CLIMBING ROCKS

I recently visited the Garden of the Gods park here in Colorado Springs and everywhere I looked was a climber scaling one of  the tall, massive sandstone rocks that make this park famous. It was a beautiful day, considering it was November 26.

I knew the sun was getting low this late afternoon and that was good, but if I wanted to achieve saturated color, I'd have to shoot with the sun at my back.  But I noticed two climbers with their ropes inching their way up one of the large rocks and I could see what my shot was going to be.  In order to make it though, I had to shoot directly into the sun.  I decided to shoot anyway because I knew the sun would cause my camera lens to close down and darken my subjects, revealing only the silhouettes of the rock and climbers.  I positioned the camera so as to just show a hint of the sun behind the rock, and here is the result. By the way, the image shows the climbers near the end of their climb.  This view shows only about the top third of the rock. (As with all of my photos, click on the image for a larger look)

THE DARK SIDE OF THE LENS

As many who are now discovering the medium of HD video, some are learning how to to create new art with it. Others, like Matty Lambert, videographer, have already mastered the medium.  Watch the video, "The Dark Side of The Lens" and not only experience the sound and majesty of the ocean but the way Mickey Smith, photographer and bodyboarder, narrates the video with his Irish accent and describes the joy he feels doing what he does. Click on the title to watch this video.

LAWS OF THE NATURAL UNIVERSE

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with
grease your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the
least accessible corner.

Law of probability: The probability of being watched is directly
proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get
a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work
because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat
tire.

Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one
you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works
every time)

Bath Theorem: When the body is fully immersed in water, the
telephone will ring.

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you
know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a
machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely
proportional to the reach.

Theatre Rule: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest
from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee,
someone will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is
cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker
room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly
sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to
the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know
what you are talking about.

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like,
they will stop making it.

RECOMMENDED MUSIC

Earlier I posted a video of Chris Botti and Lucia Micarelli in concert performing "Emannuel".   I just bought Chris Botti's CD, "Chris Botti In Boston" because it has the fore-mentioned song on it.  What a concert that must have been!  In concert and on the album are songs performed with Botti by not only Micarelli, but Sting, Katherine McPhee, Yo-Yo Ma, Josh Groban, John Mayer, and Steven Tyler.  You can preview the songs on video or on YouTube, but you should purchase the CD to hear the songs in full high fidelity.