Tribute to Mother's Day: Filial Piety

Filial Piety... taking care of one's elders. Place: Beijing's White Cloud Taoist Monastery during the chinese new year. Customarily during this time, people come from all over to pay respects, make prayer and offerings to the various virtues and deities of enlightenment in all the places of worship. Some of Lao Tzu's "Tao de Ching " is engraved in stone here (one of the most influential books in history). Touching the various symbols brings good fortune and luck hence the discolouration from the rubbing. An elder woman gets assistance in reaching out to "Open Heart" (compassion) from her son. Red is very symbolic for love, war, fire, energy and represents life and vitality. (notice the smile face?). The shadow created by the hands reveals a shape of wisdom. This unfolding moment in the viewfinder was truly an alignment of elements for me. Time actually stopped...as I gently squeased the shutter. One exposure was all I had time for ....which was plenty. I Love you Mom!

One eyed tree face

This photo is part of April 7, 2009's post April Fool's Snow Day. It's a stand alone without any script. A test for your eye to see how good it is. There are 3 things that don't belong! First right answer gets a signed 8x11 print.

Ice

This series of ice detail closeups were photographed a couple of weeks after the ice sculptures were carved during Barrie's winter festival last February. The melting ice revealed a smooth, fluid surface and a transparent solidity, reflecting the sky and the surrounding colours of winter. What intrigued me the most was where the blocks of ice were joined on their corrugated surfaces. The only part of the ice that wasn't crystal clear. I was hypnotized. The sculptures were beautiful works of art but inside these huge warped crystal balls, was another world to perceive and behold while my imagination ran rampant. 

Roma!

Truly an inspirational place for all the arts, it was everywhere, no matter where I turned I was in awe. The difficulty was being able to focus on the photographable and not the unfamiliarity. I came prepared though with a bit of research on the internet and list of places of photo interest. There was little time, exactly 2.5 days and the first was a rainy one. Over the years, I learned to take advantage with what was available to work with; especially the rain. But it doesn't always rain when they say it does, besides, rain is like nature's varnish on your subject matter. Seek and you shall find! Hopefully the timing for all the right elements works out. Coloseum, sunrise, rain and yes a slight break in the sky.
So, I decided to leave at 5:00 am anyways. Rising early after a transatlantic flight is the best remedy for jet lag. It was still dark, with a bit of purple dawn breaking the horizon as I glanced hurrriedly down the open street turning the corner for the subway....more later...more photos http://www.jbphotoworks.com/roma