Category Archives: photograph

Daily Life, Overcome Difficulties, photograph

Thoughts? Beware or Be Aware

July 25, 2015 Mugo 4 Comments

Sometimes, most often, thoughts come in crowds. Herds of them. They get our attention but at a distance and they generally disapate if left alone.

Sometimes they get closer and particularized. They move in, get closer. Get our attention.

Closer still into consciousness. Seems there is not much space. They crowd in. But even with the huffing and puffing of persistent thoughts, one can sit still. Like cattle in a field getting closer and closer, eventually those thoughts lose interest. Have less energy. They just remain for a bit, then take off. Only to return. But we know their game.

Then there is your ‘in yer face’ thoughts and emotions. Wow! Wait a moment, this is something I need to sit still with right now. Even so there is always a space. I am not the ‘cow’ it is not me! I’m not my thoughts. As real seeming, and as huge an impact as up close and ‘in your face’ thoughts, life events, tragedy, close to death/or birth events – there is IS space. And then there is……

The Chinook Helicopter of thoughts/events/news which just are THERE, taking one over. They are the back story to everything. Benignly there, yet with constant menace and threat. They hang out in every waking moment. And in dreams as well. Life threatening illnesses are as this, impending death is as this, impending birth is as this. I guess we all have our own versions – and yet…..

There is space.
That’s what one knows
as one who can
sit still
in the middle of
a mind full of
‘bulls’!
Be Aware.

This is for Anne right now. See how the bull is really a ‘pussy cat’ all dressed up to look mean and nasty?

Out and About, photograph

Throssel Hole Priory – As It Was

July 23, 2015 Mugo 2 Comments

Here is a photograph from the monastery archive. For those who know this place you will see just what an impact the planting of the thousands upon thousands of trees has had on the general landscape. Back in 1976 this is what the land looked like from the road. There wasn’t a lane running up through the bottom field to the side of the main buildings, as now. Brr, it looks bleak. However with the trees now all grown up into a mature woodland the main buildings are hidden from view and the open land above the farm-house is now wooded.

The Throssel website was relaunched a couple of days ago and is working well. If you go to the Galleries section there are a number of collections of photographs, a number of them taken just about a week ago, which will give you an idea of how things look now. The above photograph is in the gallery titled As it Was in the 1970/’s. Uh! But that I could get that forward slash out of the title but try as I may it isn’t ready to shift.

My part in the relaunch has been confined to photographs and I’m keenly aware that more photographs of How It is Now, especially how it is for retreat guests, are needed.

When I ask visitors who have been coming here since the 1970’s what is the biggest change they invariably say, the trees. And the thousands upon thousands of Rabbits! Anybody have a photograph of them on mass on the lawn?

Bows to those who did the behind the scenes technical work which has made this re-launch go so smoothly and seamlessly.

photograph

Insubstantially Yours – Truly

July 12, 2015 Mugo Leave a comment

Just what has happened in the past days? Weeks since I last posted. Daily life has a way of lifting and carrying one along with few resting places to contemplate, save for the formal meditations. Even our internet connection has been, how can I put it….insubstantial. Take your chances where you can and if ‘it’s down’ a hike up the fields to catch a signal on my mobile device is how I keep in touch. On a basic level. Up there above the monastery it is wild and often windy. A place where wild creatures spread their wings – and fly.

What good fortune last Sunday when I asked a chap visiting here if he was a photographer. Just a chance question. Turns out he was just back from a walk up to the wilder parts and caught images of this owl. In flight, and resting… Perfect.

A photographer is one who has a camera to hand, sees something and has the where-with-all to click the shutter at the critical moment(s). Yes Mark you are a photographer and thank you for sharing what you caught up there in the wilds.

One of the many activities which has had me otherwise engaged is taking photographs for the about to be re-launched Throssel website. I’ve been (in truth, about to) dig around in the photo archives to post images of Throssel as it was years ago, in black and white, to ‘galleries’. So when the site goes live you all will be the first to know about it.

Curiosities, Falls Between the Cracks, photograph

Where Colour Photography Began

June 30, 2015 Mugo Leave a comment

Mount Shasta - 1916 — Mount Shasta – 1916

Words escape me…! These images, in colour and black and white, were taken by National Geographic Society photographers in the early 20th century, curated by Retronaut and showcased by Mashable ,are something to behold. Enjoy, but don’t follow the links unless you have lots of time to spare! That’s if you enjoy photographs, as I do.

These Autochromes – the first commercially available color photographic process – were taken by National Geographic Society photographers. The Society eventually moved on to other slightly more advanced photographic processes and finally to Kodachrome by 1938, but not before amassing a collection of more than 12,000 Autochromes.

These images are truely amazing. An amazing document of the time, of photography and the people (including youthful celebs). Scroll down the page to find more archive images and articles too.

Hat tip to Michael in Canada for sending me the link and bows to Mashable, the National Geographic Society and Retronaut. These images need to be seen, and appreciated.

Daily Life, photograph

Benign Attention

June 20, 2015 Mugo 1 Comment

This is a veranda in Finland. Somewhere. The picture taken very recently. By a reader (thank you for sending it). The image is especially attractive to me combining as it does peeling paint, soft colours and plants striving to lengthen out of their pots.

My ‘bean stalk’ Ivy, now down to a managable size, had to be wrestled out of it’s pot so entangled the root system. Left to their own devices and with fairly benign attention plants grow.

As do we.

And here is a Finnish Proverb:
Niin metsä vastaa kuin sinne huudetaan.
Translation: The forest answers in the same way one shouts at it.

Think about it.

Jade Mountains Buddha Hall