Evolution has ended - after reviewing the state of humanity, Evolution no longer wishes to take credit for the state of the world.  Before bowing out of the world stage, Evolution would like to extend some gratitude and recognition for those caught up along the way.

First, Creationism - even though Evolution has long been considered the bastard child of Creationism: Evolution would like to extend a warm thanks to Creationism for getting life to crawl out of the ocean and coaxing the first flowers to bloom. We do appreciate that...

Second, Consciousness - Evolution would like to give a round of applause to Consciousness for finally waking up.  Unfortunately it was a little too late to have any effectiveness on the outcome of humankind. Nonetheless we would like to thank Kurt Vonnegut, Oprah Winfrey, Buddha and Jesus for being such strong charismatic figures that helped sprout the likelihood of people actually being nice to each other. What a novel idea...

Last but not least, without the aid of Evolution - Evolution would like to leave all future advancements to the existing-state-of-humanity to figure it out on their own.

Evolution speculates what is anticipated for the conclusion of humanity - "Civilization's future holds the outcome of a non-evolved, non-consciousness, non-creative native population returning back to the oceans. For those of you worried about mass chaos, world panic or other such absurdities, there is no need to worry due to the fact that evolved, creative conscious people are needed for that." 

Enjoy the decline,

~Evolution

CRAIG PHOTOGRAPHY RECOGNIZED IN
THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDING MAGAZINE

Annual Survey of Recently Married Couples in Pittsburgh, PA
Reveals Top Wedding Vendors

Craig Photography is pleased to announce it has been selected as a 2008­­ Pick for The Knot Best of Weddings magazine, a coast-to-coast, by-brides-for-brides guide to the top wedding sites, photographers, florists, and more in over 40 key cities across the United States published by The Knot Inc. the #1 wedding website and most trusted wedding resource.

The Knot conducted its second annual survey of over 20,000 recent brides to capture detailed feedback on every business that couples hired for their wedding celebration.

Pittsburgh newlyweds contributed their raves and reviews on the area's wedding professionals. The newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings-and detailed feedback-were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides. The survey was administered by Harris Interactive

 

Current Reading: The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten

Current Music: This Moment by Steven Curtis Chapman

Mood: Okay, to the plus side of life.

Sounds: Humming

Smells: Rice

Temperature: 51 degrees

Thoughts: Obituary for Evolution (give it a second chance: Most read blog entry (ever) for me with no comments?????  Did you like it, love it, hate it or just didn't get it????

Re-posting from Jack/Zen blog

The responsibility of the artist
"Attending a new book talk by local emerging author, Kate Sopko, who has penned "Stewards of the Lost Lands", a delicious collection of essays and poetry on the significance of community in a post-capitalist era. Questioning the current very outdated version of democracy that continues to mis-serve most, she reflects that "The responsibility of the artist is to help people see that more is possible."

For more on my thoughts on this subject see:
Evolution Has Ended
800 Million solutions
Does birth soil equal entitlement?
Democracy Rant
Effort is the only solution
Live Consciously + Think Integrally
Ethics and Economics
Conscious Consumerism
Can the food industry go the way of the music industry?

Camera:Nikon D200
Exposure:0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:135 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV






Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Photography is not technique
Photography is not ego
Photography is not software
Photography is not a profession
Photography is not art
Photography is not expensive
Photography is not pretentious


Photography is:
Painting with light,
Photography happens before capture,
A service to others,
A skill,
A craft,
A gift

Recent Popular Posts:
Insanely Useful Photography Tips
~ See my tips here
~ See Chase Jarvis tips here

Photo taken by wife....

I have been trying to take a media break from the ongoing of the world. I purposely haven't written (ranted) anything here for the last two weeks due to the fact that I have been limiting my time from the internet. I need more life-less news. What have I learned?

First: I do not play the guitar to play music. I play music on the guitar.
Second: I do not use the camera to take pictures: I photograph within the mind and capture within the camera.
Third: Try not to take from the Earth, rather take what the Earth gives you.

This is our first spring in our new home and perennial flowerers have been popping up all over the place. I have never been much of a flower-shutter-bug type of guy. Nearly every one of my previous flower shots have been taken while photographing other events. It's nice to have all this Mother Nature in my own yard.

This is my rant on the state of U.S healthcare. I don't think many people actually care about their state of health.

The term Universal Healthcare is not a very American slogan in the first place. America does not seem to care about the "Universe". We Americans place 40% of toxins and pollution into the atmosphere and water. We support slavery with our consumerism-mentality. The amount of oil, coal and natural recourses we waste is an uncountable number. America seems also not to care about "healthcare" itself. We are an obese society with a gluttonous fast food nature. So it's no wonder why we cannot get on board with the term "Universal Healthcare".

It's a marketing problem; we need a name change if we want people to get on board. How does this sound: "Get Free Pills". That is something that Americans would line up for.

"Free" consumerism-mentality; that will solve our problems without having to place any effort into the solution. Now that seems American.

P.S. I'm just a little angry. See Frontline - Sick Around The World for an educated perspective.

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 3 sec (3)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 52 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

In responding to MD posting on healthcare, or as he tittles it "sickness care", I would have to say that I think he is about 80% correct.

MD writes:

"First of all, let's clarify terms. "Health care" is misleading - what we in practice are talking about is "sickness care", because one doesn't need care if one is healthy, only when one is sick. "Health" is an abstract term (and, even, a state of mind), whereas "sickness" in terms of medical care is not. If we use concrete terms, we focus on exactly what it is we are talking about."

My question for MD is - What about healthy people that have a disease or disability? You can be very healthy and an active person and be inflicted with cancer, aids, autisms, ms or other medical conditions that are greater than your lifestyle. The reason I agree that MD is about 80% correct is because 80% of all healthcare "sickness" could be cured with proper diet and exercise. I do not like the idea of paying for other peoples' "sickness" when they knowingly create their disease. Personal diets that include trans-fats/hydrogenated oil and over consumption of food to the point of obesity creates disease. I do not want myself or anybody to pay for the sins of a junkie, be it of food, drugs or alcohol.

Should the 20% of people that take care of themselves ("healthy-care") be rejected due to the abuse of 80% of the people who simply do not care ("sickness-care") for their state of well being?

My rant on healthcare was not directed at politics or insurance companies, but at the current state of Americans who simply do not care about their health. This "take a pill" mentality toward prevention is killing off recourses for healthy people inflicted with a disease.

"A life without art and artistic expression is an un-elegant life indeed. Words alone will never express the un-expressable as well as the stroke of a brush or a melody." - Ottmar Liebert

I have been struggling lately with how much I dislike over-produced music. Genuineness of current music seems to be a flat layered sound where emotions and rhythms are now replaced with an automated sequence of downloadable beats and generative sounds.

Natural depth of field adds character to music. Silence, space and acoustics of the room bring out the natural depth of field in musicians, instruments, rooms and most importantly the authenticity of the music.

Again, I am all for keeping one foot rooted in the ancient and one foot rooted in the future when it comes to advancements of the fine arts skills. Music needs to be found in vibration before it digitized.

See: Natural Depth of Field - Photography (here)

This is something I have been working on as of late. I like the technique but I am having a hard time achieving composition I like. What do you think???

How do we create - Something out of nothing - Backyard Photography

I have been working on a different type of photography project. In this venture I have to look at the final image forever! It's for my home. It's true; I have never solely set out to create art for my own space. My home is filled with photographs although they are all images selected from archival work. Never before have I set out knowing where the final image would be displayed.

Completing a project and then detaching myself from the ownership of the work has been one of my favorite aspects of photography. Having passion for the process and being able to let go of the work for somebody else's pleasure or judgment is the ultimate non-attachment for the ending image. In music or acting it seems that you are always selling the song or moment to the audience, but in photography it's one click of the shutter and then on to the next image. The light is never the same twice.

P.S. - The premise I set for myself is that all images must be taken on my own property. The challenge for me is to work with what you got, instead of searching out the perfect location I want to limit the location to what is already there. It makes me feel that it's a sustainable/recyclable photography project. Bring the beauty from the exterior of the home into the interior of the home.