Fact or Fiction???

I recently forwarded a heartwarming email about a student and his teacher, that was not only poignant but tear jerking as well. A number of receipients have emailed me telling me that the wonderful story brought tears to their eyes. I also received an email from a Mr. Jones (not sure who he is) that informed me that the story in question is not true and has been circulating for some time and was even brought up on Paul Harvey, and by Dr. Schuller even though it is fiction.

Now I am not sure what motivated Mr. Jones to feel it necessary to "correct" the fact that the "heart warming" story was not fact. I am sure that Mr. Jones feels he is a keen intellectual, and able to discern fact from fiction. I only hope that he doesn't feel the need to correct the many millions of children in the world who believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. In fairness to Mr. Jones his correction was not made with derision or malice (that I could tell) but with even handed comment.

I do however feel that the line between fact and fiction is an elusive one. For instance the image of the rose above. Is it fact? Maybe! Is it fiction? Possibly! In fact it is an image that I took in Turkey that I rendered to be somewhat abstract, but still recognizable.

Fiction to me is what people believe to be false, and fact what people perceive to be true. JUST AN OBSERVATION, NOT A JUDGMENT!!!

Live well and prosper
Dennis

The Bird of Paradise

One of my favourite flowers is the "Bird of Paradise" or in scientific terms the "strelitzia reginae". It is a monocotyledonus flowering plant indigenous to South Africa and the scientific name commemorates Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Streilitz, the queen consort of King George III.

It is the official flower of the City of Los Angeles, although this image was taken in the front yard of our Hawaii home on the island of Kauai.

So now you know:-)

Live well and prosper
Dennis

Over the Moon!!!!

In my last post, I wished you the courgage to dream large, and take action to realize those dreams. I don't believe that it is so much important that you necessarily achieve those goals or dreams, but you sent a course of action in that direction. Sometimes the road presents forks along the way and our dream is modified, altered or replaced by another dream or goal. I have heard it said that: "only mediocre people are always at their best". Mediocre to me is not working toward a dream, goal or action that I enjoy. It always amazes me how good or proficient we become if only we take steps to improve. My experience is that the rise in expertise is directly proportional and exponentially related to the effort and enthusian I exhibit for my chosen interest.

Over time I have heard it said: "I would love to travel, but don't have the money!"; "You're lucky you have the time and money"; "I could never do ..........." and so on and so forth. It is not rocket science! By saving the paltry sum of $50 a month, a trip to Hawaii, Mexico, Cuba or the Bahamas can be yours in 2 years. As I said earlier in this blog: most people have the will to win, but very few do the preparation to win.

Let's set some large goals or dream big, and prepare to win them!!!

Live well and prosper
Dennis

Where Do Dreams Come From???

We had a discussion at work today about what our dreams are. Not the type of dreams at night time, but dreams and aspirations for the future. It was interesting that no one mentioned what they were going to do in order to achieve those dreams but just verbalized what I refer to as "WIBNIF's". I believe that for most of us our dreams are not action plans to achieve a goal, but WIBNIF's or "Wouldn't It Be Nice If........".

I think it would be nice if I won a multi million dollar lottery, but in the absence of me actually buying a ticket it doesn't seem that likely. In fact the odds are astronomical even with a ticket, but having one at least puts me in the game and demonstrates action on my part. This reminds me of a quote I recall from some time ago which I believe was uttered by some football coach, and that is: "most people have the desire to win, but few have the desire to prepare to win".

I have the desire to take dramatic images from all parts of the world, but this morning with the fog rolling in off the ocean, I didn't have the inclination or energy I suppose to leave my warm bed and go into the cold air before sunrise. Upon waking I looked out my living room window and thought: "Wow there are some real winners of images out there!" Again no preparation.

I am not one much for New Year's Resolutions, but this year I will make some that I will share with you in a New Year's post. Now I realize that making the resolutions and keeping them are two entirely different things. We will see if they last long enough to become habits.

Here's wishing you the courage to dream large and develop action plans to make those dreams reality.

Live well and prosper

Dennis

The Sun Sets on 2009

It is Christmas night and I am at work on a very quiet evening. Not many airplanes flying tonight that need my help, so thought I would take some time and reflect on the past year. For me it was a year of much photography in different places of the world, from the Falkland Islands in January, Arizona in May, Namibia in September and Hawaii in December with my family. I have met many new friends and acquaintances along the way and experienced new situations and hopefully learned a lot, if not about life, then at least about myself. Even though people come and go from our lives, once there they all leave a little of themselves for which I am grateful.

For me, one of the joys of the past year has been watching my grandson continue to grow in life as a now 3 year old, who sometimes displays the intelligence and wisdom of someone much older. The fact that I get to see him many times a week only adds to the significance of the experience for me.

So as I reflect on the past year, I give thanks for the wonderful people the universe has brought into my life, the exciting adventures I have seen through my camera lens, and most of all my family and the part we play in each others' lives.

What's up for 2010, I sometimes wonder. Well I will look through my camera lens in Venice in February, Arizona in April, Utah in May, probably Eastern Europe in September and back to Hawaii in December for Christmas and New Year.

I hope you have created an exciting 2009 for yourself, and will make 2010 everything you want it to be.

Live well and prosper.
Dennis

Merry Christmas to All my Readers!

I have recently returned from Kauai at least physically if not mentally. I thought I would show an image of Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali coast which I took a couple of weeks ago. I always thought it made more sense to spend the Christmas holidays at home, but this year I am not so sure. It may be a sign of age, or simply of those sunny +75F days with light warm breezes. As Christmas draws near I seem to think more and more of Hawaii and the relaxing days. I am however trying to get back into the swing of things here in rainy Vancouver which is after all "home" While I try to get back into the swing of things, I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with love, peace, and joy.

Live well and prosper,
Dennis

I'm Back from the Warm to the Cold!!!

Hi readers, I just arrived home yesterday from the warm breezes of Hawaii to the cold air of Vancouver. OK, OK, so +2C just does not compare to the -35C that Edmonton is now experiencing, but when you have been basking in +27C, 25 degrees less in pretty hard to take. While in Kauai I had the pleasure to visit the wonderful St. Regis hotel in Princeville for several breakfasts as well as an "out of this world" dinner in the Kauai Grill. The hotel is as posh as any I have ever visited and the food was beyond compare and the staff the friendliest I have encountered anywhere. The attached image was take from my breakfast table on the first morning. In adddition I spent my time there with my favourite people, namely my daughter, son in law and my buddy my grandson. I will have more to say about this wonderful island in future posts. In the meantime, live well and prosper.

Dennis

What is Art?

This morning (at work, but don't tell anyone), I was following an online thread about what was art and what was not. The original question involved images from the Hubble Telescope of galaxies and solar systems many millions of light years away. Since the images were altered with color to emphasize the gases and stars, about one half of the people thought this represented "art" and the other half argued that the representations were merely scientific representations.

The above image is taken from a photograph taken a couple of years ago at Guilin, China. From a "normal" photograph I have utilized by significant photoshop skills :-)) to give it a purple sun and a very "artsy" look. Do you think that makes it art or not????

Live well and prosper

Dennis