windy up there on the bridge”.   It was only 7:30 in the morning and the excitement was palatable! After a quick breakfast, we were ready to head to the bridge.  The drive there actually seemed a bit underwhelming.  Hardly a soul on the road…where is everyone I thought.  Then I saw the first sign, “Route 19 closed  six miles”.    Can you believe they actually close the entire road for this event?    It wasn’t always that way, but as a part of a readjustment in security following 9/11, cars are no longer allowed on the bridge during the event.  This seems like a big deal for me seeing as the biggest need to build this bridge was to allow people to pass in mere moment what used to take 45 minutes in the past.  You can say it’s a sort of Bridge reversal.  No one seems to complain.  It wasn’t long before we were welcomed by a covey of police cars, all with lights flashing, directing us to where we could park.  The median before us was filled with cars of those who made it before us.  The walk to the middle of the bridge was longer than I anticipated.  Did you know that the span from one end of the bridge to the other is 3,030 feet?   That’s a little over a half mile, and I think I walked it four times during the day.

I was just ecstatic to get to the bridge edge so next to the jump off point easily.  There were a LOT of people there already, but somehow I managed without pushing to get up close.  I spent quite a bit of time there, and got some of the best adventure shots of my life.  I was surprised to see all ages eager to take their first jump of the

day.  You have to be 18 to jump and this year the oldest jumper was 83 years old.  It was his second jump, and he was a just as nervous this time as his first jump.  I was able to see a few lucky souls as they were thrown into the gorge by a steel catapult; always to the crowd’s audible amazement.  Down below, I was escorted by Heather from the National Park Service into a boat that allowed me to literally be underneath the jumpers as they BASE jumped towards the river below.   This perspective really helped to illustrate for me just how quickly a jumper must deploy the pilot chute for a safe jump.  Five seconds…if you wait 2 more seconds, it’s not likely to end well for you.  That’s crazy!  That’s where the adrenaline comes from.  That is unless you decide to marry your soul mate in front of 100,000 strangers and then turn around and leap off the bridge together.  That’s how Erika and Patrick choose to start their live together, can you imagine how anything could get better than that.

Bridge Day 2012 was truly and electric event, equal to that of snow on Christmas Eve.  The anticipation of the jump, the successful deployment of the shoot and ultimately the safe landing of the jumper played out over and over again. That’s one thousand thirty seven times to be exact and each jump was just as exciting as the one before it.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to be a part of this greatest of day, don’t worry too much…they do it every year.  The 34^th Annual Bridge Day is already on the calendar for Saturday October 19^th, 2013.  Don’t miss it!

You can check out my facebook gallery for more great shots of the day HERE

 

 

“Accepted”- The 9th Biennial West Virginia Art & Craft Guild Competion

WOW, I was so excited when I opened the letter in my mailbox on Tuesday!  It was the response letter that I had almost forgotten I was waiting for.  Opening it, I couldn’t help myself from scanning the letter to find out if I was accepted.  There it was, half way down the page in red “Accepted”.  YES! my photograph ” Blue Mountain View” was accepted into the 9th biennial West Virginia Art & Craft Guild Juried competition.  This was my first juried entry and am so excited that it made the grade.  My work will be on display at the  Parkersburg Art Center November 18th-December 30th, 2012 & then again at the Wheeling Artisan Center January 12th – February 15th, 2013.  My photograph will proudly be matted and framed for all to see.

“Blue Mountain View” This shot was taken at Spruce Knob this summer. Spruce Knob

the highest point in the state of West Virginia and the summit of Spruce Mountain.

If you happen to be in either one of these art centers in West Virginia, please stop in and view all the beautiful art and crafts made by local WV artist.  We sure do appreciate it

Dana @ GrayspaceStudios

Bridge Day 2012

Bridge Day 2012 is just around the corner, and guess who is going?  Yeap…me, but as a photographer NOT a jumper!  I’m so very excited about this opportunity and have been looking forward to it since the end of Aug when I received the letter saying I’m approved to shoot!

Seeing that I still have a day job, this week has been hard for me to focus.  I keep thinking about jumpers and specific shots I want to get.   I have also found myself fixated in the Farmers Almanac and the request for a dry Saturday has entered into my daily prayers. Last night my husband and I watched the weather report on two different stations.  Station #1 -52 degrees and rain all day.  Station #2- 54 degrees and 10% rain in the evening.  WOW, not much help.  This morning I was greeted with this picture from a dear friend of mine.
Yeah!!!  Two out of three weatherman in the state of West Virginia say we will have great weather.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed they are right :)

If you would like to witness the spectacular bridge day (rain or shine)  this year from the comfort of your own couch, check out this link!  Bridge Day LIVE  Hope you get a chance to stream in :)

Dana @ GrayspaceStudios

2013 Scenic West Virginia Calendar Survey

Wow, what a great year for me and GrayspaceStudios!  I was able to travel this beautiful state and take so many great photographs along the way.  As I sat down to choose this years Scenic West Virginia calendar, I realized that I was gonna have a hard time choosing which photographs to use.  That’s where you come in.  This years I’m asking you for your help in deciding what this years calendar will contain.  I have narrowed it down to two choices, and I would be so grateful for your help in making the final decision.

PLEASE HELP THIS MAMA BE THE NEXT MRS APRIL :)

GrayspaceStudios

My Mat Cutter is Here!!!

 

After much debating with myself, I’ve decided to take the plunge and buy myself a table top mat cutter.  I choose the Artist Elite Mat Cutter by Logan and as soon as I opened it, I knew I was gonna have to read the instructions!

 My kitty helped, and after putting the table top part of it together, it was time to place the blades into the cutters themselves.  There are actually two different cutters, one for straight cuts, and the other for the 45 degree beveled cuts.  I was a little nervous with the blades, but after extreme carefulness, I had both blades in place. Phew!

As with anything new, it took me a few minutes to get used to the cutter itself, and I did go back and re-read the directions once more before I started.  I was really getting a bit worried, because it wasn’t making much sense to me.

“Release the Anit-Crawl Pin and pull the cutting head towards you until middle start&stop line lines up with the bottom pencil line”

Once I started though, I was extremely surprised and pleased at the ease this mat cutter is to use.  The first cut I did was crooked :(  and therefore the first mat that I completed was just…well crooked.

On my second attempt (after reading the directions yet a third time) I diligently measured out and drew the pencil lines for my second 8×10 frame.  All seemed to be going well, and in no time the mat was cut.  Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be an 8X10, instead it was kinda looked like a 9×11 parallelogram.  Hummmm?

Then I realized that when I cut,  I need to measure off the pencil line, and not the cut line!  Third times a charm.  It is really a lot easier to then I originally thought.  I think the biggest and hardest part of the whole thing is measuring the cut lines correctly.  Math not being my strongest suit, this might take a little work.  If you have ever thought that you might like the freedom of designing and cutting your own mats, I say go for it!  It’s really kinda fun too :) 

PS.  I wanted to share a neat shareware program called MatWorks! that should take the math-out of the equation of mat cutting. It also has the added benefit of seeing different mat color combinations with the photograph you working on.  You can find the MatWorks! site here.

 

GrayspaceStudios

The Piano Lesson

Tags

child, lessons, piano, time-lapse

When I was young, I remember wanting to play the piano.  I mean…I really wanted to play, and in my mind, that desire alone was all I needed to sit down and have the most beautiful music leave the tips of my fingers.   We all know it takes a lot more than a thought to succeed as a  pianist, but as a child I thought I could do ANYTHING.

Life moves forward so much faster than you might think, and before I knew it, I was no longer a child easily capable of learning the language of music.  Many times I tried, but my fingers felt foreign on the keyboard, and my hands wouldn’t work unless in tandem with each other.  My compromise–I convince myself that really loving the piano was good enough.  Secretly though, I’m still that small child who believes she can play.

Then a truly special gift was given to me.  He’s my grandson.   The beauty of it is that he is my grandson of love, not blood, and I think he was born ready to play my piano for me.  It’s funny how lessons learned are sometimes so easily forgotten, and before his grandfather and I knew it, life almost got in the way again.  Undetectable it as first, finally we saw that time was passing by much too quickly. Together, along with his parents we decided to slow time down; just for him, and give him a chance to catch up.   It didn’t take him long to find the place he’s always belonged.   Sitting at the piano having the most beautiful music leave the tips of his fingers.