"Humans are the only animal that blushes, laughs, has religion, wages war, and kisses with lips.

So in a way, the more you kiss with lips, the more human you are. And the more you wage war."

Jonathan Sanfran Foer (Exremely Loud & Incredibl Close)

"I went to a tattoo parlor and had YES written onto the palm of my left hand, and NO onto my right palm, what can I say, it hasn't made my life wonderful, its made life possible, when I rub my hands against each other in the middle of winter I am warming myself with the friction of YES and NO, when I clap my hands I am showing my appreciation through the uniting and parting of YES and NO, I signify "book" by peeling open my hands, every book, for me, is the balance of YES and NO, even this one, my last one, especially this one. Does it break my heart, of course, every moment of every day, into more pieces than my heart was made of, I never thought of myself as quiet, much less silent, I never thought about things at all, everything changed, the distance that wedged itself between me and my happiness wasn't the world, it wasn't the bombs and burning buildings, it was me, my thinking, the cancer of never letting go, is ignorance bliss, I don't know, but it's so painful to think, and tell me, what did thinking ever do for me, to what great place did thinking ever bring me? I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it."

Jonathan Sanfran Foer (Exremely Loud & Incredibl Close)

Sunglass Filters

Sepia Shades, sunglasses filter

There are jillions of ways to look at your subject matter. Everyone has their own perspective. Their own was of showing what they see.

For me, It's through Sunglasses. I fall in love with the colors my sunglasses turn the world. Probably in the same way I loved to look through jars & colored vases when I was younger. As if it made it better.

So, a couple years ago I started using my Sunglasses for a Filter by placing then on the lens. Sometimes, it's tricky to hold the camera & the sunglasses at the same time but it's worth the trouble. Here are some photos to show how they create vibrant colors and change the aura of the scene.

They were taken in early October at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, Washington.

Sea Gypsy, sunglasses filter

Autumns Sepia, sunglasses filter

Through Amber Glasses, sunglasses filter

The next photo was taken the same day with out sunglasses. A dramatic difference. Mostly in the sky. A very brilliant blue, sunshiny day!

Blues of Indian Summer, No Sunglasses

Camera Choice: Shitty Broken Kodak Digital

Good Bye Irving Baby

It's sad to see you go.

Irving Penn

June 16, 1917 – October 7, 2009

Silhouettes of Fairy Tales

hen did I stop believing in Fairy Tales?

Damsels in Distress & Prince Charmings.

My favorite versions was a collection of mini books; four in total. Each classic fairy tale illustrated with detailed silhouettes. "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Cinderella." They dance through my mind when ever I am in a used bookstore.

Until recently, I had not pursued finding the illustrator of my beloved fairy tales. It took finding Kara Walkers nightmare like paper cuts of fairy tales illustrating racism, slavery, rape, & murder to finally search for my beloved books.

Before the Battle (Chicken Dumplin') Kara Walker

Jan Pieńkowski, Polish born British illustrator. His works include Haunted House, Meg & Mog & The Fairy Tales.

Sleeping Beauty, Jan Pieńkowski

Paper-cuts are no longer just folk art or a cameo of a child face. They are intricate breathtaking pieces that inspire.

Cinderella, Jan Pieńkowski