MONTANA IS MY MUSE

It has been quite some time since I have posted to this blog. In my last epistle I spoke of plans changing. They surely did for me. I had planned to go to the Gulf Coast but hurricane Ike came along and cut a nasty swath right through my planned path. I aborted that arrangement and went to Arizona instead.

My odyssey to the southwest lasted six months. The first two months of my journey were spent in southern Arizona. I worked like a dog. Out every morning and evening hunting for that special moment. But, the Sonoran Desert was loath to give anything up to me. I mentioned to someone that I was having a very difficult time photographing the desert. This person could not understand why. She told me to look at Arizona Highway. The magazine “was loaded with pretty pictures”.

What was I to say? The truth was, I had taken a number of “pretty pictures” but pretty pictures are not my aim. My mission is to take photographs that capture special moments at their peak of perfection, images that more resemble paintings than digital images.

After all was said and done I was able to capture perhaps three such images in six months. I suppose by some peoples definition that makes me a pretty lousy photographer and perhaps they are right. I’m not the judge. I don’t do what I do for approval. I do it for love of it.

As mentioned, I took many pretty pictures and some of them can be viewed at my stock site www.kotybear.com. I confess I am way behind in my processing, partly because, at home, I use an Apple G5 which has such high quality graphics I am loath to go back to the laptop where all the trip images are currently stored. The other reason is; I am simply basking in the natural beauty that surrounds me. I have never taken psychedelic drugs but I am imagining it must be something like what happens to me when I’m at my ranch. I feel as though I am in a waking dream.

Although, not Catholics, my parents sent me to Catholic school. They felt the education was superior. I always felt like an outsider and was very lonely there. But, I did come away with great penmanship. I also came away with the wish I could be like St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Here at my ranch I almost am. The deer follow me as I walk through the forest, bird’s flit from branch to branch overhead and squirrels chatter at me as I wander. It’s very hard to do anything but be when just being is so beautiful.

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men."

-St. Francis of Assisi

I am beginning to feel refreshed and my Muse returning. I have always had the feeling that I am led to places where I can find those special moments otherwise how do I find them? I certainly don’t know on a conscious level why I go where I go. I just get an idea in my mind to go to a place and voila there it is.

No doubt living in the forest with just my Koty Bear makes me a bit of daffy dame but I swear I can hear my two mothers whisper to me. Who are my two mothers? They are Mother Nature and my birth mother. I reckon they are one now as my birth mother has long since departed this mortal plane. I love them both with heart and soul. Whilst I was away I didn’t seem to feel their presence. Now that I am home in Montana I seem to hear their whispers once more. I must find the fortitude to tear myself away from this place knowing there are wonders awaiting me out there.

If you would like to view some of my past moments visit Kinsey Barnard.Com and see if you don’t agree I have THE most awesome chaperons guiding me to experience earthly splendor.

©Kinsey Barnard