Michael Harris Photography

Canon 5DmkII, 24-70mm at 35mm, iso100, 1/60 sec at f/9.5, +CPL A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Albert Einstein

Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 16mm, iso100, 1/15 sec at f/8.0, +CPL According to Wikipedia , Coincidence is the noteworthy alignment of two or more events or circumstances without obvious causal connection. The word is derived from the Latin co- ("in", "with", "together") and incidere ("to fall on"). In science the term is generally used in a more literal translation, e.g., referring to when two rays of light strike a surface at the same point at the same time. In this usage of coincidence , there is no implication that the alignment of events is surprising, noteworthy or non-causal. I tend more to mystical teachings that insist on the view that there is absolutely no coincidence in the world. Everything that occurs can be related to a prior cause or association, no matter how vast or how minute and trivial. All is impacted by something related to it that is seen or unseen, cognized or unknowable. This sunset had special meaning for me and I belie...

Canon 5DmkII, 70-200mm at 160mm, iso200, 1/45 sec at f/2.8, Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. Albert Schweitzer At what age do we forget this?

Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 16mm, iso100, 1/15 sec at f/8.0, +CPL There is a feeling of effortless effort when passion is connected to a process. It is amazing to me that when I am creating images the aches and pains in my body seem to disappear for that time. Photography is my meditations.

Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 16mm, iso100, 1/15, 1/4, 1 sec at f/11.0, +CPL What work I have done I have done because it has been play. If it had been work I shouldn't have done it. Who was it who said, "Blessed is the man who has found his work"? Whoever it was he had the right idea in his mind. Mark you, he says his work--not somebody else's work. The work that is really a man's own work is play and not work at all. Cursed is the man who has found some other man's work and cannot lose it. When we talk about the great workers of the world we really mean the great players of the world. The fellows who groan and sweat under the weary load of toil that they bear never can hope to do anything great. How can they when their souls are in a ferment of revolt against the employment of their hands and brains? The product of slavery, intellectual or physical, can never be great. Mark Twain

Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 16mm, iso100, 1/20, 1/6, .7 sec at f/11.0, +CPL Combined in Photomatix Last night I attended a discussion on the quality of light by p rofessional photographer and artist Michael Thoennes . His presentation helped me better understand that all light, natural or artificial, has characteristics that are universal and with an understanding of these principles of light we can create impactive images with the power to evoke emotion. Michael has a complete understanding of this topic, his presentation was interesting and informative. If you get a chance give him a listen. All of this reminded me of balancing the three qualities of nature. They are called gunas. Roughly translated as (mass or inertia), (vibrancy or dynamism) and (luminosity or the quality of light). When I am able and I remember to balance these qualities in me my photography is fun and I get better results. When my images convey these qualities in a way that connects the viewer to nature's ...

Canon 5DmkII, 16-35mm at 20mm, iso50, 20 sec at f/16.0, +CPL Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere. Barack Obama This image was one of a very many 20 second exposures, no special lightning capture equipment just patience.