Thursday, September 3, 2009

Photostory Friday: Fishing the Sky

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Chris



"Time is but a stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it, but while I drink I see the sandy bottom, and detect how shallow it is. It's thin current slides away, but eternity remains.

I would drink deeper; fish the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars."

--Henry David Thoreau




Sometimes Thoreau sends me over the edge, but I love this quote.

This year, 2009, I have assigned myself the project of taking at least one picture per day for the entire year. This seems like a rather simple task unless you add the burden of trying to make your pictures at least marginally interesting.

After the first month or so, I found my inspiration lacking on about six out of every seven days, so I developed certain fallback procedures:

Shoot the flowers in the front yard.

Shoot the weeds at work.

Shoot the kids (I just like to write that sentence).



And my number one rule: Never. EVER. Pass up a beautiful sky.




The sky is an ever changing work of art in the greatest gallery of all. I almost never fail to be inspired when I look up.




We are dreamers, we human beings. And when we dream, we dream vertically. I think it's programmed in our very nature. We use the expression "The sky's the limit" precisely because the sky has no limit. As far as we may venture, there is always a farther destination. Always possibility. Always a place to reach. We wish on the stars and we chase the rainbows.




There is always a beyond.




The sky seems designed to entice us, and to inspire us. A beautiful sky stops you in your tracks, it renews you and uplifts you. It calls on you to climb higher; to leave here and go there.




As Thoreau said, it makes you drink deeper.




This is fishing the sky.


Also, I'd like to thank Cecily for the opportunity to host Photostory Friday with her this week. PSF has been a marvelous creative outlet for me, and I'm honored that you asked.

Thanks, Cec.

p.s. Even though the code box looks blank it really is there when you highlight it. I swear!

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Chris

To play PhotoStory Friday, check this. Then copy the code below into your post and sign the Our Blurbs Guest List.
<center><font size="-2"><a href="http://whatworksforus.blogspot.com/2007/06/iphone.html" target="_blank" alt="Photostory Friday"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc50/whatworksforus/pfws.jpg" alt="PhotoStory Friday" border="0"></a><br/>Hosted by <a href="http://mychaosmybliss.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cecily</a> and <a href="http://http://tblads.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Chris</a><p/></font></center>


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21 comments:

Hoosier Homemade said...

Great post! Thanks for co-hosting!
~Liz

{krista} said...

I love photographing the sky. It's one of the best subjects!

Emily said...

That rainbow picture is beautiful...where was it taken. You're in UT, right? I never realized how beautiful that state was...
I'm personally not a Thoreau fan. However, that is a meaningful quote.
To me, looking the sky, helps remind me of my eternal perspective, why I'm really here, and what life is truly about.
Great PSF.

Kristen said...

I love reading your posts and seeing your beautiful pictures. You've got talent, my friend!

Honey Mommy said...

Those are beautiful photographs! You have inspired me to look up more often! (especially once this smoky haze moves out of Utah!)

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

I love the Sky! Wonderful photos and your words always ring true.
Congrats on hosting

Steph said...

You always make me think. I'm always inspired on Friday (or Thursday night). Thank you.
My Grandma always said "Always look at the clouds, sky and sunset." I have always taken her advice, I love the sky also.

Shoot the kids.... hahaha!

Corey~living and loving said...

love this post. You are always an inspiration.

latree said...

hi chris, congratulations for being this weeks guest host...

sky is a never ending inspiration. but if you REALLY think you are out of idea, you can shoot me :D

ah never mind.. your photos are always amazing in so many ways... good luck with a-photo-a-day in a year.

Deb said...

Wow, those are absolutely gorgeous! I've never been very good at capturing the sky, but I'm now inspired to try. :)

puna said...

It's nice to read a man's blog. Here from Momisodes by way of Cecelia...funny how that works.

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

And once again you inspire us all.

Beautiful photos. Beautiful.

Kacey said...

Awesome post Chris and photographs! I have a new camera headed my way to help settle this dreamer down a little...OK, who am I kidding? It's just getting me more jazzed. :D

Danyele Easterhaus said...

what a great post!!!! i love the thoughts added in! good work! and way to go on the "never missing" thing!

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Moving post as always. The pictures are really gorgeous. I recently read a Thoreau quote I really liked too. It goes along with what you wrote about reaching beyond the sky, wishing on the stars,and chasing rainbows - "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." I have it posted on my refrigerator. Dare to dream, right?

Thanks for cohosting this week! I have to mention too - very weird coincidence - my verification word to make this comment is "thiro"...pronounced the same as Thoreau, I would think. Funny, huh? Must be a sign...haha! :)

Momisodes said...

I would have never guessed that you struggled with what to photograph, they are always so incredible. I always imagine you living in one of the most beautiful places because of your photos.

And you're right, the sky is one of the best subjects to photograph :)

So great to see you hosting PSF!

Heidi said...

I love your pictures of the sky. I have been doing a lot of fishing the sky where I live. I am going to post a picture that I took this week tomorrow. We have had fires in our neck of the woods and the hazy smoke, although terrible, has made perfect photo opportunities.
If you'd like to stop by my blog I'm at Cake Crumbs.

Anonymous said...

It's great to see you co-hosting!

I love your post and those are great pictures! I love to sit back and watch the sky. It really is a masterpiece!

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

I think your second to last photo there is AWARD winning! I stumble it! I'm with you.. fishing the sky too.

scrappysue said...

http://my3652009.blogspot.com/
totally missed that you're hosting this week - i guess i used an old code. i should go change it! i have a blog specifically set up for my 365 - my fallback position is the girls sitting on the sofa after dinner pulling funny faces. maybe i should focus on the sky more - i love HT

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Great post and jaw-dropping, drooling gorgeous photos. As always. :)