My dad once told to me that he liked this photo that you see above.
He said, “I wonder what it would be like to fly like a dragonfly and sit around a pond?”
It just so happens that my father-in-law who is a retired Rev., carried out the funeral service for the family and had this story to tell during the service.
It seemed so fitting!

The story goes something like this:

A large family of dragonfly nymphs were living in the waters of a beautiful pond, just a foot or so below the water’s surface.
Over time, members of the dragonfly family noticed that some of its family members were disappearing.
Some family members were seen moving towards the surface of the pond, moving to the top portion of the water and into the sunlight, where they vanished, never returning and telling the rest of the family what they had seen, or experienced.
The remaining dragonfly family members were concerned, and decided among themselves that if anyone should happen to go to the other side of the water’s surface, that they would try and return to tell the others about what was there, … what they had seen.

Just a few days later, one little dragonfly nymph had the urge to move upwards, to the surface, to the beautiful light above.
He swam up, breaking the surface waters, then climbed up a narrow strand of grass.
There he soon had wings, and the urge to fly began.
He happily flew around this new world that was full of amazing things he had never seen before.
Then he remembered that he was suppose to return and tell the rest of his family what he had seen, … what he had experienced.
He tried to get back below the water’s surface, but he could not.
He tried over and over again, … but never once could he break below the surface, to return to his family and the world that he knew.
So, … he flew away, never seeing his family again as he once knew them.
He never forgot his cherished family and the love he had for them, … but he was in his place now.
It was a glorious place to be!

This is where I see my dad now. A glorious place.

The night before he died, my youngest son Joseph and I went to the hospital to see him.
He was very talkative, but for the past three days no one could understand a thing he was saying because of the mask he was wearing and the sound of oxygen being forced into his mouth/nose. He had two air embolisms within his lungs and they were trying to get them to move into a filter that was placed within just a day earlier.

We stayed for about 90 minutes.
Little did we know that Joseph and I would be the last to see him alive.
Joseph told him good bye, then I leaned over and kissed him on his head, telling him in his ear that we were leaving and would see him the following day.
I then told him, “I love you daddy”.
Some way, some how, my daddy said very clearly to me, “I love you too son”. Joseph heard it as well.

He somehow had managed to say it loud and clear to me.
I believe now that he knew.
I believe that was the way it was suppose to be.
I believe that was the way God planned it.
I take great comfort knowing that those were the last words he ever spoke to me, … and I heard it.

So daddy, … your sons lifted a toast of old Irish whiskey to you.
We pray that heaven has Grits and RedEye Gravy, good guitars, country music, and that God will allow you to fly with the angels wearing your Zoot Suit!

I love you daddy!

“Macro Art In Nature” – Website

“Macro Art In Nature” – Website

Mike

Have been working on a new site, one that is easy for me to work with and one that suits my needs, … the way that I want it to.
Have been writing.
Have been wondering about the “almost a sure thing” surgery on my jaw.
Have been wanting to do more shooting.
And, I have been wondering about my two son’s college tuition. Absolutely scary!
But in all, … guess I have been doing fine.

Now, … more about the new website. “Macro Art In Nature”
I decided to get away from Photoshelter and from Smugmug.
Both are good sites for photographers, but not really suited that much for those who are more into the fine art market of things. They are better suited for the editorial/stock and event photographers.
So I decided to give “Photium” a try, and so far, … really pleased that I made the move!
Photium is a web service for photographers, allowing them to easily setup and maintain their own website where they can display and sell their work.
Really easy to set up your site, with far more features than I first imagined, and is easy for me to work with certain clients.
The excellent response from owner and creator Will Smith has been absolutely excellent, … and fast!
From his site, Will says …..
“While I worked for ePHOTOzine, I saw there was a great need for a feature-rich, but low-cost photographer website service”, Will said. “There are other similar services out there, but I felt they all had something wrong or missing, either high costs, or lacking in overall quality. Photium aims to bridge that gap, by providing high levels of service and functionality at a lower cost.”
Photium does give what many photogrpahers are asking for, and Will listens to one’s needs.

The adjustable templates, the galleries, and especially the navigation within one’s site is wonderful.  Choose your template, make some style and color adjustments, add a few pages, upload some images, … and you’re off and running.
Plus, you also have the ability to include a News section on your homepage, and even to add a blog if you wish.
Within your Admin section, on every single page you go into, there is always a “Help” section with some Q&A’s that is related to the page that you are on. You do not have to run all around trying to find a page with answers, as they are usually right there already before you. Really cool!

Again, … I have been pleased and invite you to take a look.
“Macro Art In Nature”
There are a few things I am working on, such as adjusting the prints/pricing/license page, upload some PDF files, and finish up the “digital downloads” section, but there are over 300 images now uploaded and new material to be uploaded very soon.

So, … stop on by if you like!
Hope that everyone has been getting along just fine, and I will start posting more on a regular basis when I can get myself in better shape to do so.

Take care gang,
Michael

The show consisted of a introduction by E.J. & Greg about themselves, and a bit of history about the NatureScapes site. It lasted a little more than 1 hour.
A little bit of everything was then discussed, such as cameras and lenses, the use of flash, portable blinds, air travel with camera gear, PC’s and Macs, Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop, … and more!
Individuals were allowed to ask questions on line via chat room, or e-mailing them in to Dave. There was also a telephone number that one could use to phone in with their questions. Cool stuff!
Missed it?
You can go here to listen to it now, and NatureScapes will start to archive them soon in a edited version on their website.

NatureScapes.Net will have these radio shows every month, maybe more than once a month.
It is something that I think would be good for individuals to tune in to, … and to learn.
Just visit the NatureScapes.Net site to keep up with the dates and time.

And nope, … I don’t work for them neither, but I do like their style!

Michael

Michael

Agate Rock – “Ancient Landscapes” Series
© 2009 – Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited

Canon 100mm macro and extension tubes.
Strong back lighting from a light box.
Reflectors mounted above the rock.
Gitzo Explorer tripod

Thanks for looking everyone
Michael

Michael Brown – Photographer
South Carolina

“Macro Art In Nature” – Website

I looked up “snakebit” in the dictionary this morning, and this is what it said.
1. bitten by a snake.
2. Informal. unlucky; doomed to misfortune.
3. adj. Experiencing a period of misfortune or inability to succeed.

I posted just over two weeks ago that our car had been stolen right in front of our home on a cold morning while it was warming up.
We got the car back a few days later in good shape.
We only got the keys back to the car, but the keys to our other car and including the keys to the house and the office were missing.
We changed the locks to the house, the locks to the office.
We thought everything would be fine from there.

Well, … our other car was stolen sometime during the night, probably by the same person who stole the first one.
They captured the person who was driving the first car stolen, but it was not the person who had actually stole it.The actual thief was still out there with the keys to our second car.  The police will probably have to upgrade me in their computers from “pissed”, to “really really pissed”.
For over 20 years we have lived in this quite neighborhood with never any real bad problems, … and now this.

If I would write in this post just how I really feel this morning, most of you would have a totally different opinion of who I am compared to what you have seen or felt about me over the past 4-5 years since this blog has been up and running.
I thought that corner had been turned after receiving a good amount of work last week, … but now, …….

I just might do something today that I honestly have not done in years.
I think it’s about time to get totally wasted!!!

Damn it!

Michael

© 2009 – Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited
“Tempest”

Everyone take care, and thanks for stopping by.
Michael

“Macro Art In Nature”