I am .....................

I am a photographer. I am good at it. It has taken me awhile to believe that and trust myself. At one point I was helping a person move. While waiting to get another load I arranged the furniture in one of the rooms in the house. Just for fun. I thought it looked pretty good but did not think too much of it. Shortly after that the people had a professional interior decorator come by and help them arrange the house. She told them that she would not move anything in that room it look good like it was. That scared me. but it was a nice boost. I began more and more to trust my eye.

There is beauty in everything around us. As people we just need to let go and look. Even in the things that are repulsive to some there is beauty. Photographer Sally Mann did a project called "What Remains." She photographed at an FBI center where they research crime scene investigation. As part of the research they leave human bodies laying around to decay. Mann photographed these bodies. They are some beautiful photographs. There is beauty in anything if you look.

I have come to love the world in a way I never thought possible. The rain, the snow, the accident, the fire, the dog, the ant, the mouse, the old house, the new house, all have beuaty in them. The movie

Koyaanisqatsi

is about a world gone a muck but even in this world the beauty is still there.

Some thoughts on a life past middle age

With my birthday happening last week I have been ruminating a bit about my life. I am definitely past middle age and am wondering where did all that time go? I have been able to do some good I think and have made my share of mistakes. Some things were a wash.

Take for example my try at journalism. I loved what I did but at the same time it is well I am no longer trying to practice in that field. I think I made a difference in a few places and messed up in a few more. I am glad that there is still a replica Main Street Deadwood even if it is in a different place.

I think what I am most happy and thankful about my time at the paper is the people I met and the friends I still have from that time. The most interesting is the fact that I don't think the powers that be at the paper (as smart as they thought they were ever new or maybe they just did not care why I left). The state of papers in the northern hills make me sure I made the right decision.

I never knew what my life would be come. I want to make a difference, then and now. My time at construction made things better at least depending on where you drive there are some good roads that I helped build.

I got an overpriced and some what useless education late in life. Some good came out of it . I learned a lot about thinking on my own. Made some good friends. Learned about myself and I think at least in some instance made some changes that needed to be made. I did start writing and taking photographs seriously. Thanks Kent, Steve and Dr. Salomon.

I have come to believe as I think I always did people are the most important objects in the world, save for maybe my dogs. But I digress. I thank God for my friends and pray that I do something to make someone happy every day as well as helping someone in some way everyday. My life is maybe more than half over. Truthfully I don't know anyone who is 104. I do think that the best is yet to come.

A couple of more thank you. Thanks Thomas, Donna, Heather, Mary, Jessie and some others. Its been a great ride and I am looking forward to making new friends and being a better friend to many that I don't have room to mention here.

Let me skid into the grave sideways, puffing and out of breath saying wow what a ride.

4TH of July

It was a pretty great Fourth. I spent a little time at the annual carnival and wanted to share. If yo are a friend on Face book you have probably already seen these but thanks for humoring me.

some thoughts on life

I have been thinking a lot lately on how to make a business grow and thrive. I don't know that I have any answers for my self yet. If anyone reading this has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

The gallery is going okay. I do wish it would grow faster. I always feel so unorganized. There is so much to get done and to learn. I took my last marketing class in 1978. That was a long time ago. I am trying to look into networking groups. One already going or trying to start one. i started to read success magazine again. Got some interesting ideas there.

I try to pick anyone who will talk to mes brain. I think my niche may be the old west. There are so many people who do photography dealing with the black hills and wild life. I hate to say it but there are only so many ways to shoot Spearfish Canyon or a mountain lion. I don't see all that much work being done on the west. The actual cowboys who are here.

I am trying to become as literate about western history as possible. I hope to become sort of an authority on south east Montana and the cattle and sheep that made the region. I want to thank everyone who has made suggestions. They are all appreciated.

All I can ask is to always be up and to always move forward.