Friday, September 30, 2011

Look What Appeared In The Garden


Curbside find
down the street;
Susan said
I looked very funny
carrying her.
 
Photo by Bruce Barone.
 
What would you name her?



If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Portrait of Gabby

Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

In The Garden


September 27, 2011

Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Portrait of Nina


Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Nina and Nadine

Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A Portrait of Sisters


At a family party yesterday:

Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Portrait of Nina on the Couch

Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A Portrait of Hannah

Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Still Life with Dahlias


On the kitchen table:


Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Monday, September 19, 2011

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Ray's Family Farm. Southwick, MA. 9/18/11. Photo by Bruce Barone.



If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Still Life with Dahlias

Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Saturday Morning in the Garden


September 17, 2011

Photo by Bruce Barone.



If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday Night Cocktails



Susan is having a Malbec.
I am having a Martini.
Sock Monkey is having a Rosé.

Sock Monkey relaxing in the Living Room. Photo by Bruce Barone.



What can I get you?


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Still Life with Hydrangeas

Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Brimfield Antique Show Photos


Photos of an antique nature:


Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by BruceBarone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Brimfield Antique Show

Susan suggested 
the sculpture
would look good
in our garden


Photo by Bruce Barone.



If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Brimfield Antique Show

I had an inspiring time
at the Brimfield Antique Show.
 
Brimfield is considered the largest outdoor antique show in the country.  There are approximately 5000 dealers in 21 different show venues (often referred to as fields).  The show geographically covers one mile on each side of Route 20 in Brimfield, MAssachusetts.  The show runs Tuesday through Sunday 3 times a year in May, July, and September.

Lots of photos to follow over the next few days.

Here is one:

Photo by Bruce Barone.




If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Rain Or Shine


Susan and I are on our way
to  Brimfield Antique Show.

Please note water in wheelbarrow
from last night's rain.

Photo by Bruce Barone.
The Brimfield Twitter feed
says the sun is coming out!

Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

In The Garden

This afternoon
In the garden
In the rain
Picking peppers
For tonight's
Leftover Spoon Roast Italian Stew

Self Portrait


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

It's a Rainy Day In Massachusetts

Photo by Bruce Barone.




If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Today in The Garden

Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.
Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me

Monday, September 5, 2011

The End of Summer


In Southampton, Massachusetts
Returning home
After a pinic
I stopped the car
By the side of the road:

Cornfield, Granville Road. Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me

Saturday, September 3, 2011

A Gardening Lifestyle

Photo by Bruce Barone.


I am in God's Garden.
I am on my knees.
I am weeding. I know
From reading the Bible
Jesus said "By their fruits ye shall know them."
To do in garden:
Close my eyes and meditate
Practice repetition of the mantra
Focus by slowing down
Photograph and Pray
With one-pointed attention
Cook by training my senses
Always put the welfare of others first
Give thanks for spiritual companionship
Read from the scriptures and mystics
Of all religions
Sit down and read again
Teach self to paint
Put seed out for the birds.
See.
Love.
Is it
Possible
For anyone
Not to be?

Photo by Bruce Barone.


If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me

Friday, September 2, 2011

Dharma Road

I am reading a good book.

It is entertaining and it is inspiring.

The book is entitled "Dharma Road, A Short Cab Ride to Self Discovery." The author is Brian Haycock. This is his first book.

I quote from the back cover:

"In life, it's important to have a destination. Then you need a ride. Our Buddhist cab driver guides us safely down the sometimes slippery Dharma Road, pointing out the Buddhist landmarks along the way--the four noble truths, precepts, and eightfold path--before taking a hard left for a coffee break and a quick lesson in patience.

"Dharma Road is street-level for people who live in the real world, those of us stuck in traffic worrying about the details--making the rent, meeting our deadlines, craving the latest smartphone--to busy to notice the light hitting the motor oil on the wet pavement creating a rainbow."

It is a easy read. But don't let this dismay you. I feel like Brian is my friend and we are sitting down together chatting over coffee, or wine. He is wise and witty.

And he lives in Austin, Texas. Those of you who follow me know I just returned from a week in Austin where my son just started graduate school at The University of Texas in Structural Engineering. I will be writing about the trip at a later time, but if you like, you can see photographs from our trip here.

I have not hailed a cab in years.

Photo by Bruce Barone.
I miss cab rides. I remember a few cab drivers. I always talked with them. One time, I met a man from Cairo. He told me he was leaving New York City for Arizona. He said he loved Russian Literature and could not wait to move to his new home and "listen to opera and read Russian literature.

Another time when I got off the ferry from New Jersey to New York City and into the cab, the driver puts his hands up near his face and moves them to and from as if he is praying or seeing visions of angels. "You know what I'm doing," he asks me. "Praying," I answer. "Oh, no," he says. "I'm looking at the chads," This, my driver from Ghana.

I remember a ride I affectionately called The Banzai Pipeline. I was in New York City and my feet were sore and swollen and I needed a good pick-me-up. His name was Bonsu Osei, taxi license number 048360; license to kill. As we head down Fifth Avenue I felt as if I was surfing the Banzai Pipeline. I saw nothing but a flurry of color, heads seemed to turn to watch us careening down the avenue.  I felt we were going to have a wipeout. We came to a screeching halt at a red light and a man in a wheelchair wheels himself over to Banzai Bonsu's window and says "spare some change?" And Banzai Bonsu gives the man in the wheelchair change. And I wonder if the man in the wheelchair is a man Bannzai Bonsu ran over surfing the streets of New York City.

Where was I going? What was my destination? I was going to hear Maceo Parker at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. Maceo, a 15-year veteran of James Brown's legendary JBs and a pivotal member of the Parliament Funkadelic, is a tenor saxophonist who can rock. As he said "98% Funk, 2% Jazz." I remember the concert well. The joint was jumping.  One song rolled into another: "Stand by Me;" "Purple Rain;" "Cupid;" "Charlie Brown You're a Clown."

"We are going to get higher tonight," Maceo said. And we did.

Ah. Dharma Road.

I read this just a few days ago, Eknath Easwaran, Thought for Day (these are emailed to me daily):

When on the bridge, the pilgrim says Rama, Rama, but afterwards, it’s Kama, Kama.
  – Hindu proverb


Pilgrims traveling in the Himalayas sometimes must cross deep ravines on rope bridges. While on the bridge, which is swinging like a pendulum, everyone says Rama, Rama, Rama, “Lord, Lord, Lord,” with as much devotion as he or she can muster. But as soon as the first step is taken on terra firma, it is likely to be kama, kama, kama, “Pleasure, Pleasure, Pleasure.” When we are in the middle of turmoil we are very responsive to the mantram; but as soon as our health is good, our income is steady, and pleasures are flowing smoothly, we forget.

The Lord is a good psychologist: he knows the way our minds run. Turmoil can be his way of tapping us on the shoulder and saying, “Don’t forget me.”


Photo by Bruce Barone.

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me

Thursday, September 1, 2011

First of September



In my garden:


Photo by Bruce Barone.

I am sitting near my garden. It is morning. Susan and I have just returned from our early morning walk. Nadine, our cat, is sitting with us.  She is in the garden, first near the Jalapeno Pepper plant and later, the Eggplants. I am watching a Monarch Butterfly. It visited our yard soon after we sat down. It is breakfast. And the butterfly stayed through lunch. Flew away. And soon returned. She alights on zinnia after zinnia. I am amazed at her focused attention. There is no multitasking. There is this job at hand; to attain nectar.


 A hummingbird comes into the garden and disappears.

I am thinking how I need to be more like this butterfly. And so I watch her. She is focused. I am inspired. I watch.

People who watch me photograph a bride



a high school student



 nature



the streets of New York City



have often remarked on my one-pointed focus.

I learn from nature. I am learning right now watching the butterfly fly and land and sip. Fly and land and sip. Fly and land and sip. I am thinking of my childhood friend who passed away last week. We were best friends. His name was Andy. Never Andrew. Our parents were best friends. We spent holidays together and often vacationed together. He died in his garden. He called me a few weeks ago. "Hi Bruce. This is Andy." He asked if I needed any more of the hot sauce his daughter manufactures and distributes. I never returned his call. I forgot. I should have made a note of it. I was absorbed with my upcoming car ride with my son; Boston to Austin. I should have made a list of things to do. One thing at a time. I need to call one of my sisters, Darlene,  who moved a few weeks ago from New Hampshire to Dallas. I wonder how she is dealing with the heat. I need to write my friend's daughter, Nicole, a letter of condolence. There are stories I wish to share with her. I need to finish my book of photographs of Times Square. I am, happy to say, I am. And then a gift for my son who is in Austin. And paint a cabinet in the kitchen. Poppy and Winding Vines. It is going to be bold, bright, and beautiful. And soon a new kitchen counter is being installed. A colorful counter. Our home, like the garden, is colorful. Alive. Soothing. It is of Nature; beautiful. Like the butterfly. I am sitting watching the butterfly. The butterfly, I imagine, must love our garden. We do. And Nadine does, too. The garden has given us bunches and bunches of lettuce, barrels of tomatoes, baskets of basil and jalapeno, cubanelle and habanero peppers; soon Brussels Sprouts and Eggplants. And flowers. Zinnias. And tall and bright Cosmos. The butterfly shows little interest in the Cosmos. The butterfly seems to prefer the yellow, red and orange zinnias. I am watching the butterfly in my garden. Sometimes, I like to simply call it, our garden, or the garden, or God's garden. I am blessed. This I know. To sit near a garden and learn from the butterfly.  





If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.

An Anniversary

  Valentine's Day is around the corner and I like to share with you a love story. Fourteen years ago on February 9, Susan and I met at t...