Alternate Kayak Trip

While hiking in the state park I called to see if it would be possible to move my kayak trip up since the rains were right behind me and scheduled to rain all weekend. Chris, from Stormking Adventure Tours said she could get me in on their tour that night. It was a constellation tour of the old castle I'd been so anxious to photograph but in addition a local artist had spent half a million dollars creating a "new constellation" of led bulbs on poles that at night resemble the stars. I was all in. Our float started at sunset so we watched the sun disappear on our way across. Once to the castle we circled around the island waited for each light to come on. I removed myself from the group so that I could stay focused. I was pretty disappointed really, because Chris had made it sound as if we could actually get to go "in" the castle not just float around it, but I accepted the news and still very much enjoyed the night. I loved crossing the Hudson river in the dark on the way back.The tripod I was planning to use for some slow speed night photography was useless of course in a moving kayak. It was hard to get any shots at all with the movement and with little to no light.... but here are a couple I like.

Storm King State Park

The most well hidden "state park" I've ever come across is disguised as a pull over spot on highway 9W in New York. Not until you walk up to read the map will you come across the words "state park". No signs to tell you where to go or even where to enter. I never would have found it without pure chance and perhaps my intuition was working better than my logical mind which said, "there should be a sign".
I first learned of the park on my phone map and then searched for it on the Internet or I never would have known it existed. Lucky for me, very few people knew where to look on this perfectly warm sunny day. I had the most wonderful trail all to myself. I strolled in just a few feet before I realized what I had in store. Lots of rocks and boulders made for a rugged trail, steep climbs and amazing sitting spots overlooking the Hudson River. I sat a couple different times to just be and to meditate but I kept seeing photos that needed to be taken. It was just a perfect day. Eckhart Tolle states that we must all remain in one of three states: acceptance, enjoyment, or enthusiasm. If we can't be enthusiastic then at least enjoy, if you can't enjoy the moment you are in then at least accept it. Enthusiasm is a wonderful state in which to take photos.

Art Park~ Taking Time

I walked and biked alone through the Storm King Art Center while passing through the Hudson River area today. The skies drizzled here and there helping to keep the crowds down on this Saturday. I find it much easier to slow down my mind and be present when I am alone while shooting photos. So much to see here. I concentrated on only those sculptures that spoke to me. These are a few of my favorites. I stayed with each piece that spoke to me till I had a shot I liked.

Listening to Ajahn Brahm's "Space the Final Frontier" talk yesterday during my wet wet drive, I was reminded to look past objects into the space surrounding those objects. The objects in our lives should take a back seat to the space around them. We, ourselves mostly space, need to realize what we put in the space between us and others is extremely important. What we put in the space we surround ourselves with will determine our day, our life.

In keeping with the idea of space but also finding water a "running" theme so far in my trip I took this photo with my new cheap variety underwater camera. I've been wanting for a long time to take photos in the water so I had a wonderful time creating these images this morning.

The rain I drove through yesterday has caught up with me again. It now looks like rain for the kayak trip I planned (which at the time showed plenty of sun :( But, that is ok. I think I will plan for lots of rain for this trip as it is pretty much covering the country right now.

I highly recommend Ajahn Brahm's talks- you can find them here:
https://brahmstalks.wordpress.com/

Raindrops are falling on my Head

This morning I head east. I have a wonderful month of July planned in New York, Hew Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. I start my day in my hot tub as I start everyday, only today I have an even greater sense of appreciation and gratitude for all that I have. As I sat in peace and joy the rain began to fall. It started with just a few random bubbles in the tub with no sight of the drops entering the water, then it built up to miniature eruptions as the incoming drops displaced the still water shooting them straight up for a quick ride. I sat feeling my skin go from cool to cold and then develop goosebumps giving me chills down my back. I sank lower into the warm water and let the cold drops rain down my head and face. Another gift.

I know I will miss my hot tub meditations but I hope to create new morning rituals that will include meditations. I will be starting my trip at Cornwall on the Hudson; a short kayak ride across the Hudson to an old artillery castle, Bannerman Castle, where I hope to be able to get some good shots.

I'll be staying only minutes from Storm King State Park and about an hour from Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY where I will be trained in Tai Chi.

I hope to keep the blog going until I hit the trail. This morning's photo is another phone photo since my camera is packed away with just about everything else I own.

This is the rain on the deck as the water hits and the puddle reflecting the chair above. I removed the color since the photo was about the shapes and textures that caught my eye.

Railside

Remarkable June morning in that the breeze is cool, the sun is out, and the temperature sits somewhere in the 70's. At 7:47 I have already been awake for over four hours enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells from within our piece of the prairie.

Delighting in my last sip of hot lemon water with honey, mmm extra sweet that last drop, I decided to try a phone post using a phone photo (that didn't work... not sure why it wouldn't publish, so I am reposting yesterday's post today). The texture and color of the lemon catching my eye like a miniature sun prompted this photo; just love my new golden prairie grasses swaying in the breeze in the background of this photo.

Such an incredible way to start my day. I am so blessed that I have opportunities like these to witness and marvel at the world around me.

Using Chakra's for Photography

I created this document to be used in our Costa Rica Trip for my part : Meditative Photography. I plan to start with a chakra meditation before we begin our photographic assignments.