January 20, 2015: “Playoffs, Are You Kidding Me”

Tonight ended volleyball, this was first time I had played volleyball since high school gym back at the beginning of the century.  I am naturally athletic always consistent middle of the pack team player who was extremely coachable.  Jumping in from lack of practice was no problem it tookf a few hits to regain control but I had it. 

Not my team

The season was fun, after all it was 10 degrees out and I am playing volleyball in the sand in Buffalo in January.  This season we played as a 4 person team in a 6 person league.  We won some and lost more unfortunately.  The difference in the amount of people on a team was a key contributing factor to the record.  Teams were able to hit the open spots against us.

The Team I'd Hit That

Summer in January

 I wanted to do some photography but the domes light doesn’t allow me to get the crisp awe inspiring images I want to create unfortunately.  I struggled finding a balance.  As much as I love my equipment, I don’t have the right equipment to get the great shots.  The light and shadows are so harsh and popping off a flash is a no go.  All in all some fun was had, I moved and grew and experienced something different.  

Not horrible lighting

January 9, 2015: “Windblown”

Watching the wind fiercely blow the snow

12 degrees, 20 mile per hour wind gusts, snow shooting everywhere. I begin to chase beauty, using the wind to my advantage, watching nature exert amazing strength on a wintry day.  Watching I slowly succumb to nature while trying to get an amazing shot.  Holed up trying to make it till sunset.  The wind keeps blowing, stopping with no rhyme or reason.  I am wearing 2 layers of pants, 3 layers of shirts, a facemask, wool socks, boots and gloves with fingertip holes.  I have to have complete control of my camera, the ability to change functions and capture the perfect shot.   After about 5 minutes the feeling is gone in my fingers. I look down the blowing snow is on my fingertips and sharp pain pierces though. 

An occasional break in the wind as the sun goes down

I had gotten a few shots but was unable to make it till sunset another 15 minutes.  I covered my fingers walked to my car.  The pain pierced like needles, I sat there the heat on waiting for the pain to go away.   At some point it did, I felt amazingly alive just the one fool to be outside trying to get something done create something for myself. 

Beautiful snow being blown

Capturing a snowfilled image means more to me than just the picture.  It is about this project and creating something new everyday, moving forward and following through.  I was windblown, cold an to some extent frozen yet it was the happiest I was all day.  Being outside is where I need to be whether cold or warm I need to be me.