thanks to ASD

thanks to ASD, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Sometimes I think about giving up the whole photography thing. Some days it seems hard to keep up the creativity, to go through the hassle of sorting and posting, to come up with something worthwhile saying. And try as I might, it is difficult to react with composed serenity when a photo that I really like doesn’t get as many views or comments or faves as I think it is ‘worth’. As people, let alone photographers, we look to make a difference, and we look for signs that we are making that difference. And it can sometimes be dispiriting when you don’t see those signs.

Then something unexpected comes along. Someone sends you a flickr mail asking how you’re doing because they haven’t seen you post in a while, or someone blogs or retweets your photo saying how much it meant to them or what it communicated. A good friend of mine did that today. Next time you feel the urge to do a spontaneously impetuously nice thing for someone – do it! You will make a big difference to someone’s day. Thanks Andrew. You made a big difference to mine.

This is one of my favourite shots of my trip to Shenandoah. Ironically this shot is all about composed serenity (which I so often lack). I wandered round this spot for ages just breathing in the wilderness and experiencing a serenity that I can never seem to find when I’m consciously looking for it.

Now – I wonder how many views, comments and faves this shot will get…!

Study in the softness of bluebells

Study in the softness of bluebells, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I love black and white. But sometimes nature screams out to me: ‘Don’t make it black and white when so much effort has gone into the colour’.

socialising is easier with a hat

socialising is easier with a hat, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I went to the 40th birthday party of one of my wife’s friends on Saturday. It was an 80s evening – fancy dress. There was dancing and music so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. I knew only my wife. Anyone who knows me will know that for me this situation represents the kind of living hell that I think fitting only for the great villains of history.

However, my wife bought me a hat. I love hats. Nuff said.

(Taken on my iPhone using Hipstamatic)

my ear is so itchy

my ear is so itchy, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I know - it breaks all the rules of wildlife shots. I've ended up photographing the rear end of a couple of deer. Not a classic pose. But I like it nonetheless. I'm having a contrary kind of a day.

untitled for the moment

untitled for the moment, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

black tree on blue ridge

black tree on blue ridge, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

Not much time to write anything meaningful today. I've got a to do list with 21 things on for just today. My long-suffering wife tells me that 21 things is probably about 19 things too many.

I wish I was back on the Blue Ridge Parkway - I didn't have anything on my to-do list then...

the eagle and the peaks

the eagle and the peaks, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I’m in the USA at the moment – on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I’ve been chasing these eagles for the last few days trying to get a decent picture of them. I’ve got ‘better’ photos of the eagles than this one – but they just don’t work. This is the only one that works. To see an eagle you need to see it in context. A picture frame full of the detail of the eagle is no use if you can’t see that eagle soaring above serried peaks. What is an eagle without the mountains?