As I stood and took a good deep breath, I heard the turkeys calling in the distance. I heard the wind whistling through the trees. I felt the warmth of the sun on my body.

As I walked down the hill, I decided to bring out the one piece of technology I seem to have attached to me often – my camera (via iPhone). I photographed some of the character I noticed on my journey back down the hill and wanted to share it with you.

Please enjoy the pieces of Little Pond I offer you.

Blessings,
Gregory

It carries special memories for me b/c I found it with Max.  I decided to spend some time with it behind the lens to pull out the essence of the antler from my point of view.

I hope you enjoy the photographs.

Greg

As I arrived at Dunnfield Creek.  I came upon the crystal clear mountain water running smoothly through the curvature of the landscape and navigating over and around the rocks and branches.  I entered the creek a close distance from the foot bridge.  I walked gently through the water waiting to find a place that felt right – that looked ideal for the type of photographs I wanted to create.

As I came upon the area of the creek that became my resting point, the sun, which was being filtered by small passing clouds throughout most of the morning, peeked through.  This was not the right time to open the shutter.    I wanted to wait for another cloud – another filter for the sun.

As I waited, I listened.  I heard the water running against its barriers.  I heard the birds singing their song.  I heard the wind whisper in my ear.  This is my serenity.

Once the clouds found their way between the sun and myself again, I opened the shutter.  Some seconds later, it was complete.  The moments of peace and serenity captured in time – for me – and for you…

Over many, many years (and a lot of introspection), I have come to embrace his death with acceptance and grace. I have shared quiet moments when I sense his presence. I have shared moments with friends when I’m reminded of the pain I still feel. The gift through it all is that, as I continue to move through life, there are many things that remind me of him.

Now that I am a father, I see more of him. I see how things he has done affected me and how things he has done affect my son through me. He continues to live through me in that way. I have seen things in my father I swore I would not repeat. I have also learned things from him, in the joyous moments, that I will share with my son and celebrate.

Through it all, there are many times when I still miss him. I miss who I wanted him to be; for me and for Nicholas. It’s those times that are the heaviest for me. Those times pull at my heart and soul and open up the ocean of sadness that I thought would be covered up by now by some mountain of healing and wisdom.

So this brings me to my photographs…When I see the ocean – When I hear it – When I smell it – it holds memory for me. It holds mystery, loss, power, pain, love, tenderness, oneness…

Recently, I was near the area where he died. I created these three photographs in memory of him – because I still love him…I always will.

In Memory of Frank G. Tapler Jr.

Blessings.

Your son,
Gregory

After spending some more time with the question I found interest in seeing color differently – looking past it – looking through it.  I was challenged to look at the structure of my subject…the essence. Here are some images that I hope you enjoy.

These women have been through journey’s in their lives that would bring many men and women to tears.  Their stories are filled with joy, pain, creation, loss and so much more.  I would be kidding myself if I would say that I can capture all of their life experience in a photograph.  I am convinced, however, I provide you with a sense of respect, compassion, and honor for these women through the honesty of these photographs.

There has been a tremendous amount of research on how color affects human beings. Color affects us emotionally, with different colors evoking different emotions.

Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality or “feel” of an object. Textures may be actual (felt with touch – tactile) or implied (suggested by the way an artist has created the work of art -visual).

When we are angry, and aim to harm others, what we are really doing is harming ourselves.  When we embrace the anger and look deeper into its’ roots, we discover a part of ourselves that needs healing.  Once we heal this piece of ourselves, we take back the power the anger once held…creating balance in our life.

See the other images of The Human Spirit on the project page.

I decided to walk around and capture what I saw as the character of The Barn – in the final days of its’ being.  Everything photographed was done so as-is, I moved nothing into place, I simply photographed what was.