Nature Photography Day

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

Above, a view from a walking path that parallels the Delaware River in Frenchtown, NJ.

Each year, Nature Photography Day is celebrated on June 15. The NANPA, North American Nature Photography Association, was founded in 1994 to bring together people who shared a passion for photographing the natural world and a belief in its conservation value.

The first Nature Photography Day was established in 2006 to celebrate the organization’s love of nature and photography.

The Spotter

/ still a dreamer / Leave a comment

Charlie is an outstanding bug spotter.

Rather than attack an accidental intruder, he sits nearby and watches, waiting to catch my eye. Word seems to be out among the bugs that if they can make themselves seen, I will surely take them back outside.

Charlie is definitely on board with the effort.

Unlike dogs, who, in the face of a curious bee or wasp will often snap at it or bite it, Charlie simply moves his position, waiting for me to notice the odd little dance going on between him and the six or eight-legger. If Charlie were a dog, I suspect he would be a Pointer.

The Song that Makes You Cry – #3

/ still a dreamer / 7 Comments

What’s the song that touches you deeply – for any reason?  Love, friendship, nature, animals – you name it. That one song that, when you hear it, you are always moved.

Here’s one of mine – a collaboration between two legends – pop musician, Ed Sheeran, and revered tenor, Andrea Bocelli. Truly, I love this whole video – Ed visiting Andrea in his home studio in Italy, surrounded by Bocelli’s family, and recording Perfect Symphony in both English and Italian.

The camaraderie and respect towards each other are so touching, as is Ed Sheeran’s innocent awe watching Andrea Bocelli turn Perfect into something else entirely. I always tear up when Bocelli hits certain notes, and again, when they sing together.

Music has such power to move us. How about you? Your song?

The Song that Makes You Cry – #2

/ still a dreamer / 4 Comments

Do you have a song that moves you with only the voice or the instruments themselves? Forget the lyrics and any emotional attachment for the moment … just what you hear from a voice or instrument(s).

The vocal in this song, Epiphany, sung by Jin of BTS, is so hauntingly beautiful, that just the beginning notes set off a quickening in me and an anticipationm of tears.

The lyrics (English translation in CC), are also beautiful – a song about the importance of coming to love oneself in order to be truly able to love another. But Jin’s vocals/tone are what move me, all on their own.

Do you have a song that moves you like this?

BTS is a South Korean “boy” band of seven young men with phenomenal musical talent and a devoted global following. Their music is generally defined as K-pop, but also includes pop, hip hop, rap, and R&B.

Photo thanks: vahapdmr/Pexels @nextgrafik

The Song that Makes You Cry – #1

/ still a dreamer / 4 Comments

I think just about everyone has a song that brings tears to their eyes. Don’t you?

Such a song often calls to mind an intense memory or feeling for someone we love or have loved. But maybe not.  

What about the song that has your eyes filling up and you have no idea why?

This song, Remedy, by The Ambientalist, touches something within me with the very first few chords of the guitar. Every time. But I have no memory associated with this song whatsoever. It just came to me one day, and stopped me in my tracks emotionally.

Do you have a song that does this and you have no idea why? Let us know and feel free to provide a link.

I’m going to do a couple more posts like this on the different ways music affects us as it does. Stay tuned …