24.june.09

wrapped up in the world of spanish photographer barbara vidal

24 dec 08

may the essence of christmas remain always with you

photo courtesy of deepintheforestcat whose photos continue to inspire

28. oct. 08

my new flickr favorite- osvaldo zoom- what a beautiful composition.

Innocence comes before experience
but experience that looses innocence
cannot see the beauty of the world...

Today innocence is like a ghost
It appears only sometimes
only when it is night
and you are not sure
if it really exists...

(Songs of Innocence, William Blake)

Note: "Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul" are two books of poetry by the English poet and painter, William Blake. Although Songs of Innocence was first published by itself in 1789, it is believed that Songs of Experience has always been published in conjunction with Innocence since its completion in 1794.

"Songs of Innocence" mainly consists of poems describing the innocence and joy of the natural world, advocating free love and a closer relationship with God, and most famously including Blake's poem The Lamb. Its poems have a generally light, upbeat and pastoral feel and are typically written from the perspective of children or written about them.

Directly contrasting this, "Songs of Experience" instead deals with the loss of innocence after exposure to the material world and all of its mortal sin during adult life, including works such as The Tyger. Poems here are darker, concentrating on more political and serious themes. Throughout both books, many poems fall into pairs, so that a similar situation or theme can be seen in both Innocence and Experience.

25. july. 08

it seems i'm always drawn to shades/hues of white and soft muted colors.   i find i always need to be near water, it inspires me, brings serenity and calmness to my busy mind.  some people need the woods or the mountains, but for me it has always been the ocean.   i love the texture and smoothness of driftwood, the colors of beach glass, and the complexity of shells. i always experience a sense of release, joy, and peace as soon as i catch sight of the water and my feet hit the sand.  i'm fascinated and intrigued about an entire ecosystem that exists that i am not privy to seeing.  maybe i relate to the unexpectedness of the ocean, calm and serene one moment and stormy and strong the next. its beauty is unmatched in my eyes.   I hope you're able to spend some time by the water this weekend, enjoy and have a peaceful weekend.

amazing and inspiring photos ( # 2,3,4,5,9) via flickr from maureenduLong