I like to make pretty girls give me funny faces.

I feel more manly when I snatch such a sour-puss.

I think weird Guy asked me about this image. He has special access to other images.

He asked whether I preferred “the water dribbly one” over Skylight Abstract.

First off, I’m not even sure this is the right one, but rather then ask him, I’ll just share my thoughts on this image. It is the first that came to my mind; this is my journal, right?

Of the two, I think the composition of Skylight Abstract is stronger. However, I don’t care. Personal feelings dictate that abstract purity is a fallacy. To emote is far more human.

Black shrouds deep blue. Tiny lights in white, red and green vibrate; an intensity barely shy of pain in my eyes. Vague round shapes form in bright shadows. A parade of sprites in a crying night. Refractions dance in fresh rain drops.

Change. Power. Awe.

What is not to love?

The other? I dunno.

You?

Here’s a colorful abstraction. The subjects are natural (sun) light and ambient artificial light. The colors are from three surfaces, each with two characters: reflective, translucent, and textured.

Well beyond the days of young and old, Pepper #3 now finds a companion close in both age and aesthetic appeal. The two experienced beauties cling to one another, as each folds into the others’ natural bend they support one another and reveal their most elegant forms. As intimates they are more beautiful together then the sum of both apart. As rivals they are near perfect compliments.

I like my recent work with garden delights. Or, at least, I like my new approach to photography. The results of these exercises seem far more compelling then my old work, if still no more relevant.

I’m far more patient now then I’ve ever been, and I think the work benefits. Where I once would be so fiercely passionate I’d destroy a piece before I’d finished it, destroy an entire collection before I’d even attempted to develop it, now my work seems to develop, to evolve, through me rather then because of me. I’m drawn to what’s necessary for the piece, not an abstract principle I’m unable to pin down in my own head, let alone attempt to illustrate for others to perceive and understand.

Maybe I’m more whole now, not pulled every which way by shards of desire, obligation and pain. The only way I can describe it is to say I can close my eyes and see. My thoughts, screams are now soft whispers, more articulate, more sensible. An organic flow of smooth and consistent energy, made only more rapid because of an absence of awkward jumps and sharp stumbles.

I confused a lack of explosive energy with depression because I only knew the two. And though I sometimes miss the excitement and sensation of either, I do like what can do when I’m balanced between. I refuse to admit I’m saner, but maybe I’m more productive, and surely more romantic.

Funny - I think a romantic is merely an idealist who has lost reason to seek struggle and strife.

I still have room for idealism. I can still burn with the same heat. But rather then an irrepressible explode I want an immortal smolder.

Pepper #3 now bears the marks of her age, which makes her only more beautiful. A younger pepper curls beside her experienced lover and a harmonious contrast enfolds. They are an expression of entropy and sensuality, of young and old cuddling together in mutual affection.

More photo shoots with peppers, more work in black and white. I’m having no trouble finding my old vision. In fact, I think it might better now then ever before. I’m still not yet warmed up completely, I’m still not getting things quite right, though I am especially pleased with my progress on this piece.

I think Syra was right when she said my brief lapse from photography may have been good.

Photography used to be a frequent obsession of mine but for the past couple years nearly all my creative energy has been funneled into my business. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing poetry in a language only my computer and I can understand, but I often feel something missing in my life when work consumes most of my waking hours.

I did a quick little photo shoot with some peppers. Of all the sexy beauties who bared their smooth skin for me, here is my personal favorite. Isn’t she sexy?

For all you traditional photography know-it-alls who’ve tried to convince me good black and white photographs can’t be done “right” with digital processes I challenge you to defy this image.

For all you friendly folks, sorry about that little “toss of the gauntlet.” I get a bit frustrated by people who not only use a challenge as an excuse not to adapt and grow but also attempt to impose their own shortcomings on young artists.

This black and white photograph of a vegetable is nothing fancy; just a warm up exercise I suppose. Veggies make good practice in most mediums, and I always work a photograph in black and white first, even when I plan to work the image in color. A series on peppers seemed like a good way to get back into the groove. Besides, I can chop up my sexy lil fruits and spread them over some baked, black beans for a nice little feast.

Some of you may remember I left off working on a few series’ using digital color. I’m sure I’ll come back to the manipulation side when I feel right - or maybe I’ll reinvent myself yet again.

When I look back at some of my work from a few years ago I see an almost furious energy burning it’s way to the surface. Most of the pieces seemed insignificant, for the most part, but I was definitely sensitive to some sort of energy. I know I used to see the world much more actively then late; I want to find my eyes again.

This is an old photo of mine, but I needed to test how this new setup would handle images. It’s nothing special, just my most recently published digital manipulation. It’s only a little over a year old.

I’ve done a lot of photography so testing the photographs archives is more important then adding bells and whistles to this bare bones blog.

~Virgohippy