Yoga. . . .

Here is the video that I talked about last time. It was more fun for me to make than it will be to see.

Evening at Home

I did some yoga this evening to a great song from the Lost in Translation Soundtrack called "Alone in Kyoto." I enjoyed this enough to have spent the last few hours trying to choreograph what I saw while doing yoga, with the song. While that task was all encompassing, interesting, and possibly rewarding, I was interrupted by something much cooler: The sounds of fiddle, clapping and singing coming from somewhere in my neighborhood! I just walked around the block to try to see the players, and while I am confident that I have located them, I could not see them. The sound of fiddle echoing through space takes me back to my childhood when I would fall asleep at my father's band's contra dances, and that feeling is a pleasure.

I would like to share my yoga experience as well. I recommend watching this full screen, in the dark, with headphones.

(video to come. . . sorry)

Granny's Burritos

I joined the Portland Ultimate League this summer, and I'm happy to say we had our first WIN last night! This win comes after three tough losses, so I think we (the whole team) are very happy. We really played solidly: few drops, few thrown away passes, excellent ZONE defense. If you want to keep tabs on our progress you can go here, and feel free to come and watch some games if you so desire.

http://portlandultimate.com/portlandultimate/team.do?teamID=2&tourneyId=12

Also, Sasha has taken some great pictures of us playing, and I hope to put a few of those up at some point.

New Camera

There's a few more pics here: (on my main blog)
http://evancarroll.blogspot.com/2007/06/share-art.html

Share Art

I have a new camera.

It is much more versatile than my old one, and I've been learning its workings all week.

Photography is a special art form for me as I am able to enjoy it intuitively. Intuitiveness is my goal for any art form but I have only been able to achieve it in photography. To me, a photographer should be able to walk about, see things, frame them and capture them without consciously analyzing them. With each additional moment spent taking pictures the goal is to become more and more relaxed and focused. It should be almost meditative.

Sasha and I have gone on frequent "photo-walks" this week and have been able to strive for this experience together. Sometimes one or both of us is "in the zone" and other times we talk a lot and discuss shots. Sasha has a very good knowledge of photography and will always give me pointers if I need them. I think helping me helps her get excited about challenging herself to find more shots to capture. While we are both trying to find shots for ourselves we're also helping each other be inspired.

And that is what is so great about art: it is both intuitive and intellectual, both internally and externally influenced. Every artist wants to create in their own way, but an artist can learn new techniques, perspectives and styles by looking to others. The artist creates something that will be enjoyed a second time through when they share it with others.

Art is a cycle of learning, executing, and sharing. Learning to prepare for an new challenge, executing for self fulfillment and sharing to present a finished work or receive feedback.

I feel that photography is (at least for now) really coming back to me because Sasha and I are going through this cycle together. I hope we keep it up, but even if we move on to other obsessions/interests it's great to be here right now.

If you've got some art that needs sharing, please do. It's great to have this feeling back. I don't think I've had it much since school.

See more pics here:
http://evancarrollphography.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-camera.html

New Apartment!

I have now spent one night in my new place on Munjoy hill! I just walked to work. . . and I am now just a little TEN MINUTE walk from work! I am floored! I was figuring at lease fifteen. And there were lots of other people walking down from the hill to work too! Awesome. . . that's fantastic! On the down-side. . . Sasha and I slept awfully on our inflatable mattresses. We have no actual furniture yet, as we won't be moving 'till Saturday.

On another note. . . this: http://www.portlandmaine.tv/index.php
I haven't really had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm sure it's cool!
(thanks toni)

What about Barack?

I'm going to re-establish the use of my once famous site, "Truth Crusader." I have a new issue to discuss, because I'm looking to get involved. I want to know what people know and think about Barack Obama. Please check-out what I have to say, make your own comments, and read the comments of others HERE.

Sedona Pictures!

I'm finally posting some pictures from my vacation in Sedona Arizona. Hope you like them!

Arizona (Sedona, Grand Canyon etc.)

This was a fabulous vacation. These pictures are in chronological order.

Sasha in action!

This picture is from the hike Sasha, Ken and I did to find a geo-cache. It was the best view of the Sedona Valley that I saw all week. Looking back over all my pictures though, I realize that it was evidently very hard to represent the beauty of the place on film. At least it must have been for me, because there were far fewer pictures that I really liked than I expected to find. On the other hand, I got some great pictures with people in them, which in the past has not been a strong point for me.

John kept telling me to get closer to him to get this shot. . . he was right.

Nice one of Ken.

You can just barely see Sasha!

Classic. . . Kyle was a real trooper though.

I did not expect to see hooked cacti.

Fathers, Mothers, Women, Men and Parents

Hi Everyone,
I'm not writing about an easy topic tonight. At least for me anyway. I want to talk about my parents, what their relationship was like, and how it has effected me. I am interested in this as a young man who wants to become a good man. I want to try to imagine how I will deal with life, marriage and kids. I guess I am really interested in fathers, and I'm interested in your input. I will most likely be a partner, husband or father, but I'm not sure what that will mean.

I am asking for comments, stories and feelings about parents, partners and their roles. You can respond with your name or anonymously by clicking on "comments" below.

The first comment is by me. It focuses on fathers more than mothers because that is what I'm thinking about.

Please consider writing something as long or short as you see fit, and if you don't want to write at all that's fine too.

Thank you.