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Inspiration-ish
One of the places that seems to keep me motivated is Zen Pencils. Not only is the story of the artist, Gavin Aung Than, very cool and inspirational itself, he’s created a nice stable of characters to reflect and visualize some of the best historical and present-day quotes on topics as far ranging as motivation, kindness, fear, etc.
Here’s a video to explain it, shared from Another Beautiful Story on Vimeo.
But to get back to the crux of this. First, here’s a link to a comic from Zenpencils that I absolutely love right now. In fact, I’m sure I’m going to share this with my students once we’re back from Winter Break.
It’s a quote from Commander Hadfield, an astronaut (also a very cool and inspirational guy. You may have seen his YouTube video of “Space Oddity” from the ISS. Link if you’d like to see). Anyway, here’s the quote itself:
Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. Every decision you make, from what you eat to what you do with your time tonight, turns you into who you are tomorrow, and the day after that. Look at who you want to be, and start sculpting yourself into that person. You may not get exactly where you thought you’d be, but you will be doing things that suit you in a profession you believe in. Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.
Zenpencils Link: An Astronaut’s Advice
Again, very inspirational, and something that I’m definitely going to keep in mind. However, I always have a very pressing problem that goes with this.
Inspiration is definitely fleeting.
If you’ve found yourself in a position to create, to express oneself in any sort of medium, you definitely enjoy the process, getting into that “flow” state and producing something that makes you excited, elated, and content. I know I do, whether it’s photography, drawing, painting, writing, or when I had the physical ability to play basketball competitively (being in the zone), I enjoyed that sense of “flow.” However, for myself, inspiration often flutters away within a day or two and I’m left scrambling again for sources of inspiration, chasing that metaphorical butterfly.
This, I realize, is something I need to work on. Not finding sources of inspiration, or even just keeping the inspiration alive. It’s building the habits to keep creating and using those sources of inspiration as kindling. It’s building up the discipline to keep working, even when I don’t feel motivated.
It’s each and every day, trying to focus on that creative flame, along with the other responsibilities that you have, like in my case, keeping up and even giving the very best effort that I can, to the matter of education.
To do that, I’ll have to build those habits. And keep creating. And keep teaching.
Oh, and here’s a shot that I think is very Nevada.
Creativity . . . in General.
I keep telling myself that I should be creating.
Whether it’s drawing, writing, painting, teaching, or photography, I should be doing . . . something.
I think I should be doing it just because it helps. It helps with my mentality, it helps clarify thinking, it helps with engagement with life in general. Instagram is always a nice distraction (I’m probably on that site more out of any other), but it also inspires me to think differently about what I can create. There are some great artists on there, photographers and the like. I’ll see if I can post some of them here as well, just to get their name out. Great content is always posted there, you just have to find it. Or create it yourself.
In general. This should be something to incorporate as much as I can as the weeks, months, and years carry on.
So I will. As much as I can. General creativity. And if you saluted at that last sentence, I applaud you as I would’ve done the same thing, if I weren’t typing. So I’ll leave you with this for tonight.
I think I’ve got the purpose of this little blog now. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing here and if you’re along for the ride, please leave a comment saying hello, or anything else. I’ll keep creating, keep posting, and see what may come about.
P.S. – Let’s just ignore the fact that I’ve been so inconsistent using this platform. I think it’s the lack of a feedback loop, or at least something fast. I’ll have to learn not to rely on that and just keep doing what I need to do.
Road Trip – Bandon, Oregon
I think Bandon is underrated.
There are certain things, at least for me, that makes for a nice and relaxing time. Being on vacation is the first thing. The second thing is access to some pretty cool spots to photograph (and more importantly, not too busy). Lastly, there has to be some pretty decent food options available to partake in.
Bandon checked off all three.
Here’s a few shots from the beach.
My room was on top of the beach. Not near the beach, but on top of it. I probably should’ve explored more, especially along the beach, but I was pretty content to just sit and watch the rising and fading tide, and seeing the sun crawl slowly to the horizon. Bandon Beach and Face Rock is probably one of the better coastal towns where I’ve spent some time. This won’t be the last trip to Bandon, I can guarantee that!
I’ll probably write more on Bandon sometime this weekend or next week. Of course, next week, we’re back in school as well. Which also marks the attempt at a new project, which I’ll post here. It’ll be a photography project around what *I* do at school or how I’m feeling that particular day during or after the school day. I’m not sure how this’ll turn out, if I’ll finish, but I’m willing to start. I’m hoping I can show the perserverance to post a picture every day and see how this’ll evolve. I’m going to start a new Instagram primarily for this project so I’ll post that as soon as that’s up.
In the meantime, you can also check my landscapes/cityscapes Instagram, if you’d like to see more of the Reno/Tahoe area, along with anywhere else I might be exploring.
Impromptu Photo Trip
I realize that I should be taking more behind the scenes photos as I’m going on these impromptu trips. I should be taking more photos regardless of any trip I’m doing, whether it’s spur-of-the-moment or not. I think I’ll try to do more when it comes to the trip up to Oregon this weekend.
I’m also toying with an idea. What started me in photography was a 365 Photo Project, just taking a photo everyday for a whole year. It definitely improved my skills overall and helped foster my love of photography and take it to another level. If you scope out my Instagram, I still have a few of those photos still posted.
Anyway, the idea I’m toying with is a photo everyday of the next school year, even with some of the training I’ll do. I’m thinking I’ll write something on occasion about what’s happening, though I’m sure, more often than not, I’ll just post something that might represent the day, whether it’s a stack of papers, a sunset as I’m walking out the door, etc. Or maybe I will write something everyday. Could be a good thing to help improve on my writing, just like my photography a few years back. I may start a new Instagram for that as well. We’ll see though. It sounds like an interesting project to take on.
Now, onto the photo.
My word Tahoe . . . how can you be so . . . ugly.
I was with a friend at Barnes and Noble, helping her out with her writing when I noticed the clouds in the sky. Actually, I think I did this before . . . in fact, I know I was with the same friend, helping her with her writing, when I saw that the clouds could yield a decent sunset.
Apparently, this a pattern with me.
Anyway, I actually drove a bit just to see where I could head out to. I was going to try and hit up Chimney Beach, but I was just a tad late and decided on the old standby of Sand Harbor.
To the backdrop of the Shakespeare performance tonight, I decided on the composition above, as there were still a few people at the beach, along with their kiddos, enjoying the summer sunset, just like I was. I just wanted to find a spot of my own and settled here. This viewpoint allowed the remaining clouds in the basin to light up as the sun settled below the horizon. If I looked more west or south, it would’ve been a clear sky. Not that those are bad, mind you, but I do like a bit of drama in the sky, especially for a Tahoe sunset.
Honestly, I don’t think I can ever get sick of these sunsets.
The Doctor
Here’s a new shot. Not as crisp as I would like, but just something I tossed together for the announcement of the new Doctor.
For those in the know, if I refer to “The Doctor,” I’m referring to the Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, located in the constellation of Kasterborous, the “Oncoming Storm,” etc. The Doctor has also known to be somewhat . . . eccentric.
Yes, the Doctor is fictional but beloved very much by a large number of fans, myself included. The Doctor represents a number of high ideals, things to aspire to (like all great fictional characters), like kindness, intelligence, courage, passion, and loyalty. As stated by the Doctor, “Never cruel or cowardly. Never give up, never give in” which also sounds suspiciously like something said from Galaxy Quest as well.
When the new Doctor was announced . . . it was sad.
It was sad on two fronts. The first was a contingent of fans who felt the need to voice their displeasure at the casting, also vowing not to watch the show again, because the Doctor was going to be a female. Cries of “pandering” and “SJWs” at it again rang through small sectors of the web, still making quite the call when it came to the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the new lead.
Never cruel or cowardly. Never cruel. The responses I came across were exactly that, cruel. Not most of them, fortunately. But it was saddening to read. One commenter even said something along the lines of “they’ve taken away a real great role model, someone who didn’t need a gun to save day, someone who used their intelligence instead of their strength.”
I think I latched on that comment the most. Honestly, I think I can see their point but . . . is the Doctor being female going to change all that?
It’s the Doctor. She’ll come around, after the regeneration, and will do what’s right. It’s what the Doctor does. Never cruel or cowardly.
I have no idea who Jodie Whittaker is and I haven’t seen her in anything else, though if the reviews from fellow actors, like David Tennant (10th Doctor from the video above) are any indication, then I can’t wait to see what Jodie Whittaker will bring to the proverbial “Who” table.
Which brings me to the second sad point, something that Whovians sometimes experience, is the reluctance to let go of the last doctor.
As for myself, Peter Capaldi grew into that role beautifully, and one of the best episodes of television, at least for myself, came from the season before last, the Heaven Sent episode. Honestly, that whole season was spectacular (mostly, I should say), as it had some standout scenes that showcased the type of Doctor that Capaldi was.
The first was this speech. Now, the Doctor is pretty good at making speeches, but some of Capaldi’s were incredibly moving and quite brilliant. It melded the angst and frustration of a being who has lived for over two-thousand years, who has seen countless horrors and even believed to contribute to the horror himself, yet intertwined within the embers of that anger . . . was still hope. The following speech best encapsulated that dichotomy of belief and nearly overwhelming bitter emotion.
The defining episode of the Capaldi era, at least for me, was the Heaven Sent episode. If there’s one thing the Doctor exhibits is the persistence and determination that is nearly god-like. Of course, the Doctor is also referred to as the Lonely God sometimes. But back to the episode. The Doctor has just lost his companion, who died doing something rash (semi-spoiler there, sorry!), but believing it was the right thing to do, like the Doctor. Guilt is definitely racking his soul and it’s evident with the clip below. Now, to give further context to what’s happening int he clip, the Doctor is in a prison of an unknown design, but has discovered a way out. The Doctor could’ve also been released, if he just confessed to a secret that is way too powerful to let into the open. The way out he just discovered, however, is basically a wall made of super-strong diamond, twenty feet thick. Essentially, the Doctor is trapped, with no way out of the prison he’s in. Which leads to this:
This whole scene, the interplay in the Doctor’s head, also leads the Doctor to actually going for the solution he had known. He wasn’t going to divulge the secret, something that could destroy the universe. Instead, he would choose the hard way . . . the right way:
2 billion years. He sat in the prison for 2 billion years (it was later revealed that he was actually estimated to have been in the prison for 4.5 billion years). Not giving up. Not giving in. Doing what was he thought was right.
That’s the Doctor. The 12th Doctor. And he will be missed.
Time moves on, however, and I do believe that most people are ready for the 13th Doctor. Myself included.
Smoke on the Water
Taken on July 18th, 2017
Lens: Tokina 11 – 16mm
F2.8 | ISO:100 | Exp: 1/200
Yeah, with all the wildfires in the Northern Nevada region, this was an obvious title.
For this shot, I was up around 4:30 am just to be sure to beat the sunrise and capture it. Boy, that sounded rather violent actually. Maybe I could just say “just to be sure to . . . bludgeon the sunrise and hold it hostage” . . . no, that wasn’t better. Anyway, this also meant a stop for coffee and this time, I thought I’d treat myself to a donut (yes, very decadent, I know).
Now, if I’m every traveling south from Reno, especially early in the morning, I think what I’ll start doing is paying a visit at the 7-11 on South Virginia and Damonte, just because the clerk there is always cheerful and energetic for those drab and dreary early morning journeys. I mean, one time, I was in there at around 2 am and this dude was just happy to be working. Always nice to see that out and about.
As I made my way up Mt. Rose highway, I noticed that the stars seemed to be veiled. At first, I thought cloud cover, but realized, especially with the creeping, smoky smell penetrating the cabin of my car, that another wildfire was blanketing the area. It can’t be said enough, the firefighters who are constantly fighting these flames, thank you for everything you’re doing. Just stay safe up wherever you are.
I arrived at the pull-out around 5:20 am, with enough light and time to ease on down to Bonsai Rock (sunrise was around 5:46). It was calm, relatively so, but you can also see the smoke had crept into the basin as well. Not too badly, but enough to where it was noticeable. I was hoping for some clear skies and calm water, as I was going for a simple composition (which I did get and will later share), but this morning would have to do.
That’s the one thing I’ve noticed about landscape photography . . . sometimes you just work with what you have. Just find a way to be creative. Now, I’ve also had situations where I’ve driven to certain areas and not taken a picture . . . sometimes it also just a feel for it. But normally, I’ll stick around just to see what I can see . . .
Now, I was also intrigued by the police helicopter that kept circling above, basically going from Sand Harbor to around where the Thunderbird Lodge was at. At first, I thought, “One hell of a drone flying around” then realized it was the police. Anyone from the area have any information? I know I could probably find it online, but I’m being a bit lazy at the moment.
It wasn’t me . . . it was the one armed man?
Long story short, I got few decent shots from this little session. Got me all excited and stuff to keep shooting.
I will be out and about again soon, and I’m also making a longer trip soon, trying to complete something I started in the Spring. I’ll be making my way back up to Oregon next week (last gasp before the new school year!). Hoping to get a lighthouse shot in, maybe trying to hit up a few other spots as well.
Impromptu Landscape Photo Ops
There are times when I plan my shots. There are other times when I don’t. Today was a day that wasn’t planned as far as landscape photography.
Yes, this happens often with me.
After hanging out at Barnes and Noble helping a friend with her writing, I stepped outside and noticed the clouds forming toward the south and southeast, over Washoe Valley. To the northwest, it was pretty clear, which usually means the clouds to the southeast had a good chance of catching some light and creating a great opportunity to catch a decent sunset.
Or, at least that’s what I’ll say now.
What I was really thinking was . . . “I do have my camera, and my back is feeling better. It’d be great to get a photo . . . but the Lakers are playing tonight and Lonzo Ball has been playing better . . . gee willikers . . . what to do . . .”
Okay, I really didn’t say “gee willikers” but honestly, I think that’s a fantastic phrase. Very Ned Flanders-ish. Not that I’m a big Ned Flanders fan, but it’s just a fun little thing to say.
“Stupid, sexy Flanders!”
Anyway, seeing as this age of technology allows for people to re-watch certain things on television, I opted for the impromptu sunset shot with the reassurance that an NBA summer league game was something I could pass by.
And yes, the Lakers won. And I’m content to just watching the highlights. I mean, it’s just summer league!
So here’s one of the shots I captured. Since the clouds were to the southeast, I chose to go to Washoe Lake (it was too close to sunset to try a Tahoe trip) where I thought the clouds would pick up some color. With the recent winter here in Northern Nevada, Washoe Lake is filled like I haven’t seen before, or at least since the mid-1990s. And with the type of winds that get whipped up in Washoe Valley, you sometimes have an opportunity for a capture like this.
Pssssst . . . if you’re reading this and you’re from my Instagram page (@moralvictory), thanks for reading. If you’re not following me on Instagram . . . please do. I’d like to think I have some witty things to say when I’m out and about, trying to play the part of landscape photographer.
Side note: I’m definitely going to purchase the 6D Mark II soon. We’ll see when though.
Side side note: Can’t believe that we’ll be back in school in less than a month. I mean, I’m looking forward to it, but at the same time, I like being able to sleep in and then do a bit of research for work.
Side side side note: The research is centered around app creation for educational purposes, along with reading how to better use blogs in the classroom. See, I actually do a bit of work.
