Consistency is something with which I struggled for many years of my life. My relationships, job performance, health, diet and pretty much all other aspects of my life were inconsistent. I vividly remember losing out on a promotion early in my career because my boss felt that my performance was not consistent enough to earn the higher position. My weight and health fluctuated for years because I was inconsistent with my diet and exercise patterns. Inconsistency was an epidemic in my existence.
Somewhere along my way four key components entered my life which have helped me turn turn into a more consistent person; my wife and family, the company I work for, yoga, and photography. I am by no means saying that I am perfectly consistent all of the time. It's a daily battle but it is a comfortable feeling knowing that I can always come back to these four things to remind me to do my best stay to on a consistent path.
Now, I not only want to live a consistent life but to actually improve at the things that matter most to me. I want to be a better husband and father. I want my job performance to constantly improve. I want to grow my yoga practice. I want to be a better photographer. I have personal goals in place and a strong will to help me accomplish these desires.
If you follow and like my photography and I have to assume if you have read this far that you do, then you know that I love to photograph a beautiful tree that is in my neighborhood. I am not sure exactly when my love for this tree began. I do know that it has been an organic process and that this tree calls on me to photograph it. It has amazing views in every direction. There is hardly a time when I drive by that I don't want to pull out my camera and take a picture of this old "Noble Tree". Over the past year or so I have done my best to document this Noble Tree's many colors, weather and moods. It has made me a better photographer and has become my muse. It is a symbol of my growing consistency. I sincerely hope you enjoy these photos I have made. I also hope you enjoy the first Steven Freedman original poem (since college anyway) that I wrote about this Noble Tree.
Thirty seconds of beauty
“You stand in that field so stout and so proud.
You cannot move, yet you can see all around.
To the east you have an immaculate sunrise view.
I enjoy sharing it often with you.
It is always refreshing and new.
Your westerly view is dramatic and enviable.
Wow! The sunsets you see are just Incredible.
With each time I pass thee
I feel an overwhelming urge to document you, beautiful tree.
I have so many questions for you.
How long have you been there?
Have you always been alone?
Do you prefer winter, spring, summer or fall?
You have a special front row seat to them all.
Noble tree you dazzle me with your beauty.
You bring such extra joy into my life.
Thank you for being an inspirational model of consistency to me.”
Vast
Snow clouds
Puffs
Snow Glow
Rain Drops
Melting snow
Snow Starburst
Slowing down the shutter speed
Screen Time
Splitter
Tree Trunks
Summer Clouds
Contrast
No Words
Snowfall
Fog Down
Rain Drops
Fire in the Sky
Light on the Ridge Line
Close Up
Early morning selfie
Yellows
First Light on Sleepy Gap
Bullet the Blue Sky
My little man on a shoot with me.
Last Bit of Light