Love

Love

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Providence of Photography

Photography found me.

It was the fall of my senior year at Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado (yes, that Columbine High School). I had begun the process called delayed entry with the US Navy, which meant I was signing up 9 months early so that I could reserve a spot in the school of my choice after my high school graduation.

My guidance counselor was desperately trying to talk me out of enlisting. She was pushing for me to go to college, understandably, considering I was a straight A student with good test scores who would graduate in the top 10 of my class of 460 students.

But something in my heart told me this was what I wanted to do, what I needed to do, first. So I went to the downtown Denver AFEES station to finalize my paperwork one fall day in 1978. I intended to attend school, once in, to become a hospital corpsman, thinking medicine, either nursing or becoming a Doctor, might be a likely career path for my future.

As I sat with the enlisted young man who was to reserve my school assignment at the time I wanted to go to boot camp (I was shooting for early July) he informed me that there were no spaces available for that school then, I would have to wait months for an opening. Seeing the dumbfounded look on my face he asked me "Are there any other schools you would consider?"

I hadn't come in with a back-up plan, and he could tell. So he suggested printing out a list of the schools with spots open in July. As he looked over the list on the computer, he remarked "That's odd. It is unusual to see a spot open for photo school. Have you ever considered being a photographer?"

The moment he said it, something made sense- the proverbial lightbulb went off in my head and my heart- and without thinking but a few seconds, I replied "Yes, sign me up."

I excelled in photo school, but mostly what I remember about my experience learning photography, all the cool aspects of it, was how much I LOVED it. Still do, particularly outdoor photography. My blog affords me the opportunity to share some of my work.

At the Monastery last week on the second day I shot photos at a nearby place called "the Slabsides." As I explained in my previous posts there, I was observing, which translated that day to seeing through the lens of my camera. I have chosen a few of my favorites below. The mosquitos and biting flies were thick and annoying that Wednesday morning, but it was beautiful. I love early morning light. This sight was where I captured back in March my photo above representing "the edge" for my blog.

So here are my observations, what I saw that morning................











































The following photos I took back at Holy Cross Monastery, later in the afternoon......


























1 comment:

Cathy said...

How could we live so close and I not know you had such beautiful sight....to be able to see such wonders and relate to them. I knew Terry repaired cameras, but I didn't know your relation to them.

I love photography. Didn't go to school. Don't understand all the numbers involved. So I use what I call a PhD camera ... Push here, Dummy.

My camera is almost always with me. As the 8 kajillion photos on my computer attest to.

Someday, I will share some of my favorites with you.
Cathy .. across the street.