Think on These Things

Facebook, and other venues like it, are dandy things for the most part. They allow us to keep in touch with those far away, easily see pictures of places/events that we were not able to share - or were able to share and simply want to relive.  We also can share some viral video or use it as a channel to broadcast our blogs, which I just did to get you to read this. However, I have noticed that a not-so-wonderful, not-so-new trend has been oh-so prevalent on Facebook: the practice of posting negative articles that show just how crumbled our world is.

To all those who make a practice of doing this: thank you, I was enjoying the sunshine and in danger of having a happy day. “Well, you could just not read them,” you may say. “Well, I don’t,” I would say. Today the top of my feed was “Wall of Shame: Net worth of 100 left-wing millionaire and billionaire celebs” with a photo to accompany it. Wow! Look, some people who are just as totally depraved and as in need of the Holy Spirit’s work as Mother Teresa! I think I will call them up right now and tell them that they should not have that much money, or at least become a Republican so that they can donate some of that money to the next election. Seriously though, what are you, or anyone, going to do about it? Make others more aware? So what? So, they can be equally as cynical? Maybe I have missed out, but I have never caught anything on the news about some “terrible” person being convinced of their wrongs because a mud-slung ad had a bajillion shares and likes. Philippians 4:8 reads: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things”. Maybe we could apply that to Facebook a bit?

 To add a bit of a disclaimer, I think it good to share articles that may not be “lovely”, in that they are sad situations that are worth knowing for prayer or action. Multiple crimes have been solved via Facebook and issues that may require a letter to a congressman can also be spread rapidly via Facebook, which is great.

But, back in the topic of all the negative articles about how our world is going to pot.  “Say not, “Why were the former days better than these? For it is not in wisdom that you ask this.” (Eccl. 7:10) To this Matthew Henry comments, “God has always been good, people have always been bad” (since the fall that is) and that includes me and you. So, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to a stone…” (John 8:7). Christ is the only one with the right to throw a stone and judge, which He did not do and will not do until the Day of Judgment. In the meantime, I beg my brothers and sisters, to spend your energy throwing the seeds of the gospel for a harvest of righteousness (James 3:18), not gathering stones for those equally as broken as ourselves (Rom 3:10-20).

Light Leaves

"Light Leaves" is a collection of shots taken of leaves (or leafs?) as they catch the sunlight and make beautiful colors or interesting patterns. I find leaves especially fascinating because they are an object of commonplace. However, as with all things created, they have a way of crying out the Creators glory (Luke 19:40).  

Sunflower after a early morning rain.

Pea Pod

Catalpa leaf

Sunflower leaf

Not sure what kind of leaf

Don't know this one either

Lacewing warming up

Fall

Milkweed leaf

Iridescence?

We have all seen it before. The beautiful shifting color of iridescent objects. To those who haven't seen it, do the dishes for once and look at the soap bubbles. I feel sorry for your mother. In any case, what causes it? Is it magical? Like unicorns, which actually aren't magical, they just evolved into narwhals. It is in fact a quite complicated process that even after reading several peer reviewed Wikipedia articles, I am still a bit confused. However, the basics of iridescence is quite simple. 

For those of you who are in a hurry, I will explain the gist of iridescence quickly. Two thin films, very thinly separated on the iridescent surface reflect the light back, but slightly differently than each other, due to their difference in distance and reflection qualities, thereby making different colors depending on which angle you look at them. This is seen better in the fly above than the peacock feathers below.
If you didn't quite follow that, or just want more details, or are simply bored and don't think that you have anything better to do with your life, then read on. Anyone who has taken physics learns that color is made by light interacting with something that changes it. By absorbing some light and reflecting others, pigments like the melanin in your skin create a brownish look, or change the angle/wavelength of the light, such as in a rainbow. These two types of color are known as pigment and structural coloration. Interestingly enough, both these qualities are seen in peacock feathers; as melanin gives the brownish color and structural coloration does the rest. Structural coloration is what causes iridescence. The light comes into the first film, some is reflected back, while other light continues on through to the second layer (by the way there can be more than two layers) and then is reflected back differently than the first. The two ways that this happens is by phase shift and interference. These are the two things that I have trouble understanding and do not feel like I should be tainting minds with poor understanding. If you can comprehend those things, feel free to fill the rest in. Also, if I have something wrong in this article, please also tell me. I am trying to learn by doing this too, while pointing to the glory of God. 

Life Going A-Rye? Eat Bread.

Today, I received an email from the University of Nebraska Medical Center that I will not be offered an interview for PA school. This past Friday Des Moines University and University of South Dakota said no as well. Denver was way ahead of the band wagon and turned me down a couple weeks ago. As I plop down into a puddle of self-pity, I look up once again to see that handgun pointing between my eyes and some desperate (or greedy) Guatemalan asking for my mochila. There are bigger problems in the world than me not making it into PA school and a myriad of blessings that are even bigger still.

Isn’t it more often the case that we choose to wear blinders as we walk the road of despair? We, like Naomi, will call ourselves empty even as a dedicated companion walks the road with us. In all reality, I have never really had it bad. Yes, there are times when we may feel our heart fall through our chest and rupture like a water balloon on the floor. Even in those times, to ask “why God lets bad things happen to good people” would still be inappropriate. In the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and is sentenced to life in prison as punishment. During his time in Shawshank, Andy says that “whatever mistakes he has made, he has paid for and then some”. By our sense of justice, he may be right, but by our debt of sin to God, that will never be the case. We really are like one who has committed murder and has been pardoned from prison or lethal injection. More than not being punished as we deserved, we also have been given more than we deserve. It is like we have been given pardon for murdering several people, and then given a free car to drive and a house to live in. The only person who got worse than he deserved was Christ. Perhaps he would be like one of the EMS personal who came to the shooting where we murdered several people, but he saved the life of two children who were only injured by our rampage. After saving their lives, he was immediately put in cuffs and, merely weeks later, was executed. The amazing thing is that he did it all in complete willingness (Isa 50:6, Mt 26:39). So what reason do I REALLY have for being grumpy at God for not letting me into PA school?

Do What You Love...

On more than one occasion I have heard a photographer say "just do photography for yourself, it is so therapeutic", or something along those lines. And, while using art as therapy for oneself is useful, it is not a good goal for any person. The idea of doing art purely for oneself all the time for its "therapeutic" benefits seems to me to be no different than an athlete who did hours of physical therapy everyday, but had no intention of running a race. The act of therapy is not an end in itself. 

A proper motivation for one's work may then be doing photography for others. Unfortunately, I find myself often caught up in the confines of social networking and aiming to get the most "likes" or views on a photograph as possible, kidding myself that the more people that "like" it, the better photograph that it is. What kind of end is that? It is a worse let down than 1984 (it is a good book, really). Course, then you find out that some pre-pubescent child just owned you in social media department. Humble pie has just been served straight to your face. 

In any case, what is the point in this? It isn't that there is no proper way to do photography. My point is that whatever is your passion, whether it is photography, farming, working with kids or whatever, you have that passion for a specific reason and it is not so that you can have a pick-me-up a bad day and it is not so that you can gain popularity. If you are at a loss for reasons, check out Col 3:17 for starters. 

Real Estate

Aquilegia

The other day I was trying to get a good shot of the lovely columbines that grow right outside my apartment and ended up with a whole lot of nothin'. Part of the problem was that flower shots, although beautiful, are often predictable and overdone. However, when I was about to give up on this little photo venture I noticed one of the flowers that had been blown to the ground by Iowa's relentless winds and had somehow worked its way under a couple wood chips. Even though the flower had been severed from the plant, it still was quite beautiful. It brought to mind how sometimes you got to look a bit before you can see interesting shots in creation. For example, there are a ton of moths this year, at least in NW Iowa. But, have you ever checked out these pesky buggers sweet wing patterns? Here, take a look (by the way, you can click on the picture to make it bigger).

Next time you are out doing photography, take a moment to look around CLOSELY before you move on to a new spot. Look especially close at things that at first appear hum drum to the average bum. You might be surprised at what you find.

Acacia Sunrise

This season of the year is a time when many cliche thoughts roll in for me. Thoughts of new life and stuff. Cogitations deep and pensive that make my lips purse and eyes squint in the brilliance of my own thought and would require a pipe if I held such Holmes-esque trends. Being deep and artsy like this led me to posting "Acacia Sunrise", which bears the essence of spring with the sunrise (new beginning) behind the tree...nauseous yet? Sorry about the sarcasm.
In all reality the only thought that has struck me this morning is how I have not considered the wonder of spring really at all this year. You know what? I would like to see the most brilliant minds in the world work together and make grass. I don't just mean grow grass. I mean MAKE grass from scratch. Line up all the amino acids and figure out how to make the cell division happen in an organized way. Once the scientists get that figured out, I would like to mow it once a week or so. If the grass can handle that, it would be nice if they would let me freeze the grass for a few months and see if it would grow back and propagate through my entire lawn. If the grass survived all that, I would like to ignore the scientists, and say that the grass came together by accident and that they had nothing to do with it....in fact I would tell them that they didn't even exist and that it was irrational to think that they, the makers of this grass, were real.
I don't really care if you believe that it took seven days for creation or if you are an evolutionist...that argument is nigh pointless, but for CRYING OUT LOUD please let your eyes be opened and be in awe that there has to be something bigger than yourself running this whole circus festival! Because at the end of it all, God created...you.

Remedy Drive

This past weekend my fiance and I saw Remedy Drive in concert and they were fantastic! The band members have a ton of energy on stage and put on a sweet performance. The thing that most impressed me most though was the way that they acted off stage. Unfortunately, I have heard of many "Christian" bands that once they are off the stage they are arrogant, unkind and do not have the time of day for fans or staff that is helping with the event. On the other hand, the band members of Remedy drive all took the time to come by and thank us for the help we were giving at the merchandise table and the lead singer spend a half hour chatting with us about theology and aliens. If you have never listened to Remedy Drive before, check out the "Daylight is Coming" album. It has a lot of great songs on it, because of both the lyrics and music. They definitely do not fall into the category of a 7/11 band (bands that sing 7 words 11 times) or a band that sings half truths to make the Gospel seem more appealing, which has become far too common of the mainstream Christian music world.

Leopard Frog!

Wildlife are fantastic shot subjects. Unlike people, they are not something that you can just meet walking down the street while you go to buy a cup of tea at the local coffee house. Although, if you are going to buy a cup of tea, you may want to walk down the sidewalk, beings you may meet the bumper of a car in addition to fellow homo sapiens. Regardless, I think it is the mystery of wildlife that intrigues us, which is why calling zoo photography "wildlife photography" is so ridiculous. I mean, COME ON people. If you are going to go to such depths to dredge up a picture of an animal, why don't you just go over to your local taxidermist, shoot some fur there and save yourself a hefty admission fee. Please do not get me wrong, there are some fantastic shots taken at zoos by people like Joel Sartore, but please just call it what it is. In any case, a pointer that I would throw in with this is that when shooting animals is that you usually want to have the eye in focus. One time when this is not true is when you really want to give a strong impression of some aspect of the critter. For example, if this here chap was in the process of catching a fly, it could be advantageous to catch the tongue in focus instead of the eye.
On a different note, does anybody know anything about the population decline of the leopard from and other amphibians? In the past years they have faced population decline due to loss of habitat and pollution and some nasty virus that is going around, but I have not heard much of late. Anyways, if you have, feel free to post it. 

George

George is a brother in Christ that lives near the Ngong hills of Kenya. He lives a life that he would probably call "very sweet". Every morning that my intern group spent in Kenya, he would greet us with a big smile that stuck out as a wonderfully sharp contrast to his dark Kikuyu skin. What reason did he have not to smile? He earned a handsome $10 a day and had a great group of mzungu to laugh at. More importantly I think he knew the importance of a community. Or, shall we say that community was ingrained in him deeply and he knew no different. He had a mindset to not consider himself first, but rather his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was truly confounded when we tried to explain the individualistic and capitalistic mentality that, as far as I can figure it, has been the product (or cause) our country being so successful...at least financially. I will admit that I enjoy the privilege and blessing of having the finances available to have the camera that took this picture, or the laptop to type this blog, or the car to drive to my fiance's apartment, which is less than a mile from my house. However, we have lost something in this our First World culture and I would like to get it back. Except, maybe the only way to get it back is to give something up?