A nice but underused Bonsai Forum…

Shameless plug time…

Found… maybe stumbled… tripped over… this nice little forum www.bonsaitreeforums.com the other day. I think of it as a brief respite from the hectic often crushing amount of information which can often be found on some of the larger sites. Nice bunch… and no egos to massage. I encourage people to take a look, I like the profile system in it as well. The page look is all funky, because it has images of smiling people, not sexy trees… but that is being worked on, and should not discourage or confuse someone from taking the time to poke around.

Shout out and say hi in the IM feature…

See yah there,

Victrinia

4th of July – Fire Flys

Had a wonderful 4th of July. I took photographs and had more than a little fun playing with the exposure and aperture. I thought I would share these beauties…

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

A child of the sea…

I am never far from it. The sea she calls to me with a sirens song I wouldn’t resist if I could. There is something so perfect, so centering, within it for me. The steady rhythm and crash of waves carry me home every time I am near it. 

When I was a little child my father, who embraced the traditions of the island he was not born to, took me to the sea and gave me into her care. He put his little girl into the sea and asked her to watch over me, to protect me when I touched her waters.

The sea has been faithful to me. In times of joy or sorrow, she is the comfort that always pierces through any emotion, though most especially through times of sorrow. There have been times when in distress, I will find that I have taken myself to the sea. In the course of time, I find that wellspring of peace that always resides within me… and its song is the pounding of waves on the shore, the wind wrapping itself around me, and the feel of sand under my feet. 

I’ll sit… and whisper to the sea all the things within my heart… and I am well. 

I didn’t know about being dedicated as a child until I was well into my adulthood. It made so many things make sense for me. If I am not near the sea, even the calm smooth reflections off a glassy lake will reach within me with the same power. Even the rush and tumble of a river seeking its path, will show me inroads to my own heart.

When I was younger and in my Fire Dept days, we would often go to a small lake after drill to drink and swim, and live life to its fullest expression of friendship and happiness. So many times because of my love of the lake, I would stop and make sure I bought a rose… I’d swim out to the middle of the lake, and leave my rose as an offering to the lady of the lake. I cannot touch a body of water without whispering a small homage of thanks and love. 

The sea is faithful to her own, a gift given into her care from the time I could touch her waters… and it is no strange thing to me that her sisters, the lakes and streams that surround me, would not know me for what I am… a child of the sea.

She Waits…

She Waits

A gentle friend softly waits,
in a evening hour lit by stars,
for her dear friend to come
the long day’s journey done.

Watchful ever with tender smiles,
and patient countenance,
warm words of greeting wait on lips
only too joyful to share their kindness.

And when he comes again,
her quiet face will light,
like the perfect flush of beauty
in the sky at break of day.

Their contentment found
in hearts held so gently tender
only glad to be together.
And thus, she waits…

Victrinia

Woodward Park, Tulsa OK.

On my previous trip to Oklahoma, I was taken by Eric to Woodward Park. The gardens there are extensive and range from formal to informal. While I got many very lovely photographs there. These three are my favorites. I have matted these on double wide white gallery matting with clip frames for a very elegant look.

Additional Bonsai Photography

More photos I have taken from the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection in Federal Way, Washington.

Bonsai Photographs

Additional examples of bonsai photography in natural lighting situations.

Photographing bonsai… warm and bright.

I have found in my short time behind the lens, that the best lighting for bonsai photography… is NATURAL.

Warm afternoon glows can’t be substituted for. The feeling of life and richness that afternoon light gives, makes up for the only lack that some may declare… loss of detail.

Bounced light, and controlled conditions do make for some lovely photography. Trees certainly can look spectacular in a more formal set up.

But bonsai is an art of illusion to begin with. It’s not what one would call a “up-close sport”. It’s character and mystique is best enjoyed when the mind is taken off to a far away place by the image presented. Warm glows and shadows, create a striking contrast, and work their surprising magic beautifully in the 2 dimensional presentation of the art in photography.

The photos are a series of shots I did from the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, in Federal Way, Washington. All of these shots were taken between 12-4pm. I shoot with a Canon S2IS.

Alone I Sit

Alone I Sit

Alone I sit…

      amidst the twittering chatter,

                   wondering where you are

  or how you fair,

            as you make your way across the pond.

Alone I sit…

            and miss you

                  with a singular pain,

  the moaning ache

          of a mature love still enflamed.

Alone I sit…

          but not for long,

                 the day will wane

   your business done,

          and across the pond you will come again.

And I will wait as… alone I sit.

          

Victrinia

Out of the abundence of the heart… the mouth speaks.

There is something so beautiful to be found in language, it is the means by which we convey our thoughts, and our feelings, to others. Especially in this place… the internet. What we write, and how it is written is all someone will have to gain a glimpse of who we really are. We define ourselves by the expression of the language we use. How you craft a phrase, and the thought you put into it, is that action which speaks louder than the words themselves in this medium.

I have always enjoyed using language like an artist uses a paint brush. I paint with words the intentions of my heart. I was once told that my “use of five dollar words” made others feel inferior. This idea actually distressed me, because in fact the words I use, and the manner in which they are organized, are always intended to honor the hearer/reader. I was told, for all intrinsic purposes, to dumb down my verbiage. I never managed it… it would have been tantamount to taking away from me my ability to speak.

But it showed me how deeply the use of elegant language has fallen from wide acceptance. It is seen as an attempt to “show off” to put it simply, or “self aggrandize” to put it not so simply. Nothing could be further from the truth, at least for my self. There are those who would abuse language. Because the pen is mightier than the sword, and with such power the hearts of men can be swayed, even held captive. A sword can always take a life, but it never changes convictions.

Elocution is the art of expression. It is something to be enjoyed, even explored. It is not accomplished without effort. I would challenge you… the next time you are writing/speaking about something that is significant to you… think it though… let the words you use, be the indicator of your passion… even if it means grabbing a thesaurus. Honor the person whom you are communicating with, by making your expression a feast for the mind. You will be amazed at how deeply you can touch another’s life by the way you take an ordinary thought, and make it beautiful by the use of words that convey complex and subtle meanings.

Many people spend hours grooming their person… building or decorating beautiful homes… fixing up their cars… choosing the exact outfit to wear. All of these things, and many others, are done in an effort to show who they perceive themselves to be… how they want to be seen… what circles they want to be accepted into. The total absence of all effort to these or other areas, still establishes the same exact parameters. But once you have established your self image, and been accepted into the circles you wish, how you will be placed within that group will be determined not only by what you do, but what you say… and how you say it.

Because in the end…. “Out of the abundance of the heart… the mouth speaks.”