Everyone has battles they fight in their everyday life, such as family and job stresses. But what of the wars that rage within one’s own self? The ever-weighing scale between the things we know which are right, and the deeds we have done that are wrong. Even a young child knows when they act in a way that hurts others without cause. We can assume, with the rare exception, that most people recognize the basic concepts of good and bad.
We all start with the same scaled down version of the rule book. So where did humanity go so far away from following our own natural and true nature? What pains and injustices must we have suffered and forced on each other to steer an entire society so far from its course? Do we even care about the road our world takes in facing its future?
The true nature of the beast lies within. It is not always in the accomplishments, but the intent that our internal balance will weigh. At the end of the day, one should claim they have done their best or been the best person they can be. Any time people enhance or improve their inner self, they add to the advancement of our world as a result. From a small act of kindness extended to another, a multitude of people’s lives may be enhanced, like a tidal wave forming from a single drop of rain. The accumulated experiences of an individual’s life have much to do with creating the person they become; history has great influence over the path of the future. Often the unresolved fears and guilt of the past create the blocks that obscure people from a more peaceful and happy tomorrow.
Clear the roadway between who you are now and the greater individual you will be. The greatest truths awaiting discovery are within the things we already know, but often fail to understand. Woven within the experiences and observations of life are each person’s individual perspective of the truth. The goal is to tell our own selves the truth. The only thing standing between a person and their discovery of inner peace is the person themselves. While we react to exterior influences, we do have control over the person we are within.
Only three conditions need to be met for people to be happier and more peaceful individuals. Forgive yourself for the mistakes of your past, honestly identify the qualities that need improvement about yourself, and always move forward. Simple in concept, but almost impossible in application. Few people dare to brave the horrors of climbing deep into themselves and discover the glorious spirit that resides within. But a more peaceful and wonderful future awaits those who do!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
How will you leave your mark?
We spend our lives with too much self involvement, getting mired in the small details without ever viewing the larger great works being created right in front of us. When a person drops the veils and misconceptions that have been presented as a reality, and allow themselves to accept the things they know within to be true and right, a new awareness and vision emerge. For me, the path was open to find the answers I seek.
The purpose of life, in my opinion, is to continually strive to better ourselves and our understanding of the world around us. To be true to our purpose and move forward, ever growing and evolving in who we as a species have become. To one day evolve beyond the barriers of this world and move forward into an existence of spirit or energy beyond our current abilities.
As a species, we have been passing forward the sum of our learning and existence to the generations that come after us. Through the works left behind, from cave paintings to written word, we express our perspectives and understandings to anyone and everyone who will take notice. We are creatures of expression, needing to make our mark and be recognized. The human race has been on a long and difficult journey in understanding our place in creation. The messages created of our concepts and ideas have been recorded through history in art and writing and in our ever growing forms of expression. We seek with hope and faith while trying to understand with science and philosophy, and in everything we do we cry out to say “I am.”
With expression, we communicate and mix our experiences and perspectives to an overall greater truth and knowledge. Exploring life, we add our chapter to a larger and continually expanding manuscript of human existence. We crave acknowledgement for the things that have been accomplished, to be understood and leave a mark on history. As a race, we strive to become something better than we are as individuals. Creating, and becoming creators ourselves. Making an honorable, lasting impression on the universe, and perhaps time itself. Faith in a greater purpose gives people the desire to strive for better, while evolution and reason define the details of our learning along this journey.
The human race has great curiosity and imagination, we dream of things both real and of fantasy. In every fragment of our essence we crave to be the masters of our own destinies and the creators of our future. Reaching into the depths of our individuality as well as out to the stars in an attempt to answer the questions of our existence and place in everything.
We are the only creatures I know who spend their entire lives documenting and recording themselves, in millions of forms and in millions of ways we say I am, was and have been, I must leave my mark, I creator, see what I have done. So Create! Take a photograph, draw a picture, write a line, sculpt, build, design, teach or communicate. Create, invent and imagine because that is what it means to be human and for all of us I might even speculate that this is the true meaning of life, and the answer to everything we are, to leave our mark, to be remembered.
The purpose of life, in my opinion, is to continually strive to better ourselves and our understanding of the world around us. To be true to our purpose and move forward, ever growing and evolving in who we as a species have become. To one day evolve beyond the barriers of this world and move forward into an existence of spirit or energy beyond our current abilities.
As a species, we have been passing forward the sum of our learning and existence to the generations that come after us. Through the works left behind, from cave paintings to written word, we express our perspectives and understandings to anyone and everyone who will take notice. We are creatures of expression, needing to make our mark and be recognized. The human race has been on a long and difficult journey in understanding our place in creation. The messages created of our concepts and ideas have been recorded through history in art and writing and in our ever growing forms of expression. We seek with hope and faith while trying to understand with science and philosophy, and in everything we do we cry out to say “I am.”
With expression, we communicate and mix our experiences and perspectives to an overall greater truth and knowledge. Exploring life, we add our chapter to a larger and continually expanding manuscript of human existence. We crave acknowledgement for the things that have been accomplished, to be understood and leave a mark on history. As a race, we strive to become something better than we are as individuals. Creating, and becoming creators ourselves. Making an honorable, lasting impression on the universe, and perhaps time itself. Faith in a greater purpose gives people the desire to strive for better, while evolution and reason define the details of our learning along this journey.
The human race has great curiosity and imagination, we dream of things both real and of fantasy. In every fragment of our essence we crave to be the masters of our own destinies and the creators of our future. Reaching into the depths of our individuality as well as out to the stars in an attempt to answer the questions of our existence and place in everything.
We are the only creatures I know who spend their entire lives documenting and recording themselves, in millions of forms and in millions of ways we say I am, was and have been, I must leave my mark, I creator, see what I have done. So Create! Take a photograph, draw a picture, write a line, sculpt, build, design, teach or communicate. Create, invent and imagine because that is what it means to be human and for all of us I might even speculate that this is the true meaning of life, and the answer to everything we are, to leave our mark, to be remembered.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Road Trip - Cliff Nichols, Square Dance Caller – And 2 other updates
In December of 2009, Lori and I made a working road trip up north to photograph several clients over an extended four day weekend. One of our clients was Square Dance Caller Cliff Nichols, who is also a good friend. Cliff generously hosted our stay, as well as allowed us to use his home as a studio. The trip was great fun and we were able to do some wonderful work for several people who had been requesting sessions for some time, but were unable to schedule the long trip south to see us.
We would like to thank Mr. Nichols for his friendship and hospitality which made the trip such a rewarding experience. The story and passion of his work is inspiring, and we would like to present a few of the images from this shoot, and share a little about the man and his journey.
This is an excerpt from his website at Cliff Nichols, Square Dance Caller - http://www.cjnic.net/caller and a few of our favorite images from that session. The rest of his story and more of the images can be found on his site.
“First beginner class 1972 with my father Johnnie Nichols in Salinas California. Danced off and on until 2004 when Dad passed away, and I went through beginner classes with the Boots and Laces. Dad always wanted me to learn to call, but I would not put in the work. As I began dancing again, I felt compelled to at least try to see if I could actually be a caller. I enlisted the assistance of the B&L caller Seattle's own red hot caller Mr. Eddie Harry, and borrowed his old Hilton, bought a microphone and started practicing. On Sept. 2 2005 I did my first singing call, something called "Those Memories Of You". My legs didn't collapse, nobody threw anything at me, and the work continued. My good friend Bob Shiver found me my first setup, a Hilton 95, and now I had a microphone, records, and a PA. With Eddie's help, I started learning to patter by helping teach lessons for the Boots and Laces, and I will always be indebted to those poor students that had to put up with brilliant calls such as Heads pass the ocean, wheel and deal.
************************************
Our latest book project - "Beautiful Souls" A Portrait Study of 11 Women - has been published and is now available at our bookstore at blurb - http://www.blurb.com/user/store/RGebbiePhoto
This project was such a wonderful experience to create, and extremely rewarding. To see the response to their pictures, their faces lighting up in joy, and to see them walk away with more confidence and a new sense of pride, well, that makes the work worthwhile.
Responses on "Beautiful Souls"
Sandra L - I truly love the pictures they are beautiful omg you two are amazing i love you.
Anne...
- I was over to the site yesterday and saw your blog I think it was, with a few photos. Nice. I love photos of "real" people. We're beautiful too, us real people who are not models!
Mike
W: ...- It's a very good book. The pic's are very nicely done, My hat's off to Mr. G. It's an awesome job. Thank you, and R.H.A. say's to tell you she gives it a 10 out of 10.
*****************************
RGebbiePhoto would like to announce the opening of our new merchant store at Zazzle. This new addition has enabled RGebbiePhoto to present our creative illustrations and photographic works on fun and exciting products, from mugs and apparel to wall posters and novelty items. Please feel free to stop by and browse our current selections, bookmark the site, and return often as we continue to expand the variety of products and designs we make available for our friends and customers.
Anyone can enjoy a little Zazzle in their life –
http://www.zazzle.com/RGebbiePhoto
We would like to thank Mr. Nichols for his friendship and hospitality which made the trip such a rewarding experience. The story and passion of his work is inspiring, and we would like to present a few of the images from this shoot, and share a little about the man and his journey.
This is an excerpt from his website at Cliff Nichols, Square Dance Caller - http://www.cjnic.net/caller and a few of our favorite images from that session. The rest of his story and more of the images can be found on his site.
“First beginner class 1972 with my father Johnnie Nichols in Salinas California. Danced off and on until 2004 when Dad passed away, and I went through beginner classes with the Boots and Laces. Dad always wanted me to learn to call, but I would not put in the work. As I began dancing again, I felt compelled to at least try to see if I could actually be a caller. I enlisted the assistance of the B&L caller Seattle's own red hot caller Mr. Eddie Harry, and borrowed his old Hilton, bought a microphone and started practicing. On Sept. 2 2005 I did my first singing call, something called "Those Memories Of You". My legs didn't collapse, nobody threw anything at me, and the work continued. My good friend Bob Shiver found me my first setup, a Hilton 95, and now I had a microphone, records, and a PA. With Eddie's help, I started learning to patter by helping teach lessons for the Boots and Laces, and I will always be indebted to those poor students that had to put up with brilliant calls such as Heads pass the ocean, wheel and deal.
************************************
Our latest book project - "Beautiful Souls" A Portrait Study of 11 Women - has been published and is now available at our bookstore at blurb - http://www.blurb.com/user/store/RGebbiePhoto
This project was such a wonderful experience to create, and extremely rewarding. To see the response to their pictures, their faces lighting up in joy, and to see them walk away with more confidence and a new sense of pride, well, that makes the work worthwhile.
Responses on "Beautiful Souls"
Sandra L - I truly love the pictures they are beautiful omg you two are amazing i love you.
Anne...
- I was over to the site yesterday and saw your blog I think it was, with a few photos. Nice. I love photos of "real" people. We're beautiful too, us real people who are not models!
Mike
W: ...- It's a very good book. The pic's are very nicely done, My hat's off to Mr. G. It's an awesome job. Thank you, and R.H.A. say's to tell you she gives it a 10 out of 10.
*****************************
RGebbiePhoto would like to announce the opening of our new merchant store at Zazzle. This new addition has enabled RGebbiePhoto to present our creative illustrations and photographic works on fun and exciting products, from mugs and apparel to wall posters and novelty items. Please feel free to stop by and browse our current selections, bookmark the site, and return often as we continue to expand the variety of products and designs we make available for our friends and customers.
Anyone can enjoy a little Zazzle in their life –
http://www.zazzle.com/RGebbiePhoto
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
"Beautiful Souls" A Portrait Study of 13 Women
Recently, I asked a small group of women I know if they were interested in being involved in a project with us. 12 women graciously accepted our invitation, and the end result is our new book, “Beautiful Souls”. The work we got from the shoot has just floored us. We were hoping for some good shots, a book to be shared in the social circle we travel in, and a good time for everyone. But what we got was just amazing. To see these women transform from their regular lives into someone soft and alluring, inviting and sexy, well, what can I say other than it’s been one of the most pleasurable projects I’ve had to final edit.
We wanted to show our friends that they were truly beautiful, and were, indeed, works of art. These are not “models”, these are just regular women that I know socially. We had our friend, Kaleena Ackelson, do the makeup, and Robert took the shots. I, of course, rounded them all up, got the contracts signed, and am working on the final edit of the book. We still have three women left to shoot this weekend, and the book will be at the publisher by the end of the month. (We are pre-selling the book, for those interested. 80 pages, Hardcover $35, Softcover $25. Shoot me an email at RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com with the quantity and style you want, and I will send back a money request.) The book will be available to the public on our website, www.RGebbiePhoto.com in our bookstore after February 1st, 2010.
These are a few pictures from the shoot, the book images will differ slightly.
We wanted to show our friends that they were truly beautiful, and were, indeed, works of art. These are not “models”, these are just regular women that I know socially. We had our friend, Kaleena Ackelson, do the makeup, and Robert took the shots. I, of course, rounded them all up, got the contracts signed, and am working on the final edit of the book. We still have three women left to shoot this weekend, and the book will be at the publisher by the end of the month. (We are pre-selling the book, for those interested. 80 pages, Hardcover $35, Softcover $25. Shoot me an email at RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com with the quantity and style you want, and I will send back a money request.) The book will be available to the public on our website, www.RGebbiePhoto.com in our bookstore after February 1st, 2010.
These are a few pictures from the shoot, the book images will differ slightly.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New additions, Briar Wood Smoking Pipes!
Now available, Freehand Briar wood smoking pipes! Each pipe has been hand crafted to emphasize the beauty of the grain, and polished to an almost glass finish! Briar wood has always been the preferred wood for quality pipes, built to last decades in your collection.
http://www.rgebbiephoto.etsy.com
http://www.rgebbiephoto.etsy.com
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