Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Fortifying the Island & Sweet Secrets

(Name that Tune) "I just want to see some palm trees, maybe then I can shake away this disease."

Maybe my brother is such a blast to hang out with cause hot girls and their friends seem to congregate around him?

Mars Rover Captain Terry waking me up one morning.

Decisions.

A faintly numbing swell of anxiousness and sadness draped over me as my brother and Amber drove me to the airport; back to the Lake of Salt, school, and work. I don't remember ever being this bummed after a short vacation. It must just be that I really appreciated the time with my brother and co. There seems to be a relationship between the depth felt for something, and the feeling associated with it's absence. A few times this past week I was present enough to fully recognize how lucky and blessed I am. It frightens me to think about how different I would be without the influences of people like my brother. Every time I visit him, I feel like I become pointed in the correct direction, after rolling across the fringes for awhile. I am not under the illusion that it is due to exclusively him, or only the conversations we have as landscapes slide by. I know that it is what we do, and who's there with us. Speaking for myself, at the core of my needs are large compartments, waiting to be filled. These belong to the people who fill my life with meaning, action, place and substance. As important as it is for one to fortify the island; strengthen the self and learn to be independently happy - learning how to live through and with others help me decode the many mysteries and sweet secrets of life.

43 comments:

Patti Ann said...

santa monica by everclear! my favorite song of all time, if you leave out everything the beatles did.

wendysito said...

..there are sweet secrets and many mysteries in life, but never independent happinesses...you may be happily independent but truly the people in these pictures are part of your happiness, I can tell...

good stuff, Mike.

Iris said...

That last girl looks like Brittney Spears. Hope that doesn't offend :) Good shots!

artsybee said...

fortify the island... nicely said.
no one is ever really alone. i find people underestimate the most basic interactions we have on a daily basis; if they were taken away then we might end up talking to our dogs and mannequins as in i am legend or Wilson the volleyball in cast away.
anyway, i'm rambling.

nice pics!

Unknown said...

I definitely empathize with you...I have a sister and we are close and if ever either one moves far way, we'd be devastated and our phone bill would be out of control...good post!

Zanzi & Buzz said...

I know it's not mine to dedicate, but I dedicate that last sentence to you Rach.

zenmonkey71 said...

lovely, lovely work, Mike. Your images are striking & singular -- any chance you might post some technical info: camera/lenses, etc? Is there much digital editing involved? Anyhow... you're really quite a genius. Thanks.

Tracie Carlton said...

i just wanted to let you know that your pictures ar amazing...

even the things that I usually am not intrested and will just pass by, caught my attention. You seriously are one of the most talented photographers I've ever seen... can't wait for more...

Tracie Carlton said...

just realized how cheesy that comment was... oops!

The Scribbler said...

Your photos are great. Not too serious, but not rediculous.

Anonymous said...

Mike, Thanks for getting back to me and dropping a comment. As usual it just took a little google search to find the answer I was looking for. Now I can throw up pics of all sizes. I'm in the learning process and it's great to have blogs like yours around to view.

Do good.

Matthew - TLH

Fly on the Wall said...

Mike-

Now that you're famous, are boys still allowed to comment?

Great post. Welcome back to the land of salt.

-trent

Anonymous said...

Why don't you just Ask Ephrem?
Anything.
http://laughingcrying.blogspot.com/

Katie said...

Your photos are beautiful, and so is your writing.

Ed de Blieck said...

Some great photos here.

Swordfish said...

Question, I live in Northern Utah also and I would love to get you to take some photos of my kids. maybe you don't and that is okay. we just moved back and have old pictures of our kids, and my husband is in school and has no job, so we are tight this year (who isn't) we could offer to pay you?

If not, no worries we will be ok, just thought you might enjoy taking pictures of some very rambuctious and lovable children.

youngheejin said...

You must have a great brother. I wish I have a brother too. Anyway is Amber the one you're talking about the one on the picture. She resembles Britney Spears.

Laura said...

Thoroughly enjoying the fact that I've found your great photo-blog. Please show me thy ways, oh wise one!
Tell me your secrets! :)

Drew Nash said...

Mike I never realized you could write such poetry! Great thoughts, got me thinking, also nice b&w's really liked that hot tub pic. :) Oh and welcome back to the city of Salt.

Miss Stoner said...

I want to follow you, how do I do it? can you add that to your site?? Great photography...wish I could find a photographer like you...~wine~

Samarthya said...

Amazing angles! You have some talent!

Mike Terry said...

Thanks Jayn! The cameras I use are a Canon Mark III and a Mark IIN. They are digital SLR's. They are great cameras, work pays for them, they are kinda spendy because they are pretty fast for sports and news situations, but you can get a really nice digital slr for half the price if you don't mind it being a little slower. I stick with a wide lens most of the time, 16-35. The 16 is pretty wide, about as wide as you can go before you start seeing distortion the edges. As far as editing goes, I'll tweak the contrast and sharpness to make it pop a little more. Sometimes I boost the color saturation as well just cause it comes out a little bland on blogger sometimes. The less you have to edit, the better the pic looks, the more you can do in camera the better I think. Thanks for the interest.

bird's eye view said...

I just stumbled upon your blog, you have som skill there! Great shots!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots!

Lilian Montes said...

nice photoshoot

Jane said...

Just wanted to say that I love your photos, some are very striking. My favourite one is the one of you playing chauffeur and photographer at your friends wedding.

Jane :0)

Paige Marie said...

Your blog is absolutely amazing! You really do have a gift. I am so glad that I stumbled onto your blog. :) Hope you have a great day!

Danielle said...

Your blog is full of wonderful photography - you have a knack for capturing people! It was nice to see pictures of a place where I used to live. I think I will come back quite often, Thanks!

The Galley said...

To the Publisher(s),

Acting in a straightforward manner, I have learned, is a humane policy. As such, I felt like you and members of your reading community would appreciate the delights The Galley has to offer. So I chose to post this message on your blog. I hope you do not find this disrespectful. In the event that you do, please accept my apologies and disregard the following message.

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Thank you for your time and all the best with your endeavors.

The Galley of Chef M Mots.

Blue Gummi Bears said...

Wow, you look like you live an interesting life.

Unknown said...

Amazing work...truly loved it...

Anonymous said...

omg
the look on her face in the last one is priceless

RHS said...

this makes me miss hanging out with jeff. endless laughter.

kehinde olafeso said...

very nice pics

Anonymous said...

hi dude nice photo's in black in white,really picture of you on your shot's,hope all best for you,see mine too,cee...yaaa

Knessa said...

You are f-ing famous! Where is the movie link? I got to see that AGAIN!!!

Jamie said...

Your pictures are like candy for the soul! Awesome blog!!

Anonymous said...

but people are never enough.

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Debsgroove said...

Hey Mike I just want to tell you that I love your pistures and feel that you are a truly gifted photographer. Keep the pics coming. Thanks for the journey...

Ralph Suarez said...

Not to make this a freak show or anything, since I am a guy and most of the adoring people posting comments are girls...
*cough*
...sorry, I mean, w-o-m-e-n (sorry, girls) :) The perspective of your photography is interesting and I thought, from time to time, I would visit to check it out, for the pictures. You really got me, with the following line:
"there seems to be a relationship between the depth felt for something, and the feeling associated with its absence."
I am glad that you were listed on BLOGS OF NOTE, because if you hadn't, I would have never found this most wonderful blog. CONGRATULATIONS.

Anonymous said...

your work is astounding.

Anonymous said...

wow mike..this is heidi,jeff's friend from az..bowling..singles night..got a little freaky.. ok no it didn't, i think we had punch & cookies at his house one time.. anyways he was showing my friend the speed skater/body builder/triathlete therapist your blog & i gotta say it is funny, artistic, wordsy..really mike u need to stop taking jeff's journals and stealing all his ideas, he is your older bro but your not 13 anymore..i'm impressed..good stuff