Bryn Athyn Cathedral I have not taken as many photographs as usual this past year, but I took this one in February 2020.  It is a multiple exposure that perhaps mirrors our circumstances in the world right now.  Darkness, with a glimmer of color and light that is sure to creep in with time.   

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  But churches will be mostly empty.  The Corona virus has changed the world.  We woke up one day to a new way of living, surrounded by a global pandemic.  Around the world we are all wearing masks and practicing social distancing and washing hands in order to flatten the curve of this monsterous threat.  People have either lost their jobs or are working from home, schools and colleges have been cancelled for the year and going to the grocery stores has become an adventure. We focus on trying to stay 6 feet away from anyone we meet during our excursions and we carry hand sanitizer which is almost impossible to buy.  We are using tela-med doctor visits for any medical problems that arise because our hospitals are over run with people sick and dying from COVID-19 infections.  We are socializing and meeting up with friends and family using Zoom and FaceTime.  Our nurses and doctors, along with many others have automatically become essential workers with the extended title of superheroes.  I wish I could document it with photos.

On a lighter note, I am now awaiting a new Fiji XT4 camera, which may arrive sometime next month, or because of our delimma maybe later.  I am hopeful that soon after it arrives, I will begin to see a glimmer of the silver lining that will sparkle with a renewed way of living, more kindness, and less rushing around for things that seem so unimportant now.  I don't think any of us can predict now the changes that are bound to happen but I think they will be good ones and hopefully permanent.  We should not ever think about going back to the way our life once was, but we need to take this lesson to heart and make positive changes.

There will be an end to this.  Mahatma Gandhi says, "In the midst of darkness light persists." 

Maya Angelou agrees saying that, "every storm runs out of rain."

I too remain hopeful and expectant of a new day coming soon, when we can once again walk out the door, using what we have learned, and our world can heal.  The photos will begin again for me, and although there will always be clouds, the sun will appear to shine more brightly.  

Happy Easter!

Connie

Lolly Pop

Tattoos!  They are everywhere.  I love the art, and color, and design of so many of them, am confused by some of them, but with my love of street photography I have found that the Philadelphia Tattoo Convention is a fun place to visit for many reasons.  There are so many silent stories walking around in that convention center, with bare skin showing, and bodies and tattoos proudly displayed.  Some are upsetting to me as I feel like they border on disfigurement, some are as beautifully crafted as a work of nature, but all of them are whispering, or screaming out a story needing to be told. The people there, whether they are sporting their body art, designing it on art tablets, or inking it on others, are mostly all willing to share their craft and with permission most will agree willingly to allow photographs.  

My eldest son had many tattoos on his body that I only had glimpses of over the years.  He hid then when he was at our house, always with long sleeves, but I knew they were there.  I learned later that he was also very talented in the art of designing and tattooing.  

Ryan is/was a heroin addict and has managed to keep more secrets from me than just the tattoos.  I am left now with a huge box full of drawings and designs on tissue paper while he has been missing for more than a year.  I wish I knew the rest of his story, although I sometimes feel like I never knew the middle, and maybe not even the beginning.  If he is still alive I can only hope to have the chance to talk to him more, among other things, about his tattoos, and what they mean.  

Tattoos!  If you have them..... let them speak, they are so quiet, sitting there on arms and legs and sometimes faces.  If you want one... get one.. why not?  And make sure you check out the tattoo convention... View it as an art gallery!  A museum of unusual and beautiful things.  you might be surprised at the people you will meet and how nice everyone is and how much fun you will have.  

Bring a camera for sure! 

Tat taa

connie
 

Last night I had the opportunity to visit a herd of sheep.  I found them fascinating with their cartoon like faces and wooly coats.  Their eyes are striking behind beautiful eyelashes.  They were friendly but wary of me and a camera lens in their personal space.  

I realized that if I was sitting down they would wander closer to me as they moved like lawn mowers through the grass.  Whenever they felt uncomfortable they immediately trotted together as a tight knit group (no pun intended) to a different location in the field.  Then after a short time they would decide to change their location again in the pasture and they would all promptly trot together to another spot.  No one lagged behind and said, waitttt, but I Likkkke it over here.  they all agreed immediately it was a good idea and went with the flow.  What an uncomplicated life!  

After they got used to my presence some started checking me out more closely, their warm breath huffing over my skin as they moved past me thru the pasture.  Then a few decided to take more time and lick me and inspect my clothes and my shoes.  I tried not to worry about them biting my toes (maybe sandals were not the best idea) but I was more interested in snapping a good pic as they didn't hold a pose for long. 

Soon the light was gone and my zen time with the sheep was over but the next day I still felt their calming presence.  Forget about counting them at night, some days you just need some good sheep! 

Peace, 

connie