“Family Dancing” c. 2008, Heidi Straube
May you dance gracefully
on the tips of the waves
in the flow of the current
the sea of life
As we dive into the unknown of 2011
I wish you
love
nurturing
the bliss of joy
the strength for challenges
memory of you
deepest
“Moon, Venus & Jupiter” Taos, New Mexico, c. 2009 Heidi Straube
I intended to write an article today about darkness vs. light, rebirth and hope, new beginnings and prosperity — many of the themes of the rituals and celebrations associated with the Winter Solstice.
But in the refrain of his song poem, “Anthem” Leonard Cohen captures the essence.
Like any good art, it needs no interpretation or expansion.
Listen…in your heart…it is for you.
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in”
“Brothers,” c. 2010, Heidi Straube
“If you press me to say why I loved him,
I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I.”
– Michel de Montaigne
There’s a grace and gentleness to this photograph that gives me a warm feeling every time I see it.
Two brothers…who did the usual “boy” thing of resisting a bit when we started the family photo shoot…then began to enjoy being the center of attention…and by the end of the afternoon, were fully into a beautiful dance of friendship and love that lit up the space.
An elegant connection…giving each other room, then teasing and physically close…claiming their personal portrait time, then inviting the other to play in front of the camera…And throughout always comfortable, trusting, supportive.
These boys are young men now. May they still enjoy their special relationship of brothers, and may the women in their lives enjoy the same beautiful experience that was my gift at this time.
“Dawn Patrol,” September 11, 2010, Provincetown, Massachusetts
“Photography is about being exquisitely present.”
– Joel Meyerowitz
A misshapen rock. Mud flats. A chilly early morning. Not necessarily what you’d think of when making a picture.
But there is that sacred moment in time when all comes together, and the light graces us with the beauty inherent in all.
Perhaps as we are still, patient, and allow the silence within, the light will also illumine the unseen beauty in our lives.
The Inner Path of Photography 