Painting With Light

Dark Passage

May 18, 2011

“Dark Passage, Street in Venice, Italy” © R.L. Herron

I’ve been guilty of being sidetracked by the incessant political-speak on our airwaves. It’s hard to remember a time in the past two years the cymbal-clashing has been silent.

It makes me ashamed to get caught up in the finger-pointing, ‘we said/they said’ rhetoric. I wish our politicians would all grow up and learn what they really need to do is demonstrate some cooperation in getting the problems of the country fixed.

I’m not naive enough to think it would really happen, given the almost childish attitudes of our elected officials and the vehement polarity evoked by their lust for power, but I can always hope that somewhere people really do behave with civility, respect and a sense of common purpose.

However, I know all too well that probably only happens in Narnia (Google “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” if that doesn’t ring a bell), where even the animals know good from evil.

So I’ll content myself with talking about painting with light, which is why this blog began in the first place.

Photography, like fiction writing, takes advantage of the way light is perceived to produce its special results.

Like the picture above, where the dark shadows purposely frame the flower basket in the distance and the lines of perspective lead your eye into the light at precisely that point.

In any good story or any good image, light and shadow work together to create the whole.

Darn it! There I go talking politics again.

Posted in Lifestyle, Non-Fiction Writing, Photography, Politics, Storytelling | 3 Comments »

Red Sky at Night…

May 5, 2011

“Red Sky at Night…” © R.L. Herron

I rediscovered some interesting information this afternoon. It sounds almost like some of the political commentary of the day.

It’s not something hidden away or unknown. It is a significant part of our history. It was written by a leader who had the welfare of the people he governed at heart. It was extremely relevant at the time and it is still relevant.

I don’t think I need to add a single thing.

———

“We cannot be content, no matter how high (our) general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people…is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our Nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security…we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.”

Excerpt from the State of the Union Address
Franklin D. Roosevelt
January 11, 1944

———

As always, your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Posted in Branding, Lifestyle, Photography, Politics | 2 Comments »

Weathering the Storm

April 27, 2011

“Approaching Storm Over Deerfield Beach” © R.L. Herron

I seem to spend a lot of time lately listening to political rhetoric. Not because I want to. It permeates the airwaves every day and, like an approaching storm, is sometimes difficult to avoid.

But avoiding it is exactly what I wish I could do.

I’ve never been a particularly political animal. Oh sure, I have preferences and often wish they were better shared by others, but would rather not – in most instances – get into an argument with friends over them. It’s too easy to lose friends that way.

There are a few people who have known me to get uptight about certain issues, but only a few. I always regret letting off steam that way.

I’ve never been able to change anyone’s mind by giving them an unwanted dose of mine.

I do let my elected representatives know how I feel about issues, both when I agree with them and when I don’t. That’s only fair. To represent me, they need to know how I feel.

But friends I would rather just keep as friends.

So I try to bite my tongue over things that go against my personal opinions. There are many contrary positions and I hope I’m always open to listen to facts that will change my mind.

However, I’ve often wished it was possible to designate where my particular tax dollars are actually spent. Not in the directions any political party designates, but by my actual personal choices.

I know the first thing I would vote to continue would be programs that help the less fortunate among us. What better use of my tax dollar than to help someone in need?

I would vote to remove any elected official who is discovered telling blatant lies to further his/her own political agenda. Why would I trust someone like that to do right for my country?

I would vote to keep our troops out of harm’s way unless we are actually under attack.

It has nothing to do with politics. It’s a personal opinion. I don’t think we have a responsibility to police the world and I will never be a fan of war. Ever.

I would vote to recall any representative who tried to disallow collective bargaining.

I’ve never belonged to a union, but our history as a country is one that ultimately demands fairness and compromise. Why shouldn’t a person be able to bargain as part of a group to receive fair compensation for their work, provide for their families and have their voices heard?

I would vote to remove any representative who acted to eliminate restrictions on the dumping of pollutants into our air and water. Do you know anyone who wants the environment to be less safe for their grandchildren?

I would vote to remove any representative who would try to restrict measures put in place to make workplaces safer. Isn’t the safety of another human being something that should be paramount in our thinking?

Do we need another Triangle Shirtwaist Factory disaster to remind us of things like that?

All this sounds political, I know, but I don’t think about the politics involved. I’m not a member of any political party. I’m a humanist.

I think about my children and my grandchildren and our future generations. It has nothing to do with politics.

But that’s just me, right?

God, I certainly hope not.