Down the Drain ?

I don't mean to sound pessimistic or anything, but every time I open a newspaper, turn on the TV News, or look at the news on the internet, I keep seeing horror stories about the economy, the climate, and the human race. Naturally optimistic, I want to believe that things just can't be as bad as the mainstream press is making them out to be... but jeez Louise, some of these stories can't help but make me wonder if this magnificent house of cards we have built over the past several decades isn't in the process of being washed right down the drain (like these Autumn leaves in Bruges, Belgium, last November). And if that were the case, well, after the deluge, I guess the question to ask will be one that was the title of a book already : "How Should We Then Live ? (The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture)"

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In Bruges !

The enclosed courtyard of the Begjinhof Convent in Bruges, Belgium is one of the loveliest places I've had the good fortune to stumble on recently. Calm and quiet prevail, the trees lean gracefully, while a blaze of late afternoon sun all but obscured the distant church spire... In general Bruges is a beautiful city, well worth the visit ! Don't be put off by the disparaging comments or violence in the movie "In Bruges"... just kidding, I'm sure the producers were doing the best they could to promote tourism in Belgium...
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Bruges Blues

I keep thinking back to a magical day spent slowly strolling through the ancient and wildly photogenic city of Bruges, Belgium, this past November. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be something that needed photographing. Some places just have a higher density of magic in the air than others... how do you explain that?

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Study in Pane

Trying to find the perfect image may be like the quest for the Holy Grail... it may be like the golden rings always just out of reach from the carousel rider... but sometimes you just have to follow your heart... I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I can tell you my heart was thumping away in my ribcage as I tried not to breathe, so as to hold perfectly still for a moment to catch this ethereal, dreamy, smoky vision and press the shutter release ever so gently...
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Bricks on Water

One last piece for the road tonight, before hitting the sack, from Bruges, Belgium. As with some of the earlier posts below, the play of light on water never ceases to fascinate me... when I see the kind of dazzling reflections happening like they were here... I'm like a little kid again... I know, photos like this are a dime a dozen, so forgive me, indulge me... tolerate me...

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Through the Looking Glass

Bruges, Belgium, Nov, 2008, late afternoon sun on a small, unobtrusive residence across the water with brilliant Autumn colors. I couldn't decide which I liked better, the reflection on the water, or the direct view only distorted by the air and the camera lens, or looking glass, whatever... so you get both versions here uncut.

Light in Motion

This is another photo from Bruges, Belgium a couple of weeks ago, on a day when the light was doing extraordinary things... is there ever a day when the light is not extraordinary? Is it in the eye of the beholder? The light on this ancient glass pane was litterally in motion as it reflected a tall tree opposite the window...

Hallucinatory Reflections

While in Bruges, Belgium just a couple of weeks back on a brilliant November morning, saw these Autumn colored trees and striking blue sky reflected in the water of one of the many canals that traverse that lovely city. As I took this, and many other photos there, I was thinking, wow, did someone slip something in my coffee that morning? Am going to have to dissect this image for details... aahh, magic light and color...