Just Rambling……..

I just got back home from visiting my son and best buddy Adam in Wilmington, NC. Hard to believe he’s actually graduating UNCW next month. To say I am proud of him is an absolute understatement. I am going to be one proud Papa when I see him walk up and receive his diploma. His fluency in Spanish is going to be a great asset to him no matter what he pursues in life. I can see him teaching eventually, just like my Dad and I, but then again…who knows. He’ll find his calling eventually just like I did after a few years serving in the Army.

We had a great time last night hitting a few of our favorite pubs before having dinner. I really like Wilmington and can see myself retiring there in the near future. There’s so much more to do than in this little coastal vacation town I live in. I especially enjoyed looking at the art at the Bottega Art and Wine gallery and drinking Hoppy Otter Pale Ale at Cape Fear Beer and Wine. They have an awesome selection of beers from around the world and a very cool ambiance. I’m sitting here drinking a pint of Brown Ale I brewed last month. It’s tasting really smooth after sitting in my beer room for over a month. So yes…I can see myself packing up and moving to Wilmington in the near future. I have lived in Morehead City NC for over 20 years and it is time for a change. I just have to put in a few more years at Carteret Community College and I’m outa here. I’m not really complaining, its just that this New Yorker is ready to get on with the next chapter of his life. I want to direct more of my energy into more creative endeavors like writing, photographing and painting instead of teaching and administering the Distance Learning program at my college. I can’t truly explore and investigate my creative sensibility when I’m teaching, freelancing and administering 60+ hours a week. Again…not whining here - I am lucky and blessed to have so many career options and opportunities its just that I am ready to move into another direction with my life.

My daughter Andei is going to a language festival in Germany tomorrow. She apparently won an essay contest at her school to take this exciting trip. I miss her terribly, BUT I know she’s learning and growing so much going to school in Sicily and being exposed to so many wonderful cultural and creative opportunities. How many 15 year old girls American can say they speak fluent Italian and have had the travel experiences Andei has had. My week vacation is over and I have to gear up for work tomorrow. Two days of teaching and then I go to new Bern for the Distance Learning Alliance conference where I am presenting next Wednesday afternoon.

  So anyway…I’m just rambling here - its my Blog so if I want to ramble I can. Seeing all the ArT in Wilmington has inspired me to carve out some time to do some more mixed media pieces. I have some ideas for more journal paintings - I just need to get the paint and easel out and get with it. So much art to make and so little time.

On Vacation

I am enjoying a little time off from my primary teaching and Distance Learning job at Carteret Community College. I still have some freelance teaching commitments, but at least I have a little time to kick back and relax. I went on a day trip to Oriental, NC Saturday with my photographer friend Rebecca and took a few photographs. I got some (see below) I feel good about. I plan on doing some work on the book project this week and hopefully doing some more shooting. My creative spirit soars when I have some stress free time to write and photograph.

Oriental Landscape - I love the play of light and shadow on this metal building

Mrs. Davis Shop - This building has seen better days

This guy was a real character - love his beard!

I just liked the composition and texture of this image

 

Front Page News!

When Sue, Laurie and I struggled up the Atlantic Beach bridge at around the 5 mile mark of the 1/2 marathon Saturday, we were slammed back by monsoon like winds and rain in addition to some hail. The weather was absolutely surreal to say the least. I reached out and grabbed the hands of my 2 very special running buddies as we fought our way to the top of the bridge. It seemed like we were not making any forward progress even though we were moving our legs. To top it off my IPod died from getting so wet and the great tunes I downloaded to keep my going STOPPED just before we made it to the top of the bridge. I was listening to the mad guitar riff from “Free Bird” when the music went silent and all I could here were the surreal sounds of wind, intense rain and a few cars driving by us. I looked up and there was the photographer Dylan Ray from the News-Times. He got down low and snapped off this shot which ended up on the front page of the Carteret News-Times. We all somehow knew that the photo he took would be published AND it was. I don’t know how we (I) finished the race considering the wretched conditions, but somehow we all made it to the finish line. It was God’s grace and sheer inner determination that got us all to the end of that race. We had to pull from WAY DOWN DEEP” to run 13+ miles in those conditions. Heck…I have never run over 8 miles in my life.

Front Page Carteret News-Times Sunday Edition

Yes I’m CRAZY!

I woke up to torrential rain, loud thunder and lighting this morning and remembered…..I am running in a half marathon. 13 miles! I must be absolutely insane. I suppose I am because I did get up after a restless sleep and headed to the Civic Center in MC to check in for the run. There were close to 500 runners milling about probably asking themselves the same question I was. Run 13 miles in 40 mph winds and rain…gotta be freakin NUTS. Runners for the most part are a bit manic so I was in good company. The rain subsided until 8:30am, BUT when the gun went off the rain came back in all its glory - in fact…by the time we got to the Atlantic Beach bridge it was coming at us sideways and the wind was blowing us back - I felt like I was standing still as I ran. Looking back to this morning I honestly don’t know how I finished this race in 2 hours. It was GOD and ADRENALIN the last 4 miles. It was great to see so many friends like my Racquetball buddy Jeff cheering us on and dishing out water and gatorade. I promised you all some photos so here they are. I’ve been told that Sue, Laurie and I made the front page of the local paper as we struggled running up the AB bridge - if we did I will post it tomorrow.

Thanks Rebecca for taking these great photos! 

Looks Like More Rain

A Posed Shot Before the Race with Laurie and Sue

Start of Race Before the Rain got Heavy

Almost at the Finish Line - I’m Hurtin!

Made it! A Goal Accomplished.

I am spending the rest of this weekend recuperating - it was well worth the pain, and enduring the rain because tonight I am enjoying some of the “grape and the grain”

cheers!

Running a Half Marathon - Crazy or WHAT?

   Yes…I’m running a half marathon tomorrow morning. Thirteen…yes - 13 + miles and it’s suppose to be rainy and windy. UhhG! When I’m not brewing beer and working 60 + hours a week teaching photography, art appreciation online AND running the distance learning program at CCC this crazy Irishman has been working out (cross training) HARD this past year. I made it up to 8 1/2 miles in my training so the last 5 miles for me are going to be all GUTS and GOD. I rode most of the course yesterday on my bike just to keep my legs loose and tonight after work hit the gym for a steam and hot tub to get my OLD muscles loosened up for the race. When I first saw the weather report for race day I must admit I was a bit freaked out BUT now I am totally jazzed and feel ready to do this no matter what the conditions are. My IPod shuffle has 2 hours of great rocking music (Flogging Molly, Drop Kick Murphy, the Who, Meatloaf …yes Meatloaf) and all kinds of great high energy tunes to help me along the way. Stay tuned for the photos to be posted tomorrow afternoon. Click below for map of race route.

Crystal Coast Half Marathon- Certification
Find more Runs in Morehead City, North Carolina

Brewing Again!

Its been awhile (8+ years) since I last brewed a batch of beer. My good old friend Evan Roderick recently passed away and left me 2 cases of grolsch bottles and some malt extracts so I decided to brew up a batch in his honor. The only thing I screwed up was using over the counter sugar instead of brewing sugar so my Nut Brown Ale is a bit sweet, BUT very tasty.

It’s getting better by the day. Anyway…I’m enjoying my latest home brew and plan to make another batch next week. I find making beer to be very therapeutic - the only thing more therapeutic for me is drinking the stuff.  It’s Friday and I am in need of some serious therapy.

cheers!

The Human Element

I’ve written a lot about “teaching with technology” and harnessing the power of the internet / computing into education. Lately I have been thinking back to when we didn’t have the internet, e-mail, cell phones or computers.

We taught our students in classrooms “face to face” without anything more complicated than overhead projections and slides. There’s no doubt in my mind that we as college teachers in 2008 are working harder and longer trying to keep up with the various software, hardware and course management systems that constantly are getting upgraded with new and more sophisticated versions. Sure, I’m a strong proponent of distance learning and incorporating technology into my photography and art courses, however I think it’s important for educators to step back every once in awhile and remember that our primary focus should always be on teaching students.  We’re dealing with human beings and it’s very easy to lose sight of the human element when we are all caught up (and stressed out) by the various dynamics and challenges of incorporating technology into our teaching.

I for one am a little nostalgic for the days when I spent hours in the darkroom and studio with my students - now I teach digital imaging, graphic design and commercial illustration (for the most part) via the internet and blackboard. So the questions is….HOW do we as instructors keep and nurture the HUMAN ELEMENT in our courses? That I believe is our challenge as we forge ahead in this new millennium.

Our “BUSY” Lives

I must admit that even though I spent a good part of the day evaluating and grading homework essays and discussion board posts from my 6 + online classes it was a relatively relaxing and quiet day. The college was closed for Martin Luther King day and I was able to work at my own pace. It struck me how incredibly BUSY we are in this post-modern secular culture. How many people these days can step back and truly take a break from the constant demands of their jobs, families, friends and social (church) commitments. Has technology been a gift or a curse? There’s no doubt I work much harder now than I did 10 - 15 years ago before e-mail, cell phones, internet, instant messaging, voice mail, etc. I’m not sure why this is. Many other people tell me the same thing. I’m not sure if my quality of life has improved because of advances in technology. Sometimes I think I’m just spinning my wheels answering (or deleting) the countless e-mails I get. Sure…there is a lot of good things to be said for all the new ways we have to communicate to one another, BUT with that said, are we really communicating effectively or is it just a bunch of distracting noise that keeps us from living calmer, quieter, peaceful lives?

As I get older I want more peace and quite in my life. Less noise, chatter and chaos. It’s so easy to get caught up in the incredibly fast pace of modern American society. Personally I want to figure out ways to escape the constant noise of it all. There is something to be said about just sitting and being quite and listening to the gentle “voice ” within.

Food for thought this very cold Monday evening….

Observations and Revelations

There’s a subtle connotation of sadness and introspection in many of my black & white photographs that I’ve taken over the years. This revelation hit me HARD while I was organizing, editing and scanning my negatives for the book project. Even many of the ones that don’t have people in them communicate a sense of solitude, isolation and quite sadness. Is it because I was experiencing sadness as I composed the pictures?

Self Shadow Portrait, Beaufort 1988

Adam at Atlantic Beach, 1995

Robin at Ft. Macon 1983

I’ve asked myself where this subliminal sadness come from? Is sadness different from depression? I think it is because I can be feeling a little sad, somber and introspective yet not necessarily be depressed. I think the sadness is very deep rooted in my Irish Catholic heritage. My mother also struggles with sadness and slight depression, yet she doesn’t even know where it comes from most of the time.

Adam on Long Island, 1987

I think it may be deeply ingrained in my Celtic genes (heritage) and goes back to the potato famine and even before when the Vikings (then the English) conquered Ireland and misplaced so many of my people. Is it possible to carry the heavy sadness of generations that came before me? The Irish can be incredibly fun loving and joyous people, but they (based on personal experience) can be very introspective, highly creative slightly manic and sad as well being incredible storytellers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining about these revelations and feelings – I’m just making an observation based on my personal experiences and my photographs.

Banks Street Woods, 1998

I’m slowly making progress with my book, although now that school’s kicked back in I’m not getting as much accomplished as I would like. I have a 3 day weekend and hope to digitize more black & white negatives and journal pages.

Ocracoke Beach 1993

I also have to get some new photographs framed and ready for a Juried Exhibit in Raleigh and the Art From the Heart show that opens here in Morehead next month. So I suppose I need to shake IT off and get back to work. Just something to ponder as I sift through my photographic archive of over 30 years.

Adam at MHC Park, 1993

Andei Waking Up, 1995

Amberlie in Window Light 1994

When I see a potential photograph in my field of view I go into my “shooting zone”. From that point on the image making process becomes very intuitive. Everything from setting my aperture, shutter speed, composition, framing, subject placement and angle are become a involuntary response to my subject based on my personal style and approach. I photographically explore every aspect, gesture, expression and angle possible during those brief moments that my subject (no matter what it is) interests me. So when I say that many of my images have a somber tone to them I wonder if it’s something I am doing subconsciously in addition to the emotional response I create in my subjects during my photographic investigation of them.

One final note on this BloG entry. There are no winners in divorce and I’m well aware that my photographs, writing and art have been impacted greatly by the demise of my 2 marriages over the past 22+ years. With that said, I’m very, VERY blessed and fortunate to have wonderful, kind and even loving relationships with my children’s mothers. I’m not sure how many single Dad’s can say that.

food for thought…

Click Here for more Ireland Photographs

Andei’s Photographic Eye

I’m finally pulling myself out of my birthday blues and been thinking about what a great time I had in New York over Christmas with my daughter Andei. School’s kicked in with a vengance and I haven’t had much time to truly look at the photographs we took while visiting my parents on Long Island. I’m really impressed with Andei’s EYE for composing very unique and highly conceptual photographs. She may not even realize she’s doing it - it may be intuitive, but nonetheless she has a special talent for capturing little slices of reality that many (most) people miss.

Mom framed by Water Bottles by Andei

Mom framed by TV and Wined Glass by Andei 12/07

I’m especially intrigued by the portraits she took of my parents. There is no doubt that she captured them both. I would have never thought to take these photographs. I normally slip into snap shot mode at parties and Andei continues to visually explore and investigate her subject matter where ever she is.

Dad with Glass of Wine by Andei

Dad in Mirror by Andei

Unfortunately I don’t get to spend much time with my daughter these days with her living in Sicily, however - I always tell her, ” it doesn’t matter how many months we’re apart and how far away she lives, I ‘m her Dad and time and distance can’t take my love for her away - I will ALWAYS be her Dad and I love her dearly.

Andei and I in Manhattan

Pretzels by Andei

The weekend is coming to a close. Both my football teams won. Green Bay and the NY Giants. Now they will face off in Green Bay next week. I wanted to work on the BOOK a little this weekend, but I got caught up working on my online classes. The first 10 days is critical to the success of an online class and I wanted to be very proactive and engaged with my 150+ students from all over the state and beyond. Its time to dish out the Chile I made in my crock pot and start winding things down for the night. I have a big week ahead…seems like every week is demanding these days. Retirement is just around the corner and my son Adam graduates UNCW this May so I will be able to back off some of my freelance adjunct teaching jobs and get back to making art and writing.
cheers!