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Blur (noun) 1. fuzzy or unclear image

Something that cannot be seen clearly, e.g. because it moves too quickly or because it is not distinctly remembered

-Encarta Dictionary-
Eyes don’t see like cameras do.

Sure, there are some similarities, but compared to the conservative monocular mechanical vision of a camera, my eyes do something radically different as they dart around a landscape like hungry chickens pecking the ground in search of premium chicken scratch.

Little by little (despite some glaring but hidden blind spots) significant details are added to a simulation of the world that runs in my brain – a simulation something like the simulation you are running, but necessarily unique.

I could tell you what I saw - try to describe how, from Lost Lake (during the last days of summer) Mt. Hood looked like a ruined red pyramid …naked …

…or I could show you a typical photograph…



But what I really want to share is how the moon danced on the water.







…and how the wind sighed as the sun went down…
…and how the water sounded as it lapped at the sides of my kayak…
…and how I could taste the smoke in the bottle of Black Butte Porter…






…I’d like to be able to share the peaceful calm I felt paddling invisible on the Gilbert River… the city of Portland betraying its presence over the horizon by the light it bounced off the clouds…





…I’d like to convince you I’m a candid photojournalist and not some creepy voyeur …






…I’d like to explain how beer feels…




…I’d like to reveal some secret of life…




…some obvious thing about parties and food…




…the difference between life and meat…





…how quickly magic is forgotten in the rush to the parking lot…





...how life clings...





...how a row of trees disappear at 60 miles per hour...





I'd like to understand how water envelopes...




I'd like to convey the joys of physics...





...how luck is rigged...





...all the beauty in a fraction of a second...





...the risk/benefit ratio of sailing in the dark





Someday I'd like to capture just how really big that harvest moon is...





...or share exactly why they call them goldfish...





I'd like to explain the soothing cool of the forest at the end of a hot July day...






...translate the gestures of a balloon...







...and remind you how transitory it all is.




...so I guess I'll keep trying.
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Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 29, 2009 at 6:40 PM

    This is why I always check this blog...great stuff! seriously, thanks..........

    BTW, your camera must have been really drunk for some of these pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 30, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    Ditto. A wonderful distraction for a slow Friday afternoon at work, counting down to the weekend! - Edie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cynthia WenslowNovember 17, 2009 at 4:22 PM

    The beauty of this post is not transitory.

    ReplyDelete

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