Abstract Illuminated Clouds Silhouetted Trees – Square

Black and white silhouettes of trees are set against a textured Illinois sky with illuminated scattered clouds. The top of the trees form a sharp contrast with the lighter sky, giving this square format image a peaceful yet abstract and dramatic quality. Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella.

Sometime we can feel a bit scattered, yet God can use this to illuminate our purpose in the journey of life, if we let Him.

Legacy. How do you want to be remembered?

The texture of tree bark, illuminated by the interplay of sunlight and shadows, illustrates the many years of life it takes to make a legacy. Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella

These are the words that came across my computer this week, and what I’ve been pondering since.

Many of us go through life taking for granted the short time we have on earth to make our mark, I suspect. Others of us make profound statements with our life. Most of us, I believe, carry on family for another generation.

My life mission is to share hope and God’s love in the world. That doesn’t seem to be profound on the surface of things but, if you think about it, many people today live without hope and don’t know or see how God works in our lives. People need examples of goodness and hope.

It would be great for many of us if our legacy where to build a skyscraper, or a great work of art, or invent a disease curing drug, or like Thomas Edison with the light bulb. But the more noble legacy is to get others, especially our family, to Heaven. That can have an impact three generations deep!

So, after we die there may be things we did in this world that may be remembered, but what is more important I think is the people who help others because of how we have helped them. Our name may not be on it, but it will be in God’s book of Christian service.

Enjoy your day, you won’t get it back.

Winter Red

A square artsy designed photograph of the winter sunrise sky, through the silhouetted trees, that indicates a snowy day in my hometown of Homewood, Illinois – USA. In life how transparent are we to allow others to know about the person that we are? Winter Red – Copyright 2013 Frank J Casella.

Let Dogs Be Dogs

Photo: ‘Happy Fall Dog Walk – Heat Effect‘ A golden retriever goes for a neighborhood walk down a sidewalk through colorful Fall leaves in Midwest America. Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella. Note: The motion in this image is intentional. The abstract and heat effects are added for presentation

While on a recent dog walk I noticed down the sidewalk two people approaching me with their dogs. Once they spotted me they seemed to have stopped and where standing there talking with each other .. waiting.

I said to myself, “I wonder if they are waiting to see if I will be crossing the street” … “well, my dog is trained so I’m not gong anywhere”. And sure enough, as soon as I got ‘two driveways’ away from them they went and crossed the street.

Once they got across the street, they waved at me in a friendly like manner. I wanted to say to them, ‘nice way to socialize your dogs’.

This is a common thing today, and I don’t know why or what is causing it. It seems instead of dog owners making the time to lead their dogs and train them to be social with other dogs, they just simply cross the street. This is not very good for the dog. But us humans take the path of least resistance when we can.

For example when dogs sniff trees, and pee on them, it not only helps to relieve themselves, but they also communicate with, and learn about, each other by the odors in their pee .. yes, you can call it p-mail.

All of my dogs have been rescue dogs, and one even came with a form of aggression. The dog behaviorist who worked with us showed us how taking the lead with your dog on walks helps him with how well he behaves at home. It took about nine months, but we helped that dog to become a dog again.

Fall Bloom at the Prairie Water – Lomography

A wetlands beautiful day, as the overcast blue sky provides just enough illumination add a touch of contrast the the beautiful blooming colors of Fall,, at the Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve in Illinois. Photo: Fall Bloom at the Prairie Water – Lomography – Copyright 2023 Frank J Casella.

It’s The Sauce – Wetlands Trail

The shirt says it all. A surprise I found while editing images from the Homewood Izaak Walton Wetlands Preserve in Illinois. When you experience the beauty of nature, God’s love is the secret in the sauce (at least in my book). Click here or image for more.

Significance and Meaning

Clouds and Trees Black and White – Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella

I found the moving clouds passing over the silhouetted tree branches to be an interesting juxtaposition of shapes and elements. The contrast between the dark branches and the ever-shifting shades of gray in the sky creates a captivating scene. Black and white photography accentuates this interplay, allowing us to focus solely on the intricacies of the natural world.

Have you ever taken a moment to lie on your back, gaze up at the towering trees, and contemplate their beauty? It can be a profound and meditative experience. As you study the branches, observe how they entwine and intersect, creating an intricate tapestry against the canvas of the sky. This simple act can offer respite from the noise and distractions of our busy lives, allowing us to reconnect with nature and find solace in its tranquility.

In these moments, I often marvel at the wonder of creation. Reflecting on how God orchestrated the formation of the sky, the dance of the clouds, and the majestic presence of the trees, we can’t help but recognize the meticulous attention to detail in His grand design. The harmonious relationship between these elements speaks to a greater plan at work, a profound interconnectedness that extends beyond the natural world.

Just as the sky and the trees complement each other seamlessly, so too does God’s plan for our lives intertwine with our own unique journeys. Each one of us is part of a grand tapestry, with our own joys, struggles, and purpose. It is a comforting thought to know that the Creator of the universe has intricately woven us into His divine plan, and that our lives have significance and meaning.

So, next time you find yourself beneath the canopy of trees, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and harmony of nature. Let it serve as a reminder of God’s extraordinary craftsmanship and His loving provision for our lives. Embrace the stillness, listen to the whispers of the wind, and find solace in the truth that you are an essential part of a greater design.

Springtime Blossom

Photo: ‘Springtime Blossom‘ – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella.

Many times the key factor of a great photograph comes from it having strong composition. Yes, the story is important but, without strong composition the story gets lost I think.

The inspiration for this photograph came to me when I was out for a walk with my wife and dog, and saw this out from the corner of my eye. The story here is that I love how this moment says new life that brings hope. The colors are catchy and a favorite of many.

I used negative space composition, which is a basic, but often overlooked principle of design, that gives the eye a “place to rest,” increasing the appeal through subtle means. This together with the square format, makes this suitable for framing with a wider matboard.

Likewise, in life, what are the things that get lost because of things you overlook from being too busy and not taking time to rest and think it through?

Bird Cottage

Photo: ‘Bird Cottage‘ A small house in the country, for birds. We have much to learn from birds of nature about solitude – Copyright 2013 Frank J Casella.

The Thing About Email Domains

Photo: ‘Friends Walking the Wetlands Trail’ – Color Photo Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella

Just thinking, I have to say that email service domain names are a bad online ID that we use for most everything. We all have an email address, or usually need one for subscribing to social media and the like, even though an email address was never meant to be secure (but that is for another blog post). Many of us got our first email address from our phone company or Internet Service Provider (ISP), but they all have awful domain names that benefit the brand more than those of us using them. And the free and paid services have mostly done the same. The two exceptions I know of are mail.com and fastmail.com, they have both a good brand name that says what they do and benefits the user, plus they offer dozens of other domain names to choose that say what we do. On the other hand, protonmail had a good name until it went to just ‘proton’, and vivaldi.net (I have to mention because it hosts this blog) is a memorable name, though I think should do the opposite and change to vivaldimail.net (or vmail.net or VM.net), it has a better ‘ring’ to it and personally makes me smile. As humans we often take the path of least resistance, and this is why I think there is no real demand for better email service domain names. As long as the service works and meets our needs, we don’t care if it benefits the brand we are using, never mind the best way for them to be in business is to serve the customer.