Tag Archives: Meditation

Xochicalco

In the Mexican state of Morelos, there is an ancient temple complex that may date as far back as 200bc.  This archeological site is known as Xochicalco or “the place of flowers,” and during 700-900ad it was populated by up to 20,000 inhabitants. The actual identity of the people who lived there is unknown, but they are believed to have been Mayan influenced.  Although in its heyday, it was a bustling trade city, this place is now a tranquil park, more suited for meditation, and contemplation.

The day we went to Xochicalco was hot and humid, two things that this polar bear does not suffer well.  As soon as we reached the temple complex, I was off and running, trying to make as many different images as possible before my sightseeing companions got bored and wanted to head home.  Within ten minuets of working I was drenched in sweat.  I really wish I had had more time to explore, as Xochicalco is truly magnificent.  Although, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, you basically have the run of the place and can climb the temples and explore the ancient ruins at will.  I don’t know if in the hour I had to shoot, I was able to capture much, but I do know in the future I would love to return to another temple complex.  In the end, I got scurried away by a grounds keeper that wouldn’t let me use my tripod, but was fascinated by what I was doing.  He kept trying to to use my camera to take my photo for me.  If my phone hadn’t started to ring, telling me to come back to the car, I’m sure I could have gotten a final shot with more than one of me standing on the top of the temple.

I used my Neutral Density filter for these images, and although I do love it, I am still learning how to make the best images.  I have not yet decided such things as how I look in sun versus shadow, etc.  After doing so much work at night, I can generally visualize exactly what will happen in any given circumstance, but in daylight I am often surprised. One of the things I don’t love about this filter is the color shift; it generally muddies and grays out colors.  Thus, I decided to push them off the gamut.  I like the results, but they are not set in stone.

The House of One Hundred Years of Solitude

In mid August, I headed down to Cuernavaca, Mexico, to visit with my old friend Marela Zacarias.  Marela grew up around Mexico City but currently resides in New York City; she was on a trip to visit family and I was invited to tag along.  The house we stayed at has been in her family for generations.  This beautiful compound is a bit like Marquez’s House of a Hundred Years of Solitude.  It is built on a large sloping hillside that is terraced and ends in a deep barranca below.  Each level accommodates different areas including gardens, swings, walkways, and swimming pools, all in various states of repair.

There is a special magic to a place like this, a place where there are echoes of parties long since past, children grown up, and a future yet to come.  One can imagine golden era Hollywood starlets, flirting under the canopy of lush trees, limbs embracing each other like lovers. If you listen carefully you can hear the sounds of children squealing in delight as they dash down the waterslide, crashing into the grotto like swimming pool.  Here and there are the shadows of gardens being taken back by the jungle, gardens that must have grown abundant tropical flowers.  The past is present, but there is also a great deal of promise, as slowly the structures are being reinforced against a climate that loves to decay anything in its grasp.  Who knows what mysteries will unfold or what tails of love will transpire.

On a trip to the local artisans market, I purchased a small handmade, papier-mâché tiger mask.  As I have previously discussed, I am trying to incorporate some different costumes and props into my images.  One of the things I have always liked about working with long exposures is the anonymity, as my face is usually blurred and unrecognizable.  I think that this allows my viewers to place themselves into the images.  Now that I am fequently working in full daylight, using my neutral density filter, I find that I am more recognizable and a masking is a great solution.  In the past, I created a lot of images dealing with issues of masking, whether through makeup, costumes or just personal identity.  I feel like this is an interesting integration between work that is old and new.

Fun with New Friends

On our last night at The Sacred Door Trail opening ceremonies, I had stirred enough interest in my photography to obtain two playmates: Foxie Flambe and Melanie Malia.  This was a lovely break from my normal self-portrait style as I had both models and new ideas flowing my way.  The night began with Foxie quietly asking me if I would like to wear a feather mohawk to the final event of the day, a wonderful African drumming group called The Drum Brothers.  Of course! Silly question. After shaking all our inhibitions loose on the dance floor, we headed out into the meadow armed with my usual lights and Foxie’s LED hula-hoop.  In the end, the hoop became the toy of choice and I think we got some really different types of images, possibly even giving the light painters a run for their money.

The mohawks added such a fun element to the images that I am definitely thinking about adding some costumes back into my work.  I find that there is such a freedom in having a prop to work off of when making this type of image, whether it is a light, a costume, a person, or an object.  Since I am generally working alone these days, sans Aloyse Blair, I find that I need this element to create some sort of a storyline or the images can become very flat.  In my mind, the most successful images keep you wondering and never let you complete the sentence.  You must come back over and over, wondering what exactly are you viewing.  The images are like questions rather than punch lines. Props help me to create these types of images.  The hardest thing for me to do is work in full moon light without props, as you will be able to see in the next post.  Until then, enjoy the Fake Full Moon Mohawk Dancer, Spirograph, The Flaming Mohawk, The Exploding Cloud Heart, and Meditating Moon Panda.

The Sacred Door

Late this June I was invited to the Big Hole area of Montana to be part of the ceremonial opening of The Sacred Door Trail.  This trail was conceived and created by Weston Pew, a Montana native, with a lot of vision.  After hiking the Camino de Santiago himself, and then further exploring ideas of pilgrimage, spirituality, and healing; Weston decided to connect several existing trails and create the first interfaith, American based, pilgrimage route.  The trail covers approximately 175 miles of remote wilderness and generally takes about a month to hike.

 

For the opening, a group of about seventy-five gathered to light and tend a sacred fire that burned for three days and nights.  While the fire was burning, the group was involved in ceremonies led by different spiritual leaders from around the world.  Among the vast variety of faiths and ideologies represented, we were especially grateful to engage in Sufi dances, Buddhist and Christian prayers, Hindu Pujas, Kundalini yoga practices, sound healing ceremonies led by Peruvian shamans, and even the chance to smoke a nineteenth generation peace pipe with Chief Looking Horse, bundle keeper for the entire Sioux nation.

 

The event was held at the western most portal of the trail, in an enormous meadow, at Hogan cabin (this cabin gets my vote for the world’s cutest cabin).  Surrounded by pine trees, filled with thousands of purple and blue flowers, flooded with starlight and a waxing moon, I could have not asked for a more beautiful place to make images.  Due to the fact that we were all camping, it was really easy to grab my camera, walk a short distance away and find a terrific shooting location.  These images were shot over three nights and I am very happy with how they turned out.

 

 

As a final note, I just wanted to say that getting to experience this ceremony, the new friends I made during the process, and where it has led me over the course of my summer is already having profound effects on my spiritual growth as well as pointing me in the direction of a future I could not have previously imagined.  For that, I thank Weston Pew for inviting me, and every one who came, participated, and made it a very special event.

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand

It has been a really long time since I have done any personal work. It feels so strange not to be working with Aloyse.  I really wish that she had been here tonight. There are just some things that work better when there are two people.  I had to resort to putting the camera remote trigger between my teeth, and well that really didn’t help, so I didn’t get some of the shots I had imagined.

This image is my homage, to not only the golden Buddhist temples I have been visiting here in Thailand, but also to the temple gong that wakes me up every morning at 5am.  I have never been able to sit still and meditate; I have no discipline in that area of my life whatsoever.  I often dream, even make resolutions to start meditating… but nope, it never happens.  So, when that gong starts going off, I snuggle deeper under the covers and smile to myself, thinking of all the wonderful monks on their way to enlightenment, and here I lie, completely content with my suffering, warm in bed.  It’s a silly, delicious moment that I have come to savor in the wee hours of my jet-lagged sleep.  This image is me and my monkey mind… never settling down.