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The Story of Paris
There is something about the telling of a story that captures our imagination. It could be the anticipation of discovering the plot and then feeling the excitement of watching it unfold. Or maybe the landscapes, culture, and time frame in which the story takes place allow us to enter these places just for a moment. Yet, above all else, it seems the characters themselves arrest us the most. Their personalities. Their virtues. Their vices. Their achievements and their failures. We love the characters because, deep down, we know that we are taking part in our own stories. Therefore, we imagine ourselves within their roles because maybe we need to escape,…
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Buildings
“I call architecture frozen music” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Feeling the Falls
Photos were taken at Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. They are considered to be the largest underground waterfalls in Europe. Growing up, I remember thinking that my tendency to be introspective was a deficiency, almost a sign of weakness. So much so that in certain circles, especially when participating in sports, I often felt less masculine. I had bought into the “men don’t feel, men don’t cry, men don’t show emotion” mantra. I remember feeling like I always had to turn off my thoughts but never could. As a result, my natural tendencies to feel and think brought about many insecurities. I am less insecure about it today, but I…
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Love Is
We use love in many of our sayings. We attach love to all kinds of emotions and feelings. We believe we love others when we are satisfied with how we order them into our world. We do these things believing we know what love is. We do these things believing we are in control. It is natural to try to control the very thing we desire most because, in some ways, we want to believe that having control will make us safe and secure. Safe from pain and free from feeling empty. But somehow, we know better. Deep down, we know that love can’t be caught and controlled. Instead, it…
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Sunrise Over Lake Maggiore, Italy
Last weekend, we traveled to Lake Maggiore, Italy, for a long weekend with our most recent family guests. We had a great time in the quaint little town of Cannero Riviera. Here are some shots I took one morning as I walked the quiet streets at sunrise.
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Weather, Writing, and Truth
As the emerging clouds roll in here in Switzerland, they threaten the last glimpse of sunlight and your plans for the day. And yet, just as the clouds move in and the rain comes down, the sun can reappear just as quickly, and with it, unexpected opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The weather in Switzerland is unpredictable. The surrounding Alps can both hold in and prevent weather patterns from emerging, which results in drastic changes. (A few of us even refer to the weather as being schizophrenic) On the one hand, the ever-changing weather can create fluctuating landscape portraits. This is why you can take a picture from the same…
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A “Religious” Walk Home
One night, while walking home from my small Swiss village of Worb, I had an intense “religious” experience. This experience prompted childhood memories of my past and gave my present-day desires and future longings a place and time to be experienced. The pathway home was lit only by the full moon’s reflective light, which reminded me of walking down a dark Pennsylvania road as a boy, wanting nothing more than to know who I was in relation to this big world. At the same time, the dark Swiss countryside was calling me to be present not only to my desires of today but also to my cravings for what is…
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The Bridge
The first step, that very first step So hard but filled with such emotion Our feelings propel us to act They propel us to move So we step We walk Yet, the more that we walk Our feelings fail us They die We are exposed Our inner most identities cry out Our daily activities no longer hide our desires We are left with simply ourselves We are on the journey Our anxiety builds So we look left, we look right We look for anything to save us We even look behind us But our past can’t help us now We are on the journey Our bodies ache Our thoughts run…
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Venice, Italy
A quick recap of our recent trip to Venice, Italy. We had a great time exploring this beautiful and truly unique city. Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go. -Truman Capote
