Project’s End
As I’ve mentioned in the past, photography has been my personal attempt at viewing, reflecting upon and living within God’s beauty and grace. He is present in every nook and cranny of his creation.
This photoblog is the byproduct of my personal blog, Journeying Home. What I attempted there with my limited writing abilities, I was attempting here with my even more limited camera skills. Time, space and matter are God’s canvas. So, with each image, I was hoping to highlight the often-missed beauty inherent in his creation.
But life moves and changes. Today I posted my last post to my personal blog. And it only seemed appropriate that with its closing I should also bring this project to an end.
I especially want to thank Mark. His generosity and encouragement launched me into a new phase of digital photography. He has been and continues to be a wonderful inspiration.
And I want to thank Debbie for encouraging me to embrace this hobby, even at personal sacrifice.
Finally, I want to thank Michael for giving me such good feedback and always speaking a kind word about my images.
I plan to continue photography. And I will most likely keep posting images on my Flickr account. But more importantly, I want to always have eyes that see God’s beauty and grace in every point of life.
Learning New Skills 3
This is the final image. I told my son to have some fun with it. This one really captures my son’s personality!
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Learning New Skills 2
This is the second image in the series. A little different exposure allowed me to capture more details in the clouds. You can’t really tell in the image, but my son’s patience is admirable as he ignored his Nintendo DS to help me with my little experiment.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Learning New Skills 1
This photo is the first in a series of similar shots. They are more of an experiment for me. The only flash I have for my Nikon is the onboard flash. I rarely use it because I don’t like how the photos look. So I decided to play with a lower flash strength while exposing for the darker background. I know. This is a basic technique for many photographers. But I have to start somewhere.
Any way, this is a photo of my youngest son, who patiently posed for me during a very vibrant sunset. Obviously, there’s nothing very special about the image. However, there is beauty in learning, in spending time with a loved one and in marveling at the grandeur of creation, all of which is represented in this image.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Colorful Plank
Colorful Plank, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is a close-up of a fence from a previous image. I loved the detail of the mold that was growing on it.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Ynez, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Disciplined Vibrancy
I’ve mentioned previously about our visit to the Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez. There is something absolutely tranquil about lounging in a well-cultivated garden, surrounded by the synergy of discipline and vibrancy.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Ynez, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Point of Reference
This is the last image I will post from our short stop in Santa Barbara. Both these trees and boulders were large in their own right. But they are utterly dwarfed by the immense ocean.
It’s another poignant reminder that my life is part of something much, much larger than myself. If my gaze is always turned inward, then this distorted perspective can delude me into believing that I am the center of my life. And if the compass needle always points toward me, I will always be lost. I risk becoming entangled in the hell of self, always preoccupied with my needs, my dreams, my potential, my failures, my success.
Yet, the truth is that I am created for something far greater than myself. And sometimes I need to be felled like a tree before the ocean in order to regain a correct point of reference for my life.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Staying There
Staying There, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This image reminds me of a story I heard about St Antony the Great of Egypt.
“Somebody asked Abba Antony, ‘What shall I do in order to please God?’ He replied, ‘Do what I tell you, which is this: wherever you go, keep God in mind; whatever you do, follow the example of Holy Scripture; wherever you are, stay there and do not move away in a hurry. If you keep to these guide-lines, you will be saved.’”
The journey home — the journey towards being shaped into the likeness of Christ — does not consist of earth-shattering spiritual moments. Rather, God’s formational work in our lives takes place during the thousands of seemingly mundane moments of our daily lives. Like a boulder planted upon the shore and shaped by both waves and wind, our common lives reside at the overlap of two worlds. And simply staying there while remembering God in our thoughts and actions is the most significant thing we can do.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
On the Fringe of Two Worlds
This is another image from our stop at a beach in Santa Barbara. As you can see, the rocks were beautiful and the water breath-taking.
Beaches are the overlap between two worlds. You can simultaneously stand with both feet in two worlds. I like to think that our lives are also supposed to be like that. Everywhere we are the tides of heaven should lap over the sands of earth.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Rocks and Surf
Here’s an image from a beach in Santa Barbara that our family visited. The rocks and surf were so beautiful, inviting us to explore and linger upon the shore.
The ocean is mercurial, tranquil one moment and raging the next. And yet, each wave is a bow to its Creator.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Past Its Prime
I’ve mentioned before that I like photographing things that show age. There is something about rust, cracks and wrinkles that shout out, “I have a story!”
We saw this old truck under a grove of trees during our visit to Oak Glen. Shrouded in shade, it sat there alone and forgotten. Rotted tires. Rusted metal. Missing headlights. It was beautiful. And it made me wonder what kind of stories it could tell.
Upon what roads had it traveled? How many first kisses had it seen? How much laughter had it heard? Did it remember the times of abundance and the times of scarcity? And what is it thinking now as the world passes by?
We Like to Bite
We Like to Bite, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Here’s another image from the ostrich farm in Solvang. It provides a bit more context for the previous image. I suspect these bad boys know what the sign says because they seemed ready to demonstrate it at a moment’s notice.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
What Are You Lookin’ At?
This is a fun image from our family’s trip to Solvang. For the kids’ sake, a few of our stops in Solvang were at different ranches. We saw miniature horses and miniature donkeys and these not-so-miniature ostriches.
The two younger kids wanted to feed them, so we paid the big bucks, took our feed-laden pie pans outside and tried not to get our hands mauled while these monsters gorged. They were larger than us and had the home field advantage, so they displayed absolutely no fear of us.
Image take with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Casual Pools
Casual Pools, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
One more image from Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. I loved how this stream casually collected in small pools among the rocks, nourishing the greens and reflecting the blues. The smooth surfaces suggest that the water has caressed these stones for many, many years. You can almost hear the water sighing as it slows to linger in liquid pools and to bask in the familiar warmth of friends.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Days I Cherish
This is an image from a recent trip to Oak Glen. The simplicity of this scene is what caught my eye. I love the clear blue sky kissed by clouds and the sloping hill beyond the fenced field.
On a personal note: When Debbie and I were dating over twenty years ago, I bought her a promise ring on a trip to Oak Glen. This time, it was our first trip to Oak Glen as a family. And like our other family trips this year, this one was full of delightful memories that continue to linger far beyond the moment.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x at Oak Glen, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Following the Stream
Following the Stream, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is another image from the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. It’s the view one encounters when one follows the stream fed from the small waterfall I displayed in a previous image. The stream would flow over beautiful boulders and collect in quiet pools, nourishing the surrounding flora.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x at the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Hidden Falls
This is an image from Debbie’s and my anniversary road trip into the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Near the top of the trail that we walked, we could hear the sounds of running water and people playing. Recessed into the rock wall, a small and nigh invisible waterfall fed pools of water and a stream.
I like the contrasts contained within this image. One contrast is the brilliant and rigid stone carved by a dark and liquid line of water. Another contrast is the intertwining of bare branches with those green and lush with life.
Image taken with a Nikon D40x at the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
The Other Side
This is another image from our summer Solvang trip. I just love the colorful mold growing on the fence.
If walls are boundaries, then fences are boundaries with temptation. A wall both prohibits movement across its border and prevents one from looking beyond. Try as you might, you cannot look through a wall.
However, a fence, while restricting movement across its boundary, invites us to flights of imagination. If we allow it, a fence can inspire us of what might be, inviting us to gaze beyond its partition and to speculate about what could lie on the other side.
Norman Vincent Peale said, “Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow.” I wonder what kind internal fences reside within me. Some are good and necessary, protecting me from dangers I should avoid. Other fences, I suspect, are constructed out of my fear or anger. They provide a false sense of security and excuse me from traversing into areas that I need to journey.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Silent Scars
This is an image of a tree in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. As Debbie and I drove through this area in August, we saw large portions that had been burned in a devastating fire back in 2003.
Beneath the canopy of blue sky and surrounded by new life, this hunched and crooked tree reminds me of a tribal elder sharing stories to the next generation. It instructs with hushed whispers and silent scars, passing on the wisdom it has acquired through surviving life’s struggles. And it knows that the young will only truly understand when they too have encountered life’s conflagrations.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Transience
Our family’s Solvang trip this past summer holds a very special place in my memories for many reasons. I feel like something changed when summer ended. Perhaps it’s because my oldest child is a senior in high school and is now looking toward finding a job and attending a college.
For whatever reasons, my memories of this past summer, and especially of our family’s short trips to Solvang and Lake Casitas, seem like small moments of tranquility before crossing a significant threshold in our lives. They were brief periods of time when the cares and responsibilities that pull each of us in different directions were left at home and so we could leisurely enjoy each other.
Many of the images that I brought home from Solvang evoke these feelings and remind me of the transience of my current role as father. I have only a very brief time with my children before they move onto the next phases of their lives. I’m filled with such love for them. I already miss who they were and know that I will really miss them when they move on to the next steps of their journey.
And as much as I would love to freeze life, I know that trying to hold onto them is like trying to clutch the clouds to my chest. It simply cannot be done. I can only watch in wonder as they pass by, thankful that I had the chance to be part of that moment.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Grapes
This is another image taken at Gainey Vineyards in Solvang. The grapes and vines were beautifully textured. For me, this image conveys a hands-in-the-dirt aspect of life. This form of beauty doesn’t drift down from the heavens. It is dirty and requires hard work. It must be coaxed from the ground, sometimes even wrestled from the earth with great sweat, blood and tears.
Yet, such is life. Real life.
This photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Serene
One of the memorable moments during our family’s trip to Solvang this past summer was visiting the Gainey Vineyard. It was such a peaceful place to spend the afternoon. Our family explored the vineyards, slowly walking amongst the rows of vines. As we emerged from one of the rows, I saw another vineyard in the distance.
I like images of solitary trees. This one of an isolated tree surrounded by cultivated rows of vines and canopied by a blue sky and wispy clouds was too good to pass up. It’s a pictorial reminder of the serenity that we experienced.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Friend In Black and White
Friend In Black and White, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
I edited this image awhile ago; the same time I edited the color version of the same image. Yet, for some reason I never posted this one, which is strange because I really like it.
I’m not sure why, but black and white images usually seem to focus on the “story” more than color images. Perhaps the lack of color shifts the viewer’s attention more toward lighting, composition and texture.
It’s funny. The color and black and white images are identical. Yet, each one communicates something different to me.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Looming in the Trees
As I was photographing some farm equipment early in the morning on Mission Drive in Solvang, I saw the mill looming across the street and from behind the trees. The early morning silence and the grey fog blanketing the hills gave the moment an eerie quality. For some reason it reminded me of scenes from movies like Jurassic Park or Lost when you know there’s a monster lurking in the forest.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Tractor Wheels
This is another image from a series of photos I took of abandoned farm equipment during our Solvang trip. Frankly, I’m not even sure what purpose these wheels have. But they look cool, like props from a post-Apocalyptic movie.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Nojoqui Falls 3
This is a third photo of Nojoqui Falls near Solvang, CA. As I mentioned in a previous image, even though the falls were a mere trickle, the surrounding environment was lush.
Debbie posted some more information in a previous post’s comments stating that there are four different types of fern growing in the mineral-rich water. In this photo I attempted to capture a vibrant and dramatic representation of this lush environment.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Courtyard
This is another image from the series of photos I took at a local college. I loved the detail in the tiles and concrete throughout the courtyard and tried to capture it in this image.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Upward
These are the access stairs to the beach we visited in Santa Barbara. Actually, they are only a fraction of the stairs we had to climb to get to the beach. The kids counted over 200 stairs. As you can imagine, going down was a lot easier than going up. A couple of residents passed us by several times. They were exercising by jogging up and down the stairs. Crazy people!
One thing is certain: The journey upward is always difficult, yet worth the effort.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Fallen Giant
As we followed the shoreline at the beach in Santa Barbara, we chanced across several large trees that had toppled from the cliffs above. These trees were a poignant reminder that anyone can fall.
Just recently, I was reminded that we are called human beings and that the word “human” is epistemologically related to the word, “humus,” which is Latin for “earth.” We are fashioned from the earth. Humus is also the word from which come the words “humble” and “humility.” It is wise for us to always remember to live humbly and “close to the earth.”
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Beauty Before
So, let’s jump forward a bit in our Solvang trip. On our way home, we stopped off at a beach in Santa Barbara. There are always interesting things to explore at a beach.
One of the things I enjoy about photography is deciding upon what subjects to focus. Sometimes beauty is found in the larger picture. Panoramas, for example, can be absolutely breathtaking as they invite the viewer into a larger-than-life perspective. But sometimes a larger picture can distract us from the subtler beauty right in front of us. It’s one of the reasons why I love macro photography. Beauty can be found virtually inches in front of us.
I was originally composing this shot with the rocky shoreline as the focus. Then I noticed the rock inches from my face. So I focused there. I don’t know if it made a "better" shot, but I like how the stark textures and colors offsets the softer colors of the background.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Barbara, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Abandoned Cart
On our second day in Solvang, I woke up early to go photographing around the outskirts of Solvang. I found a field with some abandoned farm equipment. In the early morning mist, the scene took on a melancholic tone.
We live in a disposable culture. Old things are quickly discarded for the new. And while I’m as guilty as the next person, I’m discovering a new appreciation for age through photography. Whether its rust, cracks, splinters or wrinkles, the signs of age often carry a story worth hearing.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Tranquil Vineyard
On our first day in Solvang, we drove out to the Gainey Vineyard, in Santa Ynez. While there, we enjoyed wine-tasting and a tour of the vineyard. The grounds were so peaceful. We spent a fair amount of time lounging on the grass and exploring the Vineyard. I tried to capture some of that tranquility in this photo.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Santa Ynez, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Above the Trees
During our hike at Nojoqui Falls, I noticed that the skies were absolutely beautiful. I would frequently glance upward through the trees to be amazed by what I saw. I love clouds, so it didn’t take much coaxing to point my camera upward.
I love how the rich blue and white of the sky is framed by the lush green of the trees. It’s like looking through a portal. And a good reminder to look up as I walk through life.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x at Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Nojoqui Falls 2
Nojoqui Falls 2, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is another image of Nojoqui Falls. Regarding Nojoqui Falls, Jordan Rane asks in an article:
“What is it about a waterfall that inspires us to walk that extra thousand yards, drive that additional half an hour, make that otherwise inexplicable knee-jerk detour off the highway for the privilege of gazing upon liquid pouring over a 66.4-foot sandstone cliff into the stillness of a secluded canyon in an unpronounceable Santa Barbara County park a couple of miles off the 101 Freeway?”
Frankly, I don’t know if there’s any answer that can adequately capture why we’re compelled to go out of our way to view a waterfall. Perhaps in that moment we learn a small lesson in seeing. And by seeing, we’re connected to something much larger and older than ourselves and are thus enriched.
I’ve posted this photo despite its similarity to the previous post mostly because of the lens flare. I intentionally captured the lens flare because I liked the faux fisheye look it created.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Nojoqui Falls
Nojoqui Falls, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is an image of Nojoqui Falls, a hundred-foot waterfall that my family hiked to during our recent trip to Solvang.
While the falls had dried to a mere trickle, the tall moss-and-ivy-covered rock was stunning. Sometimes during the normal course of life, one may feel dried up. Yet even a trickle can be nourishing.
That’s the beauty of the sacramental life as well. A slight spoonful of wine and bread, a dash of water, a smear of oil, a whispered prayer, or a humble confession can usher us into the mystical participation of divine grace from which real life flows.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Misty Hill
This is another image from my family’s trip to Solvang. I had noticed these hills on our first day as our family was driving to dinner. So, the next morning, when I got up early to photograph a number of subjects I had seen, I made sure to take some photos of the hills.
Early morning mist shrouded the hills and the darker trees took on a eerie phantom-like quality. It was as if one was peering past our world and through a thin veil into a haunting and mysterious world.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Morning Highway
During the first week of July, our family took a two-day trip to Solvang, CA. It was a much-needed getaway for our family and ended up being a very memorable trip. I was a bit nervous about how to entertain four kids ranging from 9 years old to 17 years old. But everyone seemed to enjoy the various activities.
Although I was excited about using this trip as a photo opportunity, I didn’t want my shooting to eclipse our family vacation. So I limited my shooting to a hike at Nojoqui Falls, our time at Gainey Vineyard, an early morning solo expedition into the outskirts of Solvang, and one of the beaches in Santa Barbara on our way home.
This image is the first in a series of photos from our Solvang trip. I took this photo by running out into the middle of Mission Drive during breaks in the early morning traffic. Cars were going about 60 mph, so I had to give myself plenty of time to get my shot and get out of the way.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Solvang, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Colors from a Parking Lot
Once a week, our family has the privilege of hanging out with Mark, Barbara, and Maribeth for a couple of hours. Our time together is usually filled with laughter and fun and is the highlight of my week.
After our time together one night, our family was walking through the parking lot to go home when the sky caught my eye. The transition of colors from deep blue to red layered upon the green house lights and warm courtyard lights was too cool to pass up. Fortunately, I had my camera with me that night and captured the image.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Dark Sunset
This is another sunset image from the other night. I used a slightly different technique in post and liked the “darker” feel of the image.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Sunset Over A Hill
Sunset Over A Hill, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is the sixth sunset image. Taking photos of creation is such a privilege. God’s handiwork is amazing!
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Radiance
This is the fifth sunset image. As the sun dipped ever lower, it’s radiance was offset by the deepening darkness of the sky.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Clouds Over A Horse Ranch
This is the fourth sunset image from a local park in San Dimas. Near the park was a horse ranch. And above the ranch, the sky was absolutely spectacular.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Looking East
This is the third sunset image. As the sun set in the west, the sky to the east was stunning as well.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Golden Clouds
This is a second image of the setting sun from the other day. As it began to descend, the clouds burned with golden light.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Almost Sunset
As I watched the clouds the other day, I knew we would have a gorgeous sunset. So I took the family to a nearby park in San Dimas to capture some images. This is an image before the sun truly began to set.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Friend
This is an image of my friend, Mark. We have been friends for several years, through which we and our families have journeyed together into realms of life we never would have imagined.
Mark is the one who inspired me with his photography. And his generous heart was also the catalyst for my own journey into digital photography. The Bible says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Mark has been that kind of friend.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Contentment
Soft grass. Blue skies. Gentle breeze. What else could anyone want?
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Drama in the Skies
I love how young children wear their emotions on their faces all the time. They haven’t learned to hide their hearts like adults. Something as innocent as keeping a kite in the air evokes a spectrum of emotions in a span of seconds.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS4.
Teamwork
This image was taken on a family outing to fly kites. My two youngest kids were trying to untangle the tail of a kite.
Much has been written on the benefits of teamwork. But there is something satisfying about watching young children work together. Somehow they can blend amusement and attentiveness in exuberant synergy.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS4.
Windows of Knowledge
I like colleges and universities. There is something exhilarating about a community focused on learning. Yet, the challenge is to remain grounded in humility while soaring in knowledge. The knowledge one gains is a gift to be humbly shared with the world; to shine through windows, not hoarded behind walls.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX 2 and Photoshop CS4.
The Art of Time
This image of a decorative aztec calendar at Citrus College initiated some personal reflection about time. In our culture, time-keeping is usually austere as we mark its passage with numbers, dashes and grids. This is so different from other cultures that kept time with colors, symbols and pictures. In those cultures, there seems to be an art to time. Keeping time goes hand-in-hand with beauty.
And there is also an art to living in time, a winsome way of living that fills time with beauty. So many of us worry about the past and rush toward the future while never learning to live fully in the present. From that perspective, the present is simply a small point in which time simply rushes past us.
But the art of living in time learns to expand the present from a point into a panorama. The past cannot be changed and the future is steadily approaching, no matter how much we rush or fret. But the true moment is now. It is when you and I are. It is the moment of redemption and communion.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX 2.
Illumination
This image was taken at a local college. So the title, “Illumination,” refers to both the light received from the lamp and the education received within the classroom.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX 2 and Photoshop CS4.
Stucco & Clouds
This image is a team effort. My two sons went with me on this photo shoot. My oldest son took this shot and asked me to process it. He’s got a good eye for composition and offers his advice during post-production on many of my shots. Whenever I get stumped, I know I can get solid input from him.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX 2 and Photoshop CS4.
Blue Walls & Gray Skies
This is the first in a series of images I took at Citrus College near my home. It’s my first serious attempt at shooting architecture.
I see this blue-windowed building every time I drive by the school and have wanted to shoot it. The day was overcast and created the juxtaposing colors in this image.
It’s almost cliche to associate blue skies with nature and lifeless gray with humanity’s encroachment upon nature. But here you have the opposite — vibrant blue architecture under gray skies.
Life can be this way. One can live with a value system or perspective only to discover after decades of assumption that it’s completely distorted. And it’s usually a crisis that initiates a painful reappraisal of one’s core beliefs. Deconstruction. Reconstruction. The circle of life for the maturing soul.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x. Post in Capture NX2.
Narrow is the Path
Narrow is the Path, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
A brilliant man once told his students that the way to authentic human life was narrow. But he didn’t leave his students hanging. He himself perfectly walked that path.
It’s a tough trail to traverse. The journey forces us to abandon the destructive patterns in our lives and relearn new wholesome ones. In the process, the trail sometimes seems obscured from our sensibilities and riddled with painful debris.
Yet, I’m learning that the life of which this brilliant teacher spoke isn’t simply the destination of the journey, but the journey itself. Walking the narrow path, even when it’s most painful, is true life and well worth the journey.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Crestline, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Perspective
Perspective, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This image is another photo taken at the Memorial Day Weekend auto show that I’ve mentioned in previous posts.
One of the things I like about photography is that the goal is not simply to capture an image as it is, but also the emotions or experience of the moment. That’s one of the reasons why I believe photography can be so magical.
Throughout most of my daily life, I view everything from a six-foot perspective with fairly good eyesight. Photography reminds me that my daily perspective is but one of many. A camera in my hand provides me an excuse to do things I normally wouldn’t think about in daily life — to lay on my stomach, to squint closely at or past a subject in my foreground, to focus on a specific texture or color, or to think about what should or should not be in the image.
And what I learn and experience in photography carries direct application into real life. It reminds me that my perspective or opinion is but one of many. Even things that I would consider absolute Truth are processed through my perspective and compressed out the other side as opinion. And the same is true for everyone else around me.
So I can either attempt to force my opinions on others or learn to view life from other perspectives even if I may not agree with the resulting opinions.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS4.
Blurry Dreams
Blurry Dreams, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This was an intentionally out-of-focus shot through some branches. I like the ethereal dreamlike quality of the shot.
This image reminds me of my dreams — not necessarily my nighttime dreams, but my future dreams. When I was younger, the vision I held of my future was sharp. I knew exactly what I wanted to be and do. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the person I was becoming as I pursued my dreams.
As I’ve aged, and hopefully matured, my foresight has become much less focused, but definitely more colorful. Quite frankly, I like it this way. I feel like I’m part of a larger story rather than trying to forcefully write one. That means I get to enjoy the scenery, characters and plot as they unfold and not always wrestle and manipulate everything toward my preferred outcomes.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Crestline, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Pillar
Pillar, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This is an image of a support pillar for a canopy covering a picnic area at a local park. Frankly, it doesn’t look like much when you view it straight-on. It’s funny how a change of angle creates an entirely different image. Lines shift. Surfaces reflect. Hidden colors appear. Sometimes one must move to an entirely different position to discover beauty.
It makes me wonder how many times I have missed something beautiful or vital because I didn’t make the effort to look at it from a different physical, mental or emotional stance.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS4.
Grounded
Grounded, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
This image of my son’s grounded kite reminds me that the wind can be a fickle friend, especially when one depends on its strength.
Sometimes, we soar, sustained by its strength as it lifts us higher and higher. And at other times, the wind stops and we plummet impotently to the ground.
We must remember not to let the disdain of being grounded blind us to the beauty at ground level. Sometimes we need to lay helpless and humbled to gain a better perspective of the landscape that we yearn to view from the heights. For whether we lay on the ground or soar above it in the wind, it is our source to which we will soon return.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
White Blossoms
White Blossoms, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Blossoms embody hope and optimism. Not only do they have an inherent beauty of their own, but they point to a future beauty of expectations fulfilled. Nourishing, succulent fruit is coming! Blossoms are aromatic signposts of a new creation just around the corner.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Crestline, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Good Fences
Good Fences, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
“Good fences make good neighbors.” So ponders Robert Frost in his poem, “Mending Wall.”
While many debate this statement’s truth, I suggest the converse is true, “Good neighbors make good fences” — fences upon which children play, upon which friends lean, across which neighbors chat. Good neighbors make good fences that declare, “I respect you,” rather building walls to keep things in or out. Good neighbors make good fences that invite rather than dissuade. Good neighbors create good fences that are places of conversation and friendship.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Hook & Grill
Hook & Grill, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Here is one more image from the Auto Show on Memorial Day Weekend. The owner took wonderful care of his car. I absolutely love the lines and color.
My favorite part of the photo is the Chevelle plate on the grill and the dual headlights. For some reason, I think it adds class to the car.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Identity
Identity, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Who am I? I think in many ways a shadow contributes more clarity to identity than a reflection. A reflection in a mirrored surface only shows me a modified exterior. It discloses very little about who’s inside. But a shadow invites me to plunge into a cool, deep pool of mystery and revelation, a fascinating and frightening journey of discovery.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Muscle Car
Muscle Car, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Here’s another shot from the auto show I mentioned in my last post. It’s funny how a double “S” on a front grill can signify so much, just like the single “S” on Superman’s chest. On a Chevy Chevelle, “SS” proclaims “muscle car.” It means you’re in the presence of raw power and sex appeal.
Our culture is enamored with branding. If a product is branded properly, it soon embodies power, sex, or coolness. Then if I own or consume the product, I too embody the trait it symbolizes. Or so the lie goes.
Unfortunately, there are too many people with a double “S” on their grill and no engine under their hood.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Old Skool
Old Skool, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
I was driving home in Glendora on Memorial Day weekend and noticed that one of the local diners was having a car show in its parking lot. So I grabbed my camera and drove back to take some shots. What a blast!
The show featured Chevy Chevelle’s. Cars don’t excite me very much. But there was something electric about being in a crowd of people who appreciated these machines. Such meticulous care was being invested into these show cars. I walked down the lines of cars as men tenderly caressed hoods and fenders with soft cloths. Owners sat in lawn chairs next to their cars, soaking up the spectators’ veneration. As I was taking a photo of an engine, one man, with a fair amount of zeal, pointed out some sort of assemblage under the hood to his young pre-teen son. Together, father and son, stood entranced in a galvanizing bond of mutual admiration.
Me. I liked the colors, the lines and the intricate details. And everything was so shiny and fun to shoot.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Surprise!
Surprise!, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Capturing this image was a special moment. We had taken the kids to a local park to fly their kites on Memorial Day. While the kites drifted lazily in the blue sky, I started photographing images of my surroundings. Then I heard my kids yelling excitedly, “Look! Look!”
Two hawks were circling low around the kites, investigating these colorful intruders. When they seemed certain that our kites were neither prey nor threat, they disappeared as quickly as they had come.
Too often I’m distracted by what lies around me. Many of these activities are important. But once again I’m reminded that I need to look up and be astonished by splendor that resides beyond my limited vision.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Why?
Why?, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
In the philosophical Serengeti, questions are the savage beasts that roam the grasslands of our consciousness. One question reigns as the true predator — Why. It silently stalks from the shadows, rending its quarry with sheer savagery. No amount of intellectual cunning or moral fortitude can hunt and conquer this elusive beast. It cannot be captured nor domesticated.
Why does a young mother succumb to cancer, leaving a husband and young children? Why does the swindler succeed in his schemes, stripping innocent people of their life savings? Why is one child born healthy while another begins a lifetime of chronic pain and challenge? Why is a person thriving and vibrant one day only to be cut down the next like a tree in a field?
Why? We cry the question into the dark, searching for motive and meaning. And occasionally we hear a rustle and glimpse the reflection of eyes from the shadowy brush. And then it’s gone. It yields no ease for the pain, no salve for the sorrow. Any intellectual answers it leaves are like scat dropped upon the dry ground.
Only through experience do we learn that when we ask “Why?” we are pursuing the wrong game.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Crestline, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
“Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend the souls of thy servants and beseech thee to grant them rest in the place of thy rest, where all thy blessed Saints repose and where the light of thy countenance shines forever.” ~ An Orthodox Prayer
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Perseverance
Perseverance, originally uploaded by Jason Zahariades.
Sometimes just hanging on is the greatest virtue a person can exhibit. In fact, I think perseverance is courage in a time-release form.
There’s a Japanese proverb that says, “Fall seven times. Stand up eight.” Some of my greatest heros don’t necessarily possess incredible skills or brilliance. They simply didn’t walk away. They possessed remarkable untiring staying power.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Hula Hoe
This image of a worn hula hoe reminds me of a previous age when a man’s callouses were valued more than the car he drove or the clothes he wore; when what one produced and how he produced it meant more than what he consumed.
This photo is a poignant reminder of Wendell Berry’s novel, Jayber Crow. One of the characters, Athey Keith, is an aging farmer who knows his land. He has spent a lifetime intimately learning to understand its potency and limitations and he works it appropriately. He rotates crops, leaves portions fallow and uses animals rather than machines. Athey’s young son-in-law, Troy, eventually takes over the farm from the aging man. Troy modernizes the farm, relying on technology, chemicals and debt. Jayber summarizes Troy’s version of the farm, stating that it “was no longer a place you could see anybody’s pride or pleasure in.” I remember being filled with sadness for Athey. Like an abandoned and rusty hula hoe, Athey no longer fit in a rapidly changing world.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Photoshop.
After the Dust Settles
Humans are created to create. The impulse to imagine, design and build is hardwired into who we are. Yet, what remains when the vision has been fulfilled? What is left after the equipment is put away, the hands are washed and the dust settles? There’s a beauty all its own. There is satisfied silence. And even the dust seems to proclaim, “It is good!”
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Time
There is unique beauty with growing old. There is character that only comes with age. The intricate textures and colors in this photo could only have resulted from the passing of time.
This is a photo of someone’s home. Our consumerist culture trains us to exclaim “What a piece of junk!” Yet, this home is a place where wonderful memories fill the rooms like playful ghosts. Children and grandchildren have giggled and played. Sick bodies have been nursed back to health. Broken hearts have been mended with compassion. People have whispered, “I love you” to each other. Inspiring stories of God and his people have been recounted with tremendous faith.
This is a home where the walls are painted in colors of love, made even more striking and vibrant over time.
This photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Blue Glass
This glass bottle intrigued me. It sat unassuming in my in-law’s backyard. I actually overlooked it several times while taking pictures until my wife pointed it out to me.
It’s mysteriously zen-like in its paradox. It’s both smooth and sharp; rounded and slicing, transparent and reflective. And its balanced contradictions are sustained by its color. From what I’ve read, blue is calming, peaceful, tranquil and can actually slow one’s pulse. It represents harmony, unity and stability.
It makes me wonder what other trinkets of concealed beauty I’ve missed through my hurried days.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Blessed with Work
I’m amazed at people who can create beautiful things with their hands. My wife and kids can do this with ease. I’m not so fortunate, so I appreciate it all the more when I watch them build, paint, draw, crochet, or use power tools.
There’s a line that comes to mind from one of my favorite movies, Return to Me. Marty O’Reilly (played by Carroll O’Connor) states, “I’m blessed with work.” Isn’t that why we’re here? To work with our hands; to care for our world and for each other. It’s through our hands that we create and care. And when properly performed, our work visibly reflects the invisible God into our world.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Pixelmator.
Dried Out
Life is made of ebbs and flows. Never eternal are the highs or lows.
But then come the times when life only takes and takes. What do you do when there’s nothing left to give? No words. No prayers. Even the tears have dried. Nothing to offer to God. Nothing to give to others. Nothing to fend away the seductive whispers that taunt from our heart’s shadows.
Suspended between heaven and earth, forsaken, fatigued and fragile, all that is left is to simply be. And yet, that is just enough.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Azusa, CA. Post in Capture NX2 and Pixelmator.
Hands
Aged hands — every wrinkle, callous, and scar — imply a story. The hands in this picture were once young, smooth and strong. Now they clasp each other like lifelong friends, sharing secrets with each other only known by them.
What have these hands done over a lifetime? What kind of labor did they perform? What kind of skills did they learn? Did they caress a lover’s cheek or embrace a child? Did they lash out in violence or fear? Did they bring a healing salve? Did they sculpt joy or peace? After a lifetime, do they fill their owner with a mixture of contentment and regret? What legacy have they left upon this world?
Then I look at my own hands and contemplate all they have done, many times with such little thought. For as my hands, so is my heart. And I cringe. I cry. I repent. I laugh. I smile.
This photo taken with a Canon PowerShot A620 in Chinatown in Los Angeles, CA.
Unto My Words
This is another photo from Holy Week. It’s a photo of my daughter reading Psalms during an evening vigil by candlelight.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA. Post in Capture NX2.
Waiting with Candles
This is a shot from our Pascha (Orthodox Easter) service, moments before midnight. The congregation is preparing to follow the priest in a procession around the church building. It’s a very dramatic and much-anticipated moment as Lent and Holy Week climax with Christ’s resurrection.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA.
Procession
I love this shot for several reasons. First, the vibrant colors bring such life to this image. But I feel this photo also captures what I love about the Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy merges rich and ancient Christian spirituality with real life in a transforming way.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA.
Blessed Pascha!
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!” -Paschal Troparion
Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!
The Creek
Today is Good Friday for us Orthodox Christians. This photo of a creek at the Monrovia Canyon Park reminds me of the journey through Holy Week. The dark woods threaten to swallow the light. But the subtle water of life is ever-moving through the shadows and into a brighter day.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Monrovia, CA.
The Horizon
This week is Holy Week for us Orthodox Christians, a time when we completely immerse ourselves in those staggering events that occurred 2000 years ago. Yet we don’t just look backwards. As we move through this week, we gaze forwards to the beautiful future on the horizon that Christ’s work has guaranteed. And the journey from here to there is one in which we cooperate with God at renewing his beautiful world, repairing the brokenness, refocusing the distortion and reconciling all that are estranged.
Photo taken with a Canon PowerShot A620 in Oak Glen, CA.
Brown on Blue
This is one more older photo. I took it on one of our family’s strolls through the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. We turned a corner in the path and the stark contrast of the brown tree against the blue sky snagged my attention.
Photo taken with a PowerShot A620 in Claremont, CA.
Purple Iris
This is another old shot from a few years ago. I think I took this photo at either the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens or on a trip to San Diego. The vibrant colors of this flower absolutely captivate me.
Photo taken with a Canon PowerShot A620.
Eldest
This is a photo I snapped of my eldest son during my family’s trip to the La Brea Tar Pits. I think this shot captures his personality well. He’s a wonderful young man and I’m very proud of him.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x at the La Brea Tar Pits, CA.
Gnarly Trunk
This is an older photo of a tree trunk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. It’s one of my family’s favorite local places to visit.
Photo taken with a Canon PowerShot A620 in Claremont, CA.
Alone
Sometimes it can feel like we’re all alone on this great big world.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA.
Grass
One more image from our family’s hike at the Monrovia Canyon Park.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Monrovia, CA.
Leaves on Asphalt
I love leaves. Their short lifespan and changes in color remind me of my mortality. One day, I also will “fall from the tree.” I’m not afraid of that day. I just hope my short burst of life and color will have inspired others in some small way.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Surrounded by Color
Here’s another shot from our family’s recent hike at the Monrovia Canyon Park. There were beautiful spaces like this throughout the hike, culminating in the waterfall that I posted previously. This trail has quickly become one of our family’s favorite places to walk.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Monrovia, CA
Waterfall
My family recently took a nice hike at the Monrovia Canyon Park. During the entire hike, I was eagerly anticipating snapping some photos of the waterfall with the Nikon. We were fighting the clock and by the time we arrived at the waterfall, I had less than five minutes to take some shots. But it was worth it. The waterfall was at the end of the trail and there were so many rich colors in this space.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Monrovia, CA.
Complexity
If I had my way, life would be simple. But that is not reality. Life is complex, nuanced, and ambiguous. Sometimes, it’s downright messy. But that’s okay. Many times, one can find splendor in complexity that is absent in simplicity. Layer upon layer of obscurity and uncertainty can create patterns and textures in our lives that, though undecipherable, are beautiful and even divine.
Photo taken with a Canon PowerShot A620 in Claremont, CA
Soaking Some Sun
I took this photo at a nearby park in San Dimas. There was activity all around. People were walking their dogs and kids were playing. But these flowers were reaching up and soaking in some sun. In one way, these tiny flowers remind me of the Orthodox tradition of Hesychasm, the life of prayer and silence. Hesychasm is a life of knowing God, of communing with him, of engaging in his life. And from this quiet life flows authentic forgiveness, justice, mercy, humility and love.
When I was much younger, I had aspirations of changing the world. Big dreams. Big ideas. Big actions. Now I want to learn to be still in our busy world so that God will change me. Like these flowers, I want to bask in God’s life and to glow with light and warmth into my little corner of the world.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in San Dimas, CA.
Anticipation
There’s nothing like a blazing fire on a cold day. These logs, leaning against the cold cement steps, are only moments away from becoming the source of crackling warmth. Perhaps my life’s purpose is to be the source of warmth for others as well.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Pavilion for Japanese Art
On our recent visit to the La Brea Tar Pits, I was immediately attracted to the Pavilion for Japanese Art. I really liked the lines and texture of the buildings.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x at the La Brea Tar Pits, CA.
Waiting
Great Lent has begun. It’s a journey of joyful sorrow and delightful repentance. And while externally there seems to be much activity in fasting, prayer and giving, internally there is quiet renewal. Soon the wait will be over as we enter Christ’s resurrection and our own.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA
As You Wish
On our recent trip to the La Brea Tar Pits, my brother-in-law decided to roll down a steep hill. As I photographed his journey, my first thought was “This will make a great black-and-white series.” My second thought was, “Ouch! That looks painful!” Fortunately, my first thought was correct and my second thought wasn’t. When I showed my oldest son the original images on the camera, he looked at his uncle and quoted The Princess Bride, “As you wish!”
Photos taken with a Nikon D40x at the La Brea Tar Pits, CA.
Charlie Cox
On a family trip to the La Brea Tar Pits, we were entertained by Charlie Cox, a street musician. While many people simply passed by him, Debbie and the kids sat down and listened to him. I feel sorry for all those who walked by and missed the opportunity to enjoy his music.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x at the La Brea Tar Pits, CA.
Bamboo at Night
As I was taking laundry to the laundry room late one night last week, I noticed my neighbor’s bottom-lit bamboo. I saw this dark, almost otherworldly look in my mind’s eye.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Above the Clutter
This was one of those shots that I took while playing with my new Nikon D40x. I didn’t think much about it, but when I used this technique in Pixelmator, it took on a whole new character.
Photo taken with Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Heaven & Earth
This is an older image that I liked but that was also missing something. I was toying with a technique in Pixelmator and liked the results. I like the juxtaposition of the center tree and the sky all framed by the darker trees.
Photo take with Canon PowerShot A620 in Claremont, CA.
Toxicity
How often have my best intentions failed? How often have I opened my mouth to speak comforting words only to do more harm?
Photo taken with Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Scars and Sainthood
Scars and sainthood go hand-in-hand. You can’t be a saint without scars. Unfortunately, you can be scarred and never come close to being a saint. Ultimately, it’s what one does with the scars that determine which course their life goes.
Photo taken with Nikon D40x in Glendora, CA.
Living Stones
Bricks remind me of community. One brick by itself does little good. But together, individual bricks can build something much larger than itself, contributing not only its own stability, but also its unique texture and color.
Photo taken with a Nikon D40X in Glendora, CA.
Beyond the Veil
It’s funny. Our culture rarely associates beauty with age. Yet, sometimes the greatest beauty is the product of aging. When youth gives way to maturity, it produces a beauty that draws our attention beyond the veil to behold something more, something eternal. I want my life to be like that. Hopefully I can grow up before I grow old so that my maturity might help people see beyond myself and into something far greater.
Photo taken with a PowerShot A620 in Claremont, CA.
Brilliance from Behind
It takes ability, genius and strength from behind to turn the ordinary into something brilliant. Many times my perceived “brilliance” is only a testimony to the greatness of those who choose to stand behind me.
Photo taken with PowerShot A620 at Oak Glen, CA.
Green at the Beach
I love great photography. However, I’m not a great photographer. Yet, images move me and oftentimes open a window into beauty, truth and holiness that words cannot. I’m hoping this photoblog will showcase some of these special images from my ongoing journey home.
Photo take with PowerShot A620 at Crystal Cove, CA.
