I Ride My Own White Horse ...

Why 13,286 Photos?

I was recently asked how many photos I had uploaded to Flickr.  I knew the number was well over 12,000 taken over the past 3 years.  This got me to think about why I have so many photos?  Why do I take pictures?  I also attended a wonderful photography workshop where I learned a great deal about post-production and editing.  A world I've tried to avoid.

So what is the answer?  In all honestly I have more than one answer as I take photos for many reasons.  The first reason is to record an event.  These photos may or may not have artistic value, but they have meaning.  They capture a moment in time that I want to remember.  I guess deep down I am afraid I will forget the details so I take LOTS of these pictures.

The second reason is to capture beauty.  This is the area in which I constantly struggle yet wish to improve.  When I look at one of these pictures I want to see and feel "WOW" I did that!  

During the photography workshop last week I took well over 600 pictures; however I would only want to truly share about 30.  Which I did on Facebook.

But I also created a short video that I hope captures the feeling from that week-end ... it's only a couple of minutes long, but I think it turned out pretty good.

My head is exploding .... hand me the duct tape!

On Monday evening I attended the Create Huntington Summit where the details of a recent study was released outlining the challenges facing this City.  While the report detailed nothing surprising it did confirm my suspicions ... the attitude of the citizens of this community are killing it!  Granted not all ... thank God.  We do have those who see the positive, who see the potential and want to do something about it.

But it wasn't until after I read this comment in the follow up article in the Herald-Dispatch did I realize how misguided our citizens have become:

"For every volunteer out there who plants a flower, there is someone out there who could be getting paid for that. A bigger government with more government employees getting a pay check is the only way this town will survive." ... [more]

WHAT?!?!?!?!

I think that the Founding Fathers of our Country are not only rolling over in their graves, they are crawling out of them screaming, "what have you done?"  What has happened to the concept of self-responsibility?  Why has our community developed the attitude that all we have to do is wait for Government to supply the answers?  Why do our citizens now have the attitude of "take a job, instead of make a job"?

Plus ... exactly where will the taxes come from to pay those individuals to plant flowers?  I would prefer to plant those flowers, allowing my tax dollars to be put towards something I can't do like ensuring public safety. 

I for one don't want to wait on others to revitalize our community  ... nor do I think the Government has all of the answers.  What about you?  If you agree, I hope to see you at the next Chat 'n Chew!

Complaining without construct is bitching ....

Photo by jkhewett via Flickr    

I am one of those who strongly believes that if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem!  Sometimes you actually become the problem. 

Today I received an email that was not meant for my eyes but for a colleague.  It was a message full of complaint and offered no solutions or remedy.

It referred to a planning process that they strongly felt was broken.  Instead of working to find a solution they choose to vent ... to what end?  Maybe they felt better for dumping their garbage on someone else .. maybe they just enjoy complaining for the sake of making noise.

If something is broken .. work to fix it!  By using your energy to complain all you do is waste the energy of those trying to solve the problem.  If you are unwilling to work towards a solution ... you have given up your right to complain.