May 14, 2008 – What a wonderful experience I had today, taking my camera and doing deep into the life of a couple of dandelions, right outside my door. Up close, if you are patient, the light is right, the dandelion is still, the tripod is firm, the settings are good, my eye is sharp, you can witness a powerful creation drama, a little play about life itself, its growth and pain, loss and beauty. Wow.
  I have walked by so many dandelions so many time, but now, can go inside the life of one, to see and learn a lot about life itself. This was a new level of photography for me, because it required so much patience and care. And there was so much failure. I took 100 failed shots for every one that worked. And as a writer, I felt I was looking into the most powerful of stories, with many parts, characters and dramas. Here, the dandelion dies as the seeds disengage and sail away, on the slightest breeze. Up close, the seeds are the most graceful part of the dandelion, the stems the most beautiful. I see the dying green mother as somewhat sad, in the final throes as the stems suck the life out of her, and sail away.
  The stems are the most beautiful part of the dandelion, shooting up.
  What is more ordinary or humble than this common weed. There is so much going on inside it that even with the best camera, I can barely get a taste of it. What I was looking at was awesome for me. I very much going deeper into these things, and seeing so much more than we can see from our busy and distracted perches. Life is everywhere