Welcome to the rt tulley photography blogIt features photos, text, and poetry.December 10Wind
I am thankful for wind. As long as it's not too strong, as in hurricane and tornado force. A gentle breeze is nice to cool things down a bit and the stirring of trees and leaves adds a nice effect to them. I have mentioned it before in this blog about in the movie A Walk to Remember Jamie says to Landon that God is like the wind. You can't see it but you can feel it. I love that analogy.
I was on my way to watch the LSU versus Arkansas football game the day after Thanksgiving when I saw these "Wind Chimes" at one of the tailgates. I thought it was funny and I'd been looking for something to represent wind for some time. I had already used a windmill for energy so that was out. This one is sort of a change of pace.
December 9Strength
I am thankful for strength. Strength is defined as not only muscular power but also the ability to handle problems and to resist being hurt or damaged. This could also be called moral strength of character. It enables us to withstand the low points in life. Like the fighter who keeps getting knocked off his feet, strength enables him to keep getting back up. And perhaps he eventually bounces back on his own to survive and succeed.
Bebe told me last night about this echinacea flower in our yard that has survived the cold and rain the past few days. I immediately knew the subject of today's blog and I went out and took this photo of it lit by only a flashlight using my tripod-mounted camera and a macro lens. I'm not sure if taking the photo at night has any metaphorical significance, it's just that that was when I was available for the photo, but it could be that strength can overcome the darkness of fear and failure.
strength
give me strength to overcome it all give me courage to get up from a fall it is not the end of all ends to fall and to fail for more important is how we respond and up that wall we scale strength of character and strength of our mind are what keeps us going and success to find. © rt tulley December 8Passengers
I am thankful for passengers, those people who accompany us on life's journey, or even just for a short ride. In any event, companionship is what it's all about. And a person that will follow you or ride in your sidecar on your journey are those people that trust you and care for you.
This is a motorcycle and its sidecar that I spotted while attending the Louisiana Book Frestival in October. I like the symbolism of another person riding along with you in life's journey.
ride
go for a ride with me we can go for a short spin or on a long journey together over roads we’ve never been you be my passenger and i will then be yours we’ll split the high road and traverse many tours together from sun up together till the sun slides down together we’ll make it last onward to the very next town. © rt tulley December 7Music
I am thankful for music. Music is one of the most inspirational, relaxing, and joyous things there is in this world. I love music. It can move a person; it can go directly to the soul; it can speak in ways that only words cannot. It can be beautiful and melodic. It can be tense. It can be confrontational. But effective music is one of the most powerful influences there is.
Today's photo is of a sculpture I saw at a store amont their Christmas items. It is an angel playing a stringed instrument sinilar to a mandolin but appearing to have only four tuners/strings. My guess is that it is still a mandolin-like instrument.
The connection between angels and music is interesting. Several references are made linking angels to music in the Bible. Many artforms such as paintings and sculptures include angels playing trumpets, harps, or other instruments. Popular culture includes untold references to angels playing music or singing. For example, the famous Christmas carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" talks about angels singing to announce the birth of the King. The lyrics were written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, brother to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church.
without music
without music there would be no more delight if the world suddenly grew silent with absence of day and night no more chords or glorious melody we would soon feel the effects of entropy and the world would cease to exist if not in physicality but anything worthwhile to persist. © rt tulley
December 6Individuality
I am thankful for individuality. If all of us were the same it would be a pretty boring world. I have always enjoyed unique individuals.They make me laugh, they are worthy of admiration, and they amaze me. I suppose individuality can be taken a bit far sometimes. But I'm not counting. I sometimes take it to extremes to the detriment of not getting other people's opinions. When I was in the throws of stressing about what to do about a bad water heater, Bebe asked me this very day, "Why is it that men refuse to ask advice or directions?" Perhaps it is men. But it could be me to a fault.
Never mind that negative thought. This blog is supposed to be about things for which I am thankful. And I am thankful to be stubborn, independent, and proud. So there!
I did a blog about originality on July 31. Originality is similar to individuality. Both speak of novelty but there are subtle differences. Originality means that you are not a copy of someone else. You are unique in all that you do. Individuality means you are independent and self reliant. You can be self reliant without being original. I do like the originality aspect, doing or thinking of something fresh and unique. But some things are so status quo that it is difficult to find a completely new way that has never been tried before. As I age, I believe more and more that all good ideas have been thought of before. Individuality implies that you can go beyond originality of having a unique idea, to proceeding to do something about it. I found a quote on the internet from someone named Jaseem Kapoor that I really like: "Be the first version of yourself rather than the second version of someone else."
This is the current flock of white pelicans around the University Lakes which I took a couple of weeks ago. They are really interesting to watch. They tend to do everything as a group. They swim in the same direction, they follow one another, and rarely break ranks. I just happened to snap the picture at the time this particular one decided to fly a little while the others swam. I consider him to be a model for individuality. It's not original for a pelican to fly. But it is an individual act which is going against the grain at that particular time.
individuality
if you want me to follow you you’ve got to understand i can only be myself and not at your command. © rt tulley |
