Thursday, June 26, 2014

Rose of Sharon?








Any folks out there good for a positive plant ID? A friend offered that this is a Rose of Sharon bush (or flower) Which is fine by me... but then I look up Rose of Sharon on Google and see a whole bunch of flowers that do not look anything like this. I see this... and a much simpler form, that seems to be a different flower altogether.

What I do know is that this lovely bush started as a stick we dropped in the ground half a dozen years ago. (And I mean a stick... No roots or anything.) It has pretty much flowered every year... but this year with plenty of rain and cooler temps, it just exploded and is draped in blooms. 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

On the Dangers of Sprinkler Systems.



So this last month I have been working on a time-lapse creation, featuring the very colourful garden in front of my work place (The state capitol of Arkansas.) Maybe I shouldn't publish this... but I often leave my camera just clicking away while I am about other things. I knew a storm was on the horizon and hoped to get swirly dark clouds over the flower tops.... But I never counted on the sprinkler system. All in all, it looks like my Nikon D-300 was out in the sprinklers about 20 minutes. .... and, after a little airing out, is doing just fine. 

As for the sequence. Trippy.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Endures Forever


(Reminiscent of the Painter Moran?)






Feeling Ansel.


A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.



While mountains are not, strictly speaking - eternal (they break down like everything else) they are, in the language and heart of the psalmist, physical symbols of endurance.  And no wonder... when they stand poised against gravity, torrent, storm...


All images (c) by Kirk Jordan... taken near Jasper, Alberta (Canada)  May 29, 2014


Ps.  Which do you like better of the floating range... the color or the black and white?

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Minimals

















I highly suspect that this series - taken on the Icefield Pass on the Banff Hiway connecting Banff and Jasper (Alberta, Canada) will not be everybody's cup of tea. (Too Minimal, Too stark)  But these represent some of my very faves from that trip, and my own mountain photography.   Said one friend/fan.... No cliche here.

I figure in time and repetition there is probably some cliche everywhere... It is how we maintain some continuity with the world... but I deeply appreciate the thought. 

May you find joy in this minimal offering.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Stratum






He leadeth me besides still waters....


In the general vicinity of Jasper, Canada May 28, 2014

Ps.  These kind of remind me of those ink blot studies...

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Over ripe (Magnolia grandiflora)






































Central Arkansas 6/12/14

This appears to be our year for Magnolia grandiflora... That is, the Southern Magnolia are spitting out blooms like popcorn... but they are also browning fast. Not sure if the abundance of water makes them age fast. Most blooms are good for about two days, then done with.


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

He Waters the Earth

The Road to Jasper... Or, the Road to Banff (Canada, depending on which way you are traveling)
















This is odd. I recently went looking in a bible (printed in Singapore by a Catholic press) for my favorite Psalm. 104. Everything was wonky. Apparently this bible made Psalm 104 - Psalm 103. Not sure if that is just a difference between publishers, or even part of the catholic/protestant divide... But, whether 103 or 104, I love the words of this Psalm, and how they fit this landscape.


He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at athe sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills;
11 they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Moody Browns



(May 26th?, 2014)

Weird thing about Banff and vicinity. (Actually Lake Moraine near Lake Louise) Sun didn't go down till 10PM. I think this was near 9:40, with a look of stormy sunset. As is, I walked as far out on the snow pack as I could, toward the lake, but after punching through soggy snow several times up to my thighs, then said: Hmm. this doesn't feel good. Then I turned around.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Ink Blot Test in Banff, Canada




Ink Blot Test" (What are they called?)

Get ready for an avalanche. During the last week of May,  I (photographer Kirk Jordan) visited Banff National Park of Canada. ( My Wife Kerry spoke at a conference, and together we celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary with a little wilderness glory. 

Expect images from that trip trickle in over the next weeks.

And should your eyes find delight in this place, my eyes always enjoy your comments.   Thanks.