Blog Archives
celestial manifestation
Four months ago I was in Maine, where I spent the better part of three days inside a one-room building in the woods. I wasn’t held prisoner there, which is sort of the way that first sentence sounded when I re-read it.
Rather, it was photography workshop, an immersive look at the South Solon Meetinghouse. I posted some photos from here earlier, but it’s taken me some time/space to be ready to think more about that time. The schedule for the trip was ridiculous when compared with what I had going on at the very same time: I was in the middle of writing a huge grant at my (real) job and didn’t really have the time to give to this endeavor. But this was a place that I’d wanted to see for myself and I didn’t plan on letting the opportunity slide by without me. We were a small, compatible group. Our work there swung from quiet writing time, to solo photo-taking, to helping each other get “the” shot we were chasing, to giving our own unique* interpretations on the frescoes, to laughing, to crying, to just…being there.
It was what I needed to do. That grant could (and did) wait. And I came home a different (and maybe better) person than before.
South Solon Meetinghouse
Solon, Maine
photographed 3.19.2026
…and she’s down
This young woman had a remarkably good throwing arm, and the cheerleader on the perch landed in the water on three of her five throws.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
the preparation
The cheerleaders were getting ready for the dunking booth.
I think those things would be a lot more fun if they’d let you pick who sits on the platform waiting to land in the water. Apparently, however, that’s “not how it works” so they missed out on my interesting list of participants.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
the real show
Remember a couple of days ago when I confessed that I had a bad attitude about the 4th of July celebrations this year?
A few minutes of watching things like a mechanical bull ride at a street fair helped me feel better.
Now, about this triptych…I thought initially that the story was that guy on the bull and his inevitable slide from the bull. However, check out the kid on the left. His facial expressions and gestures are really the story. Zoom in, if you want: I think it will be worth your effort.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
as american as a car wash
I was waiting for the small-town July 4 parade and street fair to start, so I took a photo walk. I specifically walked directly from where the car was parked to this out-of-business car wash. My eye was caught by the word “American” and it seemed like July 4 was a pretty good day to look around at something that was dilapidated: it matched mood.
However…the town’s street fair made me feel better.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
