Reflections from the Journey

Not long ago I was much like most Americans fueling up my vehicles with gasoline, taking my kids to the fast food drive-thru’s,  buying my food at the grocery store, spray fertilizing & weeding my lawn, etc. without much of a second thought.  I did want to conserve energy a bit (& save $$$ a lot!) so I grew a few tomatoes & cucumbers in the summer, kept the thermostat set cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, watched the “green” shows on HGTV, went hiking and photographing in the woods, fed the birds (& squirrels!) in my yard, I joined the National Wildlife Federation.  Heck, I was even using CFL’s in many of my lamps!  I was “going green” like most folks.  I was no “tree huggin’ environmental wacko,” but I was doing my part.

Now, I’m not saying that any of those things I did to “go green” was wrong, in fact I encourage people to do them.  Please don’t think that I am standing up on some pedestal or sitting up on a “high horse” looking down on anyone.  What I am is a person on a journey that just may be a little bit further along the trail than many, but still lagging behind many others.  I’m here to offer what little guidance and insight I can to what lies ahead if you decide to undertake a similar journey.

Though I would say that God has been preparing the trail for me throughout my life , we can take a look at where I began to tread this particular section of trail:

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So last night I got you up to speed a bit on what has happened since I 1st told you about the vision/mission  God has given me.  I realized as I was composing that post that I really haven’t given a very clear picture of my vision.  That is what I hope to rectify now.

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Well, it’s been a little over 8 months since I wrote about my dream for the future so I thought I would post an update on what’s been going on.

While I have been learning a LOT, the whole process feels like taking baby steps.  You know the shaky, unsure, off balance kind of steps I’m talking about.  They are cute and part of the learning process, but they don’t cover much distance.   Here is a sampling of some of the baby steps I (along with my family) have taken:

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I am 40-years-old. There, I’ve said it.  It is on the Internets now so it must be true.  Now, if you are reading this and suddenly scrambling to send me a birthday card or present please note that it has been a few months since the auspicious anniversary of my birth.  (If it helps you feel a bit less guilty about not sending something then, by all means, feel free to do so now.  I certainly don’t want to burden you with guilt.)

The funny thing is I really don’t feel like I thought I would.   After all 40 is O-L-D.  I don’t feel old.  I don’t even think I look all that old.

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A picture may tell a 1,000 words but it still never tells the whole story.  I’m going to take you on a journey back through the lens and out the viewfinder to tell you the story of the making of the image.

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Yesterday and today I have been printing some photos onto some beautiful 100% cotton canvas and then stretching them onto wooden frames (a.k.a. gallery wrapped).  It is a pretty time consuming process that has my fingers aching, but it is soooooo  worth it.  I like the way they look much more than when framed under glass.   There is something about a photograph on canvas that really makes it special.

As I took a break to drink a tasty cup of Organic, Fair Trade coffee I thought about why I prefer gallery wrapped canvas prints over framed prints.   Not surprisingly the realization that I came to spilled over into thoughts of religion and faith as well.  If you have read any of my previous posts you no doubt have seen that EVERYTHING about my life and my photography is bound up in faith and this is what I call my Journey.

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Lately I have felt like a person from a cartoon that has a little storm cloud following me around above my head.   Occasionally,  I’ll run and try to lose the little sucker, but it always seems to find me.   There are a lot of reasons I could think of for that cloud to be around, and while those reasons  seem quite small and inconsequential I still found the cloud hovering above me.

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Not so long ago I thought I knew it all.  In fact one of my favorite sayings was, “Those of you who think you know everything are annoying those of us who do.”  I also thought I was the greatest nature photographer since William Neil.  I may not have been published as much or sold as many prints as “those other photographers”, but I certainly took better photos.  “Once I catch a break,” I thought, “I’ll be rich and famous.  Everyone will know who I am.”

Do you know what God does to the proud?

DING! DING!  That’s right!  God humbles the proud.

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What you are about to read is probably the hardest thing for me to write in the past 20 or so years.  I have been putting it off for some time now, not because I’m expecting it to be a literary masterpiece, but because I’m laying my dream out there for the whole world to see.  What you will read (unless you click on out of here) is something that has been brewing in my mind, my heart, my very soul for a while.  I’m finding it difficult to find the words to put with these visions rolling about in my brain.  I’m also a bit trepid about making my dreams public since doing so makes it “real” and leaves me feeling a bit exposed.   I’ve been holding back from sharing my dream, but every time I pray about it God reminds me that I need to take this next step before any others can be taken.

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In the “About” section of the main site I talk a little bit about wanting to give away my photography freely.  I want you to know that I really mean what I wrote.  In fact, after much thought I’ve decided to start giving away up to ten 8″x10″-ish prints a month.  Yep, you read that right, I’m giving away free prints every month.

Now, you are probably wondering, “What’s the catch?”  Well, here it is:  In order to get the gift of a print of one of my images you need to write something.   I want you to write me something about YOURSELF.  Now exactly what that “something” is up to you.  It could be your dreams, your fears, a childhood memory, or just about anything as long as it is about you.  Send me an email (you can finduse the Contact button above).  At the end of each month I’ll pick 10 people to send an image of their choice printed a high quality cotton rag paper.  Simple as that.

Created & Creative by God’s Design,

Rich Nicoloff

Don’t forget to check out my photography: From the Journey Photography