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More on Henri Rousseau

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jungle
Jungle 1. Taken predawn at UCF arboretum – February 2015
Just finished Masters of World Painting Henri Rousseau by N. Brodskaya. This book was published in the Soviet Union in 1977. A very nice brief bio of Rousseau is followed by several plates of pictures. As expected the book highlights the 7 Rousseau’s that were on display in the Soviet Union at that time.
Written on the back of the painting “War”. From the French “She sweeps past, striking terror in the hearts of all and leaving ruin, tears and despair in her wake”. Well put!
Here’s a link to the painting I found on the web – http://www.henrirousseau.org/War-large.html
My pic is the beginning of my attempts to recreate some of the feel of Rousseau’s jungle pictures. Forgive my early endeavor, I need to find a spot without as many sticks interfering with the green. So far I am philosophically opposed to “cleaning” up a scene for a picture – that could change.
This picture was taken pre-dawn last Sunday at the UCF arboretum at 1.3 second exposure. So I believe I have found the the light I want, now to identify the proper spot.

The Awakened Eye by Frederick Franck

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pinesun
Morning in Gold
This is the follow on book to Same the Zen of Seeing and presented in the same format handwritten text and drawings. It is filled with beautiful drawings and insightful writings. Part of the book is an in depth review of one of his seeing/drawing workshops that give you an insight to what it may have been like attending one.
hairypurple
Multi-Threads
Surrounding this are many gems of zen wisdom and what comes through as a raw love of the the earth and all it’s inhabitants.
I substitute photography for drawing even though photography wasn’t F. F. favorite thing. He ended the book with 10 “commandments”   my favorite was number 2 “You should not wait for inspiration, for it comes not while you wait but while you work”  – Frederick Franck.

Little Things

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mushroom
Mushroom in the Path – Econ Wilderness Park
lichen
Lichen Patch – Econ Wilderness Park

As I began my wandering on Sunday I firmly had my goals in mind. Seeing/photographing (my morphism od seeing/drawing) from Franck and nature’s interrelationships from Patterson.

I started walking in the Econ Wilderness Area, a small Seminole county park in Oviedo that I had not been to in several months. After a bit of walking, listening to birds singing, I began to notice the smaller things. A mushroom, a patch of lichen, spider webs, and the beginnings of a flower blossom. I have chosen not to clear debris or remove items from my pictures. You see what I saw in all natures perfection and imperfection.

On the technical side I had to use a flash for the mushroom and lichen because I couldn’t maintain a handheld shutter speed with the available light within the forest. The technical aspects of shooting are becoming second nature and not interfering with capturing the moment.
I need to remember to slow down – a common theme with me. I become so excited with the wonders that I see, I do not take the time to capture them properly. I should have walked the park 2 times.

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Basket Web – Econ Wilderness Park
buds
Signs of Renewal – Econ Wilderness Park

Monday Musing and Activities

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sunlight
Sun Highlights a Tree Branch at UCF Arboretum
mockingbird
Mockingbird on a Rail at Manatee Sanctuary Park Cape Canaveral FL

I have begun a journal of sorts in Evernote to document what parks I go to and when and will be available in the field. This was so I can 1) document when I was there, what I did and 2) remind myself what I wanted to do the next time I got there. Perhaps after 6 months or so the journals can become posts of their own.

Next I am struggling with a new name for my blog, I want to rename it so I can obtain a URL of my own. PictureThis is taken, so I am reaching around and asking folks for suggestions. Would PictureThiz work? Hmm glad I wrote that – don’t like the way it sits on the page.

More on Henri Rousseau

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grass
Dawn Light at Orlando Wetlands Park in November – anxiously awaiting the February reopening.

Just finished a quick read on Rousseau called Interpreting Henri Rousseau by Nancy Ireson. Lovely little softback book laden with pics of Rousseau’s best works.

Ms. Ireson gives us the picture of a rather complex man who would feign naivete to promote his pictures or escape jail time, when in reality he was quite a worldly individual savvy in the ways of modern(1890’s) Paris. Sadly his fame came after his death.

I know that whatever the circumstances of his life and death, he has given me much joy gazing at his pictures and influenced many of my life’s choices. I still have a print of The Sleeping Gypsy hanging in my house as it has in every place I have lived for the past 40+ years.

I am actively looking about for a way to photographically capture the spirit of his jungle scenes. Obviously they will be without lions and tigers as I will have to concentrate on the foliage. Here in the sub-tropical zone the jungle like foliage is landscaped so careful framing will be necessary.

Young Ibis

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Young white ibis at Blanchard Park.

This is an almost adult white ibis, they gradually lighten as they age. The adults are really beautiful when they fly – pure white with black tip wings. Some day I will capture one, so far haven’t gotten a clean shot. Either no clear, or tail shots, I am learning more about their behavior, so I can get the signals that they are about to take flight.

I was at the local park on the Little Econlockhatchee River (Econ for short). There’s a shallow part where birds usually gather to feed. So I was able to walk up and sit down without bothering them. Interesting experience, At the same time I got some good shots of this bittern feeding. Not sure if I posted it already but here it is again. Feel free to correct my identification, open water is really not their habitat and the neck seems a little long.

bittern
American bittern feeding at Blanchard Park.

More Inspiration – Addendum

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winterblackeye
Winter flower. Black-eyed Susan taken Sunday at the arboretum.

I finished The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck and the last paragraphs were so beautiful I feel obligated to share. Plus if I document it here I will have it forever. I hope it’s OK to copy this. He wrote:

“This life is my windfall! That it happens to be a human life is the one chance in a trillion to be able to realize That Which Really Matters.

In seeing/drawing, that which matters can be perceived through the senses, not denied but maximally affirmed.

While seeing/drawing I glimpse into Nature, I taste Nature, The Nature of Reality. THE WAY OF SEEING IS A WAY OF KNOWING!”  -Frederick Franck

I would ask – What is your seeing/drawing?

More Inspiration

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srise
Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park. November 2014.

I have begun reading The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck. What an unbelievable book, much like Freeman Patterson I will now seek out all his publications. This book is handwritten rather than type set and includes numerous sketches by the author. Here’s a link to his website http://www.frederickfranck.org/ for more info.

Although the book is geared towards drawing, it easily transfers to photography. His main premise is something he calls see/draw (substitute see/photograph). He speaks of observing a scene as it exists, without labels, judgments, thoughts of a prize winning picture, etc. Everything stands on its own the merits simply because it exists. I’ve probably muddled the message somewhat but that’s what I got out of it.

He also speaks of drawing the “ten thousand things” which is, a Buddhist idea pertaining to the makeup of the universe. I a going to pursue this idea a bit over time.

Recent Weekend

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bird

Last weekend I stayed close to home and checked out the arboretum. Good news, the robins are around in force – a sign of spring? Several flowers are starting to bloom too. Although the bird in the picture is not a robin, in fact I was unable to id it.

I am starting to learn how to slow down. Typically picture taking has been like ‘wow that’s cool — snap, snap, snap’. Reading Freeman Patterson, among others I am trying to stop, look, assess, plan, compose, and shoot. This has proved difficult but I continue to try.  I get so distracted by spontaneous displays of beauty – look a bird, a flower, great lighting over there – need I go on?