Lightkeeper's Journal

The Texas Gift that Keeps on Giving...

 

 Gatesville, Texas 

 

We have this picture in our cottage. This is before the days of digital photography when you had to buy film for the camera. Curtis photographed this windmill‬ and barn in Gatesville, Texas in the early 1980's. He printed this picture the old-fashioned way and developed it using darkroom techniques. Then, he found wood from an old barn and framed it.

He gave it to his grandfather for a Christmas present. When his grandfather passed away, Curtis' mother kept it until she passed away, and now we have this cherished treasure to enjoy. He took this framed picture outside to photograph it, and we see that a piece of grass was hanging over the top of the wooden frame. It just adds to the subject of the picture.

It's the perfect gift that keeps on giving...

 

 

 

Copyright 2015, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.

Nature at its Finest

  

Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele, Georgia (Crisp County)

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

Psalm 113: 3

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised.

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2014, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

I Saw the Light and a Little Black & White

 

 

1930 Model A Ford Hot Rod

Downtown Swainsboro, Georgia

Photography by Curtis & Norma Beaird

 

 

 

 

The old Southern Railway System over the Savannah River

Augusta, Georgia

Montgomery County Courthouse

Mount Vernon, Georgia

Lucas Theatre, originally opened in 1921

Historic Savannah, Georgia

Photographed at the annual Turkey Rod Run

Daytona Beach, Florida

Cape Charles Tugboat on the Savannah River

Historic Savannah, Georgia

 

TEN Amphitrite Tanker

Savannah River Channel off of Tybee Island, Georgia

 

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis & Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.

Full Sturgeon Moon

 

Full Sturgeon Moon at 100% of full

August 21, 2013 

 

Article by Norma Beaird

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

For the last two months in South Georgia, it has rained so much and the skies have been so cloudy, that we have not photographed pictures of the full moon for June or July.  If it wasn't raining, the humidity has been so thick that you could "cut it with a knife", as the old saying goes.

We have always enjoyed reading the popular Farmer's Almanac for the monthly full moon update.  It had been raining earlier, but at 3:30 a.m. this morning, we were still awake from the really bright light shining through our bedroom window.   Finally, Curtis decided to go outside and check out tonight's full moon.   Tonight's moon is fascinating and is named a Full Sturgeon Moon.  According to EarthSky, one of the popular names for the August full moon is the Blue Moon.  

While reading Huff Post Science, we learned the following:

The annual August full moon has come to be known as the Full Sturgeon Moon, because the large fish called sturgeon can most easily be caught at this time of year. The name came from tribes who caught this fish in bodies of water such as the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Another name for this month's full moon is the Full Red Moon, because the weather and atmospheric conditions during this season can often make the moon look reddish when it rises through a haze.

And finally, because crops grow tall at this time of year, this month's moon is sometimes called the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon.

Thankfully, we got a little break in the rain and had the opportunity to photograph the beautiful Blue Moon .........but, it's white!!

 

Copyright 2013, Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

Relax and Photograph

 

 

Article by Curtis Beaird

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

The simple brings us the majestic.

The ordinary, when appreciated, brings us beauty.

The familiar, fully examined, brings us fascination.

Relax and photograph. 

Not all things are perfect. Well, at least I've been told spiders got it right. One side is the mirror image of the other. But, photography? Not everyday holds the perfect moment. Light is what it is and does what it does.  Humidity, dust, and the glare off of Uncle Wiggly's nose offer photographers "challenges", as they say. 

Some mornings, there is no golden moment. That thirty-eight seconds when the light flows smooth and easy, bathing the subject in only the best Mother Nature has to offer. They are golden. Those few moments when you know the hue and saturation will work as designed, because the reflected light meets the required digital standards for them to work as designed. 

Life as it is, when it is, where it is. 

Rainy days, laced with heavy doses of their brand of gray, offers what I could never find in the golden moment - boredom. That's right, not every moment sparkles, not even for a Northern Cardinal. When you are molting and rain-soaked, and clinging to a broken branch, for whatever this female cardinal is waiting for, blah overwhelms the moment. Life as it is, when it is, where it is. She hunkers down and lives it. Do you hear what I hear?

All moments are rare moments. 

If it fascinates you, photograph it. If you care about it, photograph it. If it deepens the mystery for you, photograph it. If it tells you a story, photograph it.  The good news - what the moment holds for you will be transfered to your work. Care about a wet Blue Jay on a tree limb or a welder high in the steel, and your work will be infused with life.

When a moment speaks to you, photograph it.  What could be more prosaic than birds on a feeder?  or  A bird folded and wet on a branch?  Unless those scenes fascinate you, then the eye of the photographer becomes the eye of the beholder and the beauty shines through.  All moments are rare moments. 

Relax and photograph.

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved  

 

Photography as a Teacher

 

 

Article by Curtis Beaird

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

Even Photography can be our teacher. 

 

If a mind is a terrible thing to waste, photography is an excellent way to develop it.  The world we live in is filled with ever-changing variety. While a cloud structure may be given the name Cumulonimbus, there are no copies.  Each one is original to the moment we see it. 

The view through a camera lens first engages, then immerses the mind in that time of originality.  Questions present themselves. How long will it build?  How high will it climb?  Will the rolling gray edges expand and gather into the blue? 

With face fastened to the back of the camera, with my eye intent on every advantage that sight offers, my energy builds as the intensity of concentration gathers itself through each click of the shutter.  That moment.  That single moment has come and gone, and will never be again.  I made a record of the sighting.  The moment was not lost for lack of attention or focus.  I saw it.  I remember it.  I will share it.  I am a photographer.   

 

Photography taught me focus. 

Turning or sliding the barrel of a lens produces one sort of focus. That technical process produces the mechanical reproduction of what the lens is pointed at.  The sharper the better, unless of course; we prefer the soft focus of a child's cheeks or a puppies nose.  Gentle focus is also ours to produce.  Just turn or slide the barrel a little more or a little less. 

The focus that photography offers me is more a matter of attending to the subject.  First seeing, then appreciating what I see.  As Switzer put it, "The universe in a drop of water."  It is the focus of being captured by colors.  The reds, the greens, the blues as they blend, offering that "one of a kind" moment. 

Shadows play across the edge of the rose.  Light reflects, refracts and redefines the melting ice as a mirror of wonder and enchantment. Click. Click. Click.

Paying attention becomes more like breathing than grim determination.  Strident discipline and forced concentration are non-existent.  Flow replaces the brittle edges of effort and will. "I can" replaces "I must."  The moment becomes what it is - eternity.  The tattered is stitched together.  Life is made whole.  Click. Click. Click.

 

Photography taught me Faith.

I love clouds. Their boiling immensity of grays and blues.  Their fleeting wisps of thin whites playing free and easy on a wind only they can make visible.  Both the bold and powerful, the fluffy and gauze-thin streaks playing against a blue background called sky, so rich that it takes your breath away.  It has forever held me spellbound.  

While Joyce Kilmer said, "I think I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree," I would say, "I think I will never see a poem as powerful, as captivating, and awe-inspiring as a cloud."  And then, it is gone.  Clouds in the spring and early summer form and reform.  They appear in all their unique wonder. I scramble for my camera. 

Where is the memory card?  It's in the slot on the side of the computer.  Grab it.  Flip the door on the edge of the Canon.  Slid.  Snap.  Move.  I'm out the door.  Back at the spot in the yard.  The perfect angle with the green of a huge pecan tree as foreground. The exact spot where I saw the cloud shaping and shifting.  But wait. What happened?  It's gone. 

Thirty seconds in the life of a cloud is forever.  Whoever said, "The only constant is change" must have learned it from a cloud. 

As it often turns out, the best cloud I ever saw has always been the last one I didn't manage to photograph.  From imagination-powered fascination to a sense of loss is a photographers periodic experience.  That is the dark side of fascination.  Some really do get away. 

The experience is common enough that we even invented a term for that moment when we are captivated by a visual moment and capture it right then and right there.  It's called the "grab shot".    

Then it dawned on me. Like the manna from heaven that was fresh every morning, there would be another cloud.  Then another and another.  Each one offered by the creator God, Who is endless with His offerings and generous with His bounty. 

Now, instead of lamenting the loss of the last and presumably the best cloud that I missed and will never see again,  I enjoy and share the many I have photographed.  I celebrate the many more waiting to appear in all their beauty and grandure. The best cloud?  I will see it tomorrow. 

Click. Click Click. 

 

 Copyright 2013, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.

Faith and Photography

Article and Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

The exotic photograph, the remote location, the rare moment that produces the award winning photograph. 

 Who doesn't think of such?  But, who actually gets there?

Is there a plan "B"?  Is there a way to quell, at least for a moment, the lust for the out-of-reach? Is there an approach that yields beauty or peace, tells a story, offers possibility, reports magnificence, generates energy, excites the imagination and provides satisfaction without breaking the bank or exhausting the body?  Since faith is about the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, I decided to experiment. 

The nudge that became my act of faith, I chose to silence the longing for the exotic location and the million-dollar shot long enough to see what was before my eyes.

Georgia Pecan Tree

I gave myself the assignment of a single location, my backyard. The discipline included no wandering around.  I would take a seat in a lawn chair and attend to the the sky of clouds that unfolded before me.  I would suspend, at least for a moment, the tormenting belief that the best was somewhere else, that beauty could only be reproduced with equipment costing thousands of dollars, and that whatever I saw was never enough and not right.  

In Biblical terms, I would accept that "manna is fresh every morning."  I took those words to mean that what I needed to nourish my spirit as a person and a photographer was available and near at hand.  All I need to do was pay attention.

 

But, fidgeting and fiddling with the camera, and wishing it was a high-end multi-circuited professional to die for, "with only twelve like it in the world kind-of-lust" hangs on.  It took awhile.  A long while. 

Lust is what it is, and it is not a weak force,

especially when it wears the face of frustration.

Frustration is an aggravating habit.  Faith is a choice every day and in every situation.  Frustration whispers dark thoughts that generates unrequited desire and shrouds the moment in the prelude of disappointment.

  "That cloud is too gray.  Why didn't they put a thumb rest on this camera?  I wish a bird would fly into the light blue area.  This thing focuses too slow.  I really should be standing over there rather than sitting over here.   

If I were in the Bahamas…..." 

 

 

Frustration blinds by way of distraction, usually negative distraction.  Faith enables sight by way of anticipation and appreciation.  Faith is a choice and a practice. Frustration is a dismal habit.  Faith is an encouraging choice.  Frustration blocks.  Faith offers the option to see and enjoy. 

As I clicked away, I found myself lost in the fascination of the ever-changing scene before me.  The what if's, and the should be's, and the ought's and the why not's slid out of the way.  I discovered, at least for a few minutes, that it was possible to bloom where you are planted.  At least for the moment, I discovered the Creator God offering a new look, a fresh view and a one-of-a-kind moment by way of little more than me paying attention to the world He offered at the end of my nose. 

 

 Simple does it.

 

The moment and the scene before us offers the unique,

the special and the one of a kind.

 

A second, often 1/2000 of a second, never to be repeated, and from your specific location, seen only by you, becomes the gift of the day.

I really think though, next time, I'm putting the lawn chair over there.

 

I Corinthians 2:5 

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

 

 

 

 

Georgia Birds, Tall Ships and Christmas in the Country

Red-Winged Blackbird Migration in Georgia

 

Article by Norma W. Beaird

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

We want to update everyone on why we haven't posted in a while.  We've been busy trying to update our photography website with more of our birds, nature and Coastal Georgia photos.  Sometimes, you have to stop and just concentrate on one thing at a time! 

We have been photographing the many species of birds in Georgia.  In addition, we are focused on the continued migration of various species of birds going South for the winter!  However, there is much more on the improved photography site, to include Savannah scenes and the fun and eclectic Tybee Island.   

In thinking about this time of year during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I further realize that we have a lot to be thankful for.   In May, our house was burglarized.  A laptop that contained over 9,000 photographs and a lot of Curtis' writing, was stolen, in addition to other items that we dearly cherished. 

For a couple of months, this burglary literally shut us down.  It was difficult to write, photograph or even be creative in the smallest sense of the word.  We had been violated; and at the moment, the burglary was all that we could concentrate on during the day. "Lock it up or hide it" became our motto to live by!  So much work over the last seven years was lost in few minutes while we were at a doctor's appointment.

Therefore, we just kinda kicked back and mourned our loss for a while.  In May of this year, about two weeks before the burglary, we had gone to the Savannah Tall Ships Challenge to photograph the beautiful tall ships that sailed into the Georgia Port.  We had so much fun and enjoyed meeting fellow tall ship enthusiasts as we took our places to photograph at an area on the Savannah River near Fort Pulaski. 

U. S. Coast Guard Eagle (WIX 27)

After we returned from Savannah, we didn't  begin to work on our tall ship pictures right away.  Usually, when we return from a trip, we get started on uploading our photography to our website.  But for some reason, we just didn't do it.  Now, we know why. 

During the burglary, the burglar not only stole Curtis' laptop including the 9,000 photos, he stole all of the flash drives that were laying around on the desk, to include current bird pictures that we had worked on for a while. 

If we had immediately worked on our tall ship photos and placed them on the flash drives, they would have been stolen, and we would have lost a ton of hard work.  Therefore, we are so grateful that we waited until now to work on our tall ship photos.  The Lord works in mysterious ways; thankfully, we didn't lose any of our tall ship photography!  

 

In the spirit of the season, sometimes, you just need to take a drive to explore and enjoy the countryside.  One day, while I was busy with one thing or another, I remembered that it was about that time at County Farm Plant Company in Baxley, Georgia......that magical time of the year when they have greenhouses full of the most gorgeous poinsettias you've ever seen! 

Red Poinsettias, Ice Punch Poinsettias, Maren Poinsettias, Polly's Pink, Monet Twilight and Red Glitter! 

As we walked into the magnificent greenhouses, the incredibly vibrant burst of color seemed to turn up the volume on holiday cheer and shouted, "Merry Christmas!"   And...... thanks to Gina at County Farm Plant Company, I've learned the proper names of these lovely holiday flowers!

Curtis and I went through the huge greenhouses and photographed the most beautiful Christmas scenes you could imagine......a sea of Red Poinsettias surrounded by Asparagus Ferns and Macho Ferns! 

How could anyone leave without being in the spirit of the holidays, especially after viewing a sea of red and green?   If you're ever in Baxley (Appling County), you must stop at County Farm Plant Company. 

 

During this holiday season, let us all remember that the birth of Jesus Christ is the true reason we celebrate Christmas.   The Source of real peace, love, hope and joy....... is Jesus.  

 

 

Luke 2: 11 - 14 (King James Version)

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

Copyright 2012, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signs You're Living in Georgia

It's amazing what you will see while sitting at a traffic light. 

 

Article by:  Norma W. Beaird

Photography by:  Curtis and Norma Beaird

Curtis and I absolutely love photography, mostly outdoor photography to include nature, landscapes, coastal scenes and old churches.  At the same time, in searching for beautiful and interesting photos, we sometimes come across signs that are very humorous (at least they're humorous to us).  On top of this, we love to laugh!  Laughter is like medicine, except it has less side effects!     

Sometimes, we need to trade the serious for the humorous,

and trade the chaos for the calm. 

As you can probably tell, we're a little eclectic in our subject matter.  Even though the world seems to have gone crazy at the moment, we need to train ourselves to occasionally view the positive and joyful side of life.   If we always feed our mind the constant bad news, the never-ending political spin and the horrifying apocalyptic predictions, we'll be a prime candidate for the latest anti-depressant on the market today.

Sometimes, despite the negativity that surrounds us 24/7, we need to laugh and find the humor that is all around us.  Sometimes, we need to photograph that funny sign that may not contribute anything towards world peace, but it gives us some emotional relief.   As a matter of fact, the Mayo Clinic endorses laughter as an effective means of stress management.

It's okay to laugh.  It's okay to have a sense of humor and be happy.

Proverbs 15: 13 

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:

but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Sometimes, we need to take a break from the stress, the traumas, and the little life dramas.  (Wow!......how poetic)  Sometimes, we need to "lighten up"  and give it a break......or a rest.  It may be as simple as going camping and admiring the beauty of nature.  It may be as simple as spending time with the grandchildren.  It may be as simple as a husband and wife scheduling a date night at their favorite secluded restaurant. 

Sometimes, it may be as simple as photographing your pet or a bird in the front yard.  You may relieve stress by writing your thoughts in a journal.  It may be as easy as watching a funny re-run on TV.  It may be as soothing as a pedicure or as relaxing as a drive through the quiet countryside.  It may be as simple as going fishing in your favorite pond or lake.  It doesn't have to be expensive or require a lot of planning, but it does need to relieve stress and redirect your thoughts to what is really important in life. 

Find a reason to laugh and bring some sunshine to a cloudy day.

Laughter is contagious!

As part of our humor therapy, we want to share some of the things that we find funny.  Since we live in Georgia, we have noticed that Georgia businesses have a knack for producing three things in their signage. 

1.  Signs with part of the lights out.  Blown-out light bulbs are a sure-fire sign you're in Georgia. 

2.  Signs with funny messages, whether or not it's meant to be humorous. 

3.  Signs with straight talk about their requirements for entering the premises. 

We also find pictures of things that don't necessarily classify as signage, but they're so funny that we have to share them!  Living in Georgia provides many opportunities for entertainment. 

There are times when we don't always have our cameras with us.  A few of these were photographed with our cell phone.  We just couldn't pass them up!  Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

 

This sign doesn't mean that Georgia is filled with so many skinny folks that they can't keep their pants up.  No, siree!  Georgia is home to many buffets, where fried chicken, cornbread and grease are part of the food pyramid.   We do have some young folks who are really proud of their underwear. 

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Signs like this are everywhere.   I thought Missouri was the "Show Me" state.

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I'll never forget when we posted this sign on Facebook.  A very humorous and single friend of mine posted the following comment under this sign...."I'd like to have a hot Doug!"   Well, it wasn't long before she found one.  His name wasn't Doug, but according to her Facebook photos, it looks as though her love life has certainly improved! 

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Curtis attended a drag race at this particular drag strip near Macon just one time.  That's all it took.  Most businesses warn about illegal drugs and alcohol.  In Georgia, there are a few additions.

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St. R Bucks?   

  Do they need to increase the price of their Mocha Lattes to afford a few light bulbs? 

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With a name like Ed Obster, I would vote for him for president. 

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Are you serious?  Don't turn Uncle Ned loose on the Oconee River!

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First of all, we're not very traditional.  We had a nice dinner buffet on the Savannah Riverboat on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Day, we had a more casual dinner at IHOP (yes, you read IHOP).  When we walked out of IHOP, this is what we saw in front of us.   As a man exited the driver's side, I inquired about his unusual passenger.  He replied with a grin, "Oh yes, that's my son-in-law!"

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You have to understand something.  When you eat at greasy (pronounced gree-zee) All-You-Can-Eat buffets in Georgia, you need to be near a restroom at all times.  Sometimes our digestive systems are not wired for an onslaught of fried catfish, collard greens, hushpuppies and sweet tea.  If you don't believe this, just ask Paula Deen. 

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Four things are really important to Georgia folks:   

Church fish fries, deer hunting, firearms and working bathrooms

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:  1 - 8 (King James Version)

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.