{inward...inward/outward #twotakes}

It's easy for me to go inward.. to think deeply, analyze, philosophize, intellectualize, criticize, fantasize. The longer I stay in my head the more dangerous it gets. When I live in a bubble of *me*, life is reflected, magnified ten-fold and contained within that bubble. That's where the danger comes in, I have no context in which to place my problems and gain objectivity. I have found the best way to resolve my issues is to come outside that bubble and live in a world that's larger than me. It's an amazing cure for confusion, self pity, depression.. anything that has to do with the 'self'. Perspective is amazingly transformative. Sometimes, the best thing to do... is pop that bubble, and leave *me* behind.

365 {104}

{two takes::awareness:beginning/ending}

{two takes:urban}

oh the shine and the sheen

and how it moves for you

a staircase

that moves for you

{outward...outward/inward #twotakes}

I am an extrovert, I draw my energy from the energy of others. I come alive in a group setting, I thrive while engaging. Knowing this, it has been particularily interesting to see a gradual shift over time. As I've gotten older, I have found myself becoming more of an introvert, my energy source comes from within. I now need solitude to center myself, and recharge my batteries. For me, solitude comes with plenty of self discovery and growth...part intentional, part accidental byproduct of time spent alone. With this internal shift, I have come to know myself better, and love myself more, than I ever thought possible..

{finite...awareness: finite/infinte #twotakes}

Nature is the circle of life, and within that cycle is death. Flowers bud, bloom.. and die. They have a finite amount of time in their glorious state of ripeness. The thick pungency of sweet scent and diverse palette of painted hues is a gift to be cherished within a short window of offering. So do take the time, to stop and smell the roses..

{deliberate...deliberate/accidental #twotakes}

Everything about this image was deliberate....with full intent. A vision was in my mind before I ever found the flower. When I did find it, I knew it had the perfect 'bones' for my vision.I sat in front of this flower waiting for the sun to hit it at this precise angle and for the wind to die down. And I processed with a desired effect in mind, tweaking it again, and again, and again...

ying &yang, black &white, sweet & sour, sugar & spice......opposites have forever been combined, because they complement one another in a way that completes the equation. One feeds what the other is lacking. I came upon this homeless man, it was obvious he was in a bad way and had endured a long life of grueling hardships. He had recently gotten this new bundle of puppy love and I believe it was his saving grace....there are no accidents in life. The puppy was born in the park and had been seperated from it's mother, he needed the love and care this man was offering as much as this man needed to provide it, It was the perfect union. This man was reduced to tears by the overwhelming love and intense connection he felt with his companion. He hid his face in the puppy because he was embarrassed to let me see his tears. It was the most tender and breathtaking moment I have ever witnessed, I cannot find the words, or connect them in a way to do it justice...... that's where photography steps in.

Reaching for the warmth of the sun.

Photo taken with Nikon D7000 and post-processed in PS CS5. I used two layers of Kim Klassen's texture 'Now', following this week's recipe (slightly altered), and used RadLab as well.

365 {64}

Talina and Jennifer.

Enjoying getting to know each other.

I wish I could write about the layers and layers of conversation and the layers and layers of life between us and how all that is meeting and we are peeling and revealing ourselves.

Bottomline, it's simply lovely to make new friends and perhaps discover that you could have been old friends... from another life maybe.

365 {82}

{two takes::old/new}

If I were a cat, I'd find myself a window and listen to how my heart beats while looking out at the world. I'd fancy the flight of birds, I'd take in the pretty blue sky, I'd want to be in the sun or in the shade of trees, feeling simply happy to be me.

Found this photo from yesterday. Also the top of a Columbine is a work of art.

365 {72}

365 {106}

{two takes::awareness:beginning/ending}

www.traceyclark.com/two-takes/

{two takes::inside/outside}

This gate has been around since way before I was born. I'm turning 43 this year so we're talking vintage here. The gate that is! Haha. ;-) I look at my shadow and I swear I see a younger self; it's strange how that happened. This gate has been many colors; black, brown, red, green, and now this blue. I love this blue. So many people have come and gone. It is an entry and an exit; a portal; a way inside, a way outside. I can write so many things about this.

Found on a farm out on eastern Long Island. It really is pink! WAY pink! :)

{new... new/old #twotakes}

My 'pull' in life is humanity, emotions, and connections. So when I think of old and new, I immediately go to energy within people. This girl's energy is all about 'new'!! New hope...new excitement...new wonder...everything is fresh to her. She has no life experience to draw on to jade, embitter or bias her. For me, to be around the purity and sheer exuberance of this energy is restorative, in that it refuels my idealism....gives me hope :)

I moved through the yard trying to capture more of the mood I was trying to convey.

Huddled together in the cold.

What is left from last year's wildflower growth.

{from above...perspective: above/below #twotakes}

Perspective is how we choose to view something. Lately, I've been trying to change my perspective by viewing my actions through an alternative interpretation. How does someone else interpret my intent? I have been AMAZED to learn the intent is OFTEN misinterpreted. That's where communication becomes imperiative. I shot this from above....the dog's perspective. He wants to investigate and is curious about the cat. Had he not been held back on a leash, he would of dove in, head first. Dog's intent is to play, to sniff and to discover this creature.....he means no harm. Cat is afraid, hair stands on end, his interpretation of dogs curiousity is one of harm. That is a total disconnect, yes, they are animals and live by the rules of the Jungle. But if we humans, would take a moment, communicate with compassion and a want to understand, our perspective might just be altered.

This special little friend used to live only outside. Through illness she needed to live inside for a while. Now she loves it and she chooses to be inside looking out. That is how life is: being inside yourself observing the outside world. #twotakes #acatslife #petstagram

{two takes::urban}

"We all just want to be high." ~ Anonymous

The buildings are getting taller and taller.

{two takes::urban}

like a happy ending. like a movie set. like we're headed for nowhere, but getting there.

I attended an indoor flower show in connecticut today.

Have been wanting to get this image posted for a while. I was working on shooting flare this day, shutter got away from me. But I just had to love that bokeh!

Processed in PS CS5 with RadLab, Totally Rad Dirty Pictures Texture, and Kim Klassen's Golden Hour texture.