STATUS QUOtes — 20161211

Jeff

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” — George MacDonald

“The difference between the men and the boys in politics is, and always has been, that the boys want to be something, while the men want to do something,” — Eric Sevareid

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You’re given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself.” — Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

“There’s always somebody who is paid too much, and taxed too little – and it’s always somebody else.” — Cullen Hightower

** NOTE ** If you prefer, you can receive quotes via email every day STATUS QUOtes is published. Contact JBRish.com via “an add me note” in the comment section. Emails do not get published on the website.

 

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See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 154 (Four Mile Trail 4/5 – Half Dome Peek-A-Boo)

Jeff

Half Dome as seen along the Four Mile Trail

After Hiking along the Four Mile Trail for a while, Half Dome became visible

Imagine this scenario…We were hiking along the Four Mile Trail for more than twenty minutes. At the beginning, the woods were deep and we were in the shade with little visibility beyond the trees. Soon we moved to the outside of the mountain and started to descend the switchbacks.

From time-to-time, there would be a break in the tree line and we could peer over the edge of the mountain to get our bearings and see the vistas before us. After each look, we returned to the hiking and resumed our downward path. This was repeated many, many times because we didn’t want to “miss anything!”

Then, without any inkling of what we were about to see next, we looked out from between the trees and saw Half Dome (see photo above) in all its glory. I had no idea it would be that visible or that clear of impediments.

Half Dome was bathed in the sun, the valley spread out beneath it and the surrounding cliffs provided the frame. Isn’t that a magnificent site?

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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STATUS QUOtes — 20161210

Jeff

“There is a supply for every demand.” — Florence Scovel Shinn

“Do not always assume the other fellow has intelligence equal to yours. He may have more.” — Terry Thomas

“Not on one strand are all life’s jewels strung.” — William Morris

“Every mother generally hopes that her daughter will snag a better husband than she managed to do… but she’s certain that her boy will never get as great a wife as his father did.” — Unknown

 

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See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 153 (Four Mile Trail 3/5 – Penstemon Wildflower)

Jeff

Pink Penstemon along the Four Mile Trail

Mountain Pride clings to the rock face along the Four Mile Trail

How amazing are wildflowers? All they need is a small foothold and they create a home between the spaces in the rocks. The pink penstemon featured above is Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi) and was prevalent along quite a few of the trails.

Against the gray rocks and the dark shade background, the penstemon created quite a flare as it was highlighted by the sun’s setting rays. It was difficult to show restraint by keeping my camera at bay.

You can read more about Penstemon newberryi at iNaturalist.org

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 153 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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STATUS QUOtes — 20161209

Jeff

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.” — Paulo Coelho

“We often succumb to the temptation of a tidy-minded approach when we would be better served by embracing a degree of mess.” — Tim Harford

“No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person.” — Willa Cather

“Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” — J. R. R. Tolkien

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Photography – Find Inspiration and Motivation – Art Wolfe Video

Jeff

Creativity and inspiration are fickle muses. I have written as a hobby via blogs for a number of years and I wrote (with my wife) professionally for three years or so as weekly columnists for a major newspaper in central New Jersey. There were times, when I sat at the computer and magic happened; words, phrases and ideas flew from my mind to my finger tips and I could fashion a wonderful story in no time at all.

There were other times, when I would struggle to construct an enticing opening paragraph. I find the same scenario with my photography. It is only a hobby, but it is an important one. I follow many photographers via the Internet. I listen to podcasts and take part in various webinars. I am currently working on a personal project, A Year of Yosemite, where I am writing about 365 photographs I took during my week (+/-) of hiking there. It was wonderful, exciting and amazing! The spirits of Ansel Adams and John Muir were omnipresent.

So…where can we find inspiration as photographers? You know, those times when our cameras sit in their bags for days on end and we don’t feel inspired to pick it up and go out to shoot. In the video below, Art Wolfe talks about his avenues of inspiration and the different views he brings to his photographic craft. Although he is very modest, Art Wolfe is an acclaimed photographer. His training and education as an artist enables him to distill visual themes which help him create bodies of work that I found very stimulating.

I encourage anyone interested in art or photography to watch this YouTube video and perhaps watch it again. I thoroughly enjoyed it on several levels. It will certainly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for my own photographic journey.

Where do you find photographic inspiration?


Art Wolfe: “The Art of the Image” -Talks at Google

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 152 (Four Mile Trail 2/5 – El Capitan)

Jeff

El Capitan as seen from the Four Mile Trail

El Capitan viewed from the Four Mile Trail in late afternoon

As we started down the Four Mile Trail, we couldn’t help but stop every few feet. This was especially true at the very beginning of the hike as there were many gaps between the trees which allowed us to “pull back the curtain” a bit and see the magnificent views. We were high, but in spite of that, the key players loomed large.

We were hiking into the sun so much of the detail is not presented in the picture of El Capitan, but the overall vista is portrayed well. Given another crack at this, I would take an early morning hike to try to catch the sun bathing El Cap, but as you will soon see, this would leave Half Dome in the shade.

As a matter of reference, Tunnel View is somewhere out there past the break in the mountains beyond El Capitan.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 152 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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STATUS QUOtes — 20161208

Jeff

“Toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other.” — Seneca

“What a child doesn’t receive he can seldom later give.” — P. D. James

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.” — George Jean Nathan

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

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Pickleball – How to Reduce the Speed of a Ball to Reset the Point

Jeff

Defend Against Hard Hitters by Taking Pace off the Ball – Pickleball 411

I think most of us will recognize this situation…

We are facing an opponent who is more skilled than us and they are able to really bang the ball back in a hard, sharp line with plenty of speed. We try with all of our might just to get the ball back onto their side of the net when it comes our way.

Even if we manage to return the ball, it seems to be hit or miss or, at best, a weak return. The video below describes one way to “slow the game down” by reducing the speed of the ball and getting it back in a place where instead of being on defense, you have a chance of being on equal footing with the banger.

NOTE – I have read other techniques which require a loose grip on the paddle to absorb the impact of the banger’s shot to take the speed off of the ball. This technique, however, asks the player to hold the paddle firm, but barely move the paddle, i.e. bunt the ball back.

“Bunting the ball” will cause it to fall with less depth and pace onto the other side of the court where, theoretically, it is harder to bang it back at you and may lead to a dink series where the odds of you winning the point are increased. Watch the video to see if this can improve your percentage of winning points.

 

To See additonal Pickleball Videos Covering Many Aspects of the Game Click Here (primarily for beginners and less experienced players)

Check out Additional Pickleball Info and Videos! (for all players including average to more experienced players)