If I could change anything in my life to this point, it would to have been a more inspiring figure. Photography, adventure, spirituality, charity, any of a good number of things. We all need a dose of inspiration from time to time, and to be a provider would have made my life complete. I do think I have occasionally inspired people to head in the opposite direction of myself. I lived fast for much of my early life, and the message of slowing down is a valuable one.

The names below are in no particular order. It may seem unusual to list Galen Rowell and Abraham Lincoln in the same article.  I am not listing the names of who I think are the most profound inspirers in history, but just some that I have studied.  You would have to take into consideration my interests and my life path.

I have always enjoyed Wayne Dyer’s style of gently providing inspiration. He shows a logical spiritual path that appears to be based in a religious philosophy, but without beating you over the head with it. His view of living is that we are an important part of something bigger than us. He allows you to select your own label for just what that is. He recognizes the value of picturing yourself as already owning the success you aspire to.  You are successful. The question is , how do we maintain that way of life. He is worth reading and seeing, but remember, he is not, nor does he pretend to be, a minister, preacher  or a mystic.

I think for the adventurer photographer, Galen Rowell set the bar high for believing that there is no outdoor physical challenge that cannot be met, while in the pursuit of photographic art.  I believe his often profound thinking made him an even better writer than a photographer. His and Barbara’s death in that small aircraft, only added to the mystique.  Unfortunately Galen is being forgotten.  Even his Mountain Light Photography does not carry the prestige that it used to.  Just the same he was inspirational while he was here, and that is more than most of us can say.

Art Wolfe is the inspirational leader for current photographers. He shows that you can reach high levels of fame, and still remain humble and nice.  At 61 he travels and walks the world creating artful and technically proficient imagery.  He won’t be here forever so pay attention now.

If you know me, you probably realize that when it comes to politics, Abraham Lincoln is in my opinion, an inspirational figure.  He was far from perfect, but always saw the big picture, while not forgetting the details that were the ingredients of that same big picture.  His ability to write words that were both eloquent and profound, is legendary.   He took time during his presidency (and the Civil War), to write speeches for other leaders, so they too could feel that they were able to inspire. We love to re-write history and diminish the best among us.  He stood for the abolition of slavery throughout his life,  and believed he could save this great nation while doing it. He took on the big challenges.

Mother Teresa may be the most controversial character on this list. I realize that some non-Christians, and some fundamentalist Christians, and even some political types, both conservative and liberal, will have an issue with this selection.  Mother Teresa set the bar high for personal sacrifice.  Caring more for others than yourself, is an example that always needs to told. You don’t have to agree with every aspect of an inspirational figure, only how much positive influence they produced.  In addition to her well-known words, and her world fame, she inspired those around her like no figure in my lifetime.  Mother Teresa may be the most inspirational figure on this list.

All of the above are flawed.  So are we. We all come to the table with similar tools.  Some people allow the tools to rust, some use those tools to become craftsman, and yet others to become artists.

Now some pictures.

I haven’t shown any fox pix in a while so here we are. The animals in these two pictures are not related (I don’t think) and were made in different years and in different locations. I love foxes

After all of these years of making wildlife photos, and at times living about 100 yards from coyotes, only pictures of three animals on a Yellowstone morning are in my files. I have not had success with coyotes, but those three critters mean that I am not a failure either.  All three were in the process of hunting when I snapped the shutter. That is exactly what our friend below is doing.

Red-breasted Mergansers are a favorite bird for me.  I have made many super close shots of this species, but in this image I liked the way its wild “featherdo” displayed nicely in back of the bird.  Better yet is the pretty light and the warm colors reflecting in the water, and back up on the bird.

If I have shown an abundance of Mourning Doves and Barn Swallows in this blog.  There is a good reason.  These are two of the easiest birds to get close to. I have made many pictures of these species at the minimum focusing distance of my long lens. This juvenile is not squawking at me, but getting the attention of an adult.   He could care less about my presence.

As a history buff, the Quarai Ruins in New Mexico are both interesting and haunting.  As a photographer they are luscious in their color and texture. Once thriving American Indian trade communities of the Tiwa and Tompiro speaking Puebloans inhabited this remote area of central New Mexico. Early in the 17th-century Spanish Franciscans visited the area and found it ripe for their missionary efforts. However by 1677 the entire Salinas District, was depopulated of both Indian and Spaniard alike.

This autumn road was photographed in the Chequamegon National Forest of Wisconsin.  It is my third in a series of autumn road shots. Unlike the previous two this one is made in the morning sun instead of the color saturating light of overcast. There is no such thing as a light I won’t use, or that I don’t believe can be beautiful.  Because of the contrasts that develop within sunny day forests, I chose to make distant pictures.  I think in this scene those (distant) shadows, add a little drama and dimension.  Of course I love shadows.

I’ll close with this early autumn picture.  I photographed this scene with and without the tree trunk and the green leaves. I think the trunk balances the composition and the green leaves help tell the story of early fall.

All of my prayers are with that beautiful little 14 year old Pakistani girl who dared to share her dreams.  She had aspirations of going on to school and being everything she could be.  Just like the boys. For her honesty and her desire to have the freedom to fail or succeed on her own merits, she received a bullet in the head. Doctors are trying to save her.  The Taliban has said if she survives they will shoot her again.