Wednesday, August 1, 2007

At Our Best

If there are intelligent beings in other galaxies, I hope they can’t see the ways humans on planet Earth use our Internet, or read what's in our e-mail. Earthlings, when viewed from afar and through the lens of the Web, must seem like a bunch of con artists. At the very least, the "spam" in my e-mail In-Box suggests that our planet is full-to-overflowing with shady characters would like to steal my personal information, or get me to buy a truckload of cheap Viagra.

Some of my friends ask me--politely, but pointedly--why I spend valuable, creative time and energy posting photographs and words on-line. Why Blog? (Admittedly, even the word “blog” is kind of awkward and inelegant.) I reply that my online journal is a challenging, creative outlet, a place where I can share my personal work that otherwise would go unseen. Perhaps I’m also posting a blog as my way of demonstrating to the Cosmos the good side of humanity, as if to say : "This is what we humans can be, when we are not popping pills, not trying to con some unsuspecting innocent out of their bank account numbers, not trying to sell worthless swampland."

I do two kinds of photography: professional work that generates income (generally this means I am covering weddings, shooting in a catch-the-moment style of a photojournalist;) and personal work (the everyday, visual journal I do with a camera--imagery that produces no income whatsoever.) I’m very serious about both kinds of photography, but most often it’s my personal work that you’ll find on this forum, if only because I have a Web site where people can go to see my professional images.

Today, however, I’ve decided to post two recent wedding photographs, I guess because the pictures for me blur the line--they are professional images that I also find personally pleasing. I like the pictures because, like weddings themselves, they say something about human grace and joy. They show us at our best.

Additionally, you might check out the blog (linked below) that my friend Carol did today. It’s called “Mistie the Moo,” and it’s quite nice.

http://todaysgifts.blogspot.com/