CAMERA WORK

Teasers from The Wedding of Haley Mattox and Gabe Wilcox

2010-12-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Piece of a series on family, December 2009

2010-09-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

These were taken during the Christmas season in 2009. It is part of what will be an ongoing series of my family. Documenting so to speak. Or maybe it is all for my own processing. Not sure anymore. Family can comprise so much of what we call our "identity". Ever think about that? Who are you anyway? Just a question.

Cousins Reid and Magnus.

Cousin Heidi

Mother Sue

Cousin Randy

Uncle Jack

Aunt Abby

Cousin Shepard

Cousin Zach

Cousin Grayson

Cousin Franchesca

Father Jerry

Cousin Matthew

Uncle Bob

Cousin Brooke

Wiping The Slate Clean 2008-2010

2010-09-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I have not posted here for quite some time. However, I am feeling more energy to start the blog back up. I have so many pictures backed up that I have been a bit discouraged about posting new material. So, this post is all the noteworthy edits from the last year or so (I think). I am cleaning photo house. Very few of these have left the confines of my hard drive until now. I hope that you enjoy. They span from my time in Austin during the 2008-2009 school year to the present.

I know there are way too many. Thanks again.

Pssst...there is a prize if you make it to the bottom of the post. :)

Thank you~!~

Much Love to all you out there in internet land.

Yours,

Nicholas Pippins

Young cousins at Christmas time.

Trip to Mount Magazine in the winter.

Breezy at a Barefoot session.

Head shot session with Helen Davey.

Smoke pictures. Tried to put these on a Stock photo site. They didn't want them :( But I think they are so freakin' sweet looking.

Water droplet. Another unsuccessful try at a stock pic.

Candle stock photo. Didn't get taken either. Going to keep trying. :)

Baby cuz...so presh.

Flores en Tejas.

Merry & Thomas' wedding at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs AR.

Maybe my favorite portrait of the year. It is from a session with Anna and Thomas Dickinson.

Random. Thought is was kinda cool.

Miscellaneous medium format photographs from my year at Austin Montessori School.

Made this montage this year when I was feeling a bit dark. Can you tell? It made me feel better.

If you made it this far thank you! If you see me around town you just tell me and will give you a big fat hug. Thank you!!

You guys rock. Thanks you as always for visit this site.

I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am bilssful.

2010-02-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

My tea told me something beautiful the other day.

I am beautiful,

I am bountiful,

I am blissful.

Do you know that you are too!! If you are even reading this on a computer over the internet, you are SO blessed.

Do you drink tea? Are you taking your quiet moments? I know I have to work at it.

To be ever more mindful in my daily life.

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

Let's reconnect with this miracle more! The miracle that is YOU. Your world and all those things in it. Take it, use and shape it to your desires. For they are there for reasons. These and all other things are gifts that you are only remembering, everyday of this physical life. Thank you.....

To the unfolding of mindfulness and compassion in ALL the moments of your life.

2010-02-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Positively Kimber

Thank you Kimber! Love, Light and Abundance to you my friend on this wonderful day.

Kimber Spruce has been so gracious as to let me place my photographs along with her lovely and inspiring posts. You can find her blog at Positively Kimber. Her posts are insightful and uplifting. They are truly wonderful. Let go and let God do the heavy lifting! Let the divine flow in your life! Be the Bountiful Being you are meant to be~!~

I Love all you out there

The picture below is from the first installment of this particular collaboration.

__________________________

As I look at these flowers and dwell on my previous post of Helena. I am remembering that these pictures were taken last spring. They are of many wild flowers just south of Austin TX. Many of these flowers are in my parents back yard, were we have planted a large wild flower garden for Helena. The "Mexican Blanket" flower above is a type of Helenium. There are many different ones. This garden was planted in her honor. In a memorial ceremony a year after her death, all who attended, spread seeds in the garden.

In the spring they blossomed into many different shapes sizes and colors.

As I am living my life in the winter I am very often reminded of our life cycles. We see the falling of the leaves and drastic changes in environment and weather. During this time the cycles of our planet and, our lives, are especially noticeable. In flux. Just as we too will have our final winter, we are reminded yearly and moment to moment that all material things cycle. They all come in and they go out. They are manifested, and they vanish away.

Nevertheless, as every winter comes, it also must go, transforming into spring. Just as we will blossom and transform. Surely as there is a spring to the winter. There is rebirth and a blossoming that is available to you in all moments.

As I look at these flowers I am reminded that we are all in a very powerful time. The winter can be a wonderful and powerful time for working on your intention for the year. Building up and setting your rituals in place. Reevaluating circumstances, habits, and character. Good time to get that journal out! What do you think!

But I am ultimately reminded of the blossoming of spring and divine transformation in our lives.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you for being here.

God bless

Helena Jerolyn Pippins, Sept. 01, 1990 - Nov. 17th, 2007

2009-11-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

The pictures that are about to follow, I made in the first few days after Helena's Pippins death. I have never placed them on the web (until now, two years later). I hope that they bring you some clarity and remembrance of those days after she passed, for those of you who know her. I can only hope that they provide you the same sort of comfort and power they give to me. They have helped me to process a period in my life that was hard to see at the moment. Or maybe it was hard not to see anything but it. I am not completely sure how one goes about processing and letting go of accumulated grief. However, I am learning quickly. I do know that this gift that has been given to me does help.

I also know that those of you who have been with Helena, my family and I, in physical, in spirit, and in prayer during these times are forever in my heart. I am so grateful to all of you out there. Thank you so much. I hope that you know your worth in the lives of other people.

Helen, you were as beautiful in death as you were in your physical life. That has been a great lesson to me. This lesson was reflected through the friends and family who I have heard, seen, and touched since your passing. I will live my life to you, and to the highest for all my days.

We love you Helena!

Thank you,
I love you,

Nicholas Pippins

Thank you!!

2009-09-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

I need to post. I have been busy, busy. I am now a school teacher living in Little Rock Arkansas. I have a wedding to edit and show you. Also I need to take some good pictures of some of my classes, and put them up. I hope al is well with you out there in blogger land

Much Belated Last Post From Oaxaca....

2009-07-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

YAAARRRR! It's me! On the way up into the mountains de La Sierra Norte! ¡Que chido! ¿Ya? Anyway, it was very curvy. Very! However, Mexicans from this region have been driving them since they have been driving. So, they drive fast. I got a little queasy feeling, and that never happens to me. Never. I can go on crazy American (and Mexican) carnival rides and eat all that funnel cake and cotton candy and keep going. So it was curvy.

On the way to Calpulalpan we stopped in Ixtlán de Juárez. Which is the birth place of
Benito Juarez. Benito Juarez was the first president of indigenous blood. He came from a Zapotec family in the rgion of Ixtlan. He was also the father of the reform in Mexico. Kind of a Lincoln of Mexico. Pretty cool dude, considering the rest of Mexican political/military history.
Also, in Oaxaca they LOVE him....well some people. Not everybody.

Went to the museum to Benito Juarez in Ixtlan, very nice. Some good prints and sculpture on Juarez.

"The men of the Reform"

Portrait sculpture of Juarez

Me and the man.

In the summer these Scarabs are everywhere! Especially at a little higher elevation. In the little mountain Pueblos there were thousands of them. Strangely, the majority of them were on their backs as well. But I found a few that weren't. They were big too. Like as long as a silver dollar, or maybe two digits of your finger.

Also, the day that we were traveling was voting day in the State of Oaxaca. They were state elections. Mexican politics are so confusing that I am not even going to comment. I just tried to do some extra research, could not make sense of it, and am going to hold my tongue. But PAN vs. PRI and the history of Oaxacan politics and the teachers strikes etc. are a very interesting thing to study, if you feel so inclined.

They did not like it when I took this picture, I had to leave...

Basket in Calpulalpan

The church there was gorgeous and very old. We had to walk around and find someone to let us into it. Finally a young man let us in to look and take pictures without flash.

Virgen de Guadelupe, beautiful.

I devoured fresh river trout caught and cooked up right there in the mountains. Very good. With mezcal and beer , a very good meal. Straight Oaxacan, really more like Zapotec, but whatev. Delicious, and real.

Then I slept in a hammock in the mountains, and waited till my friends found me. Ha! Excellent day. Thanks for looking!! As always.

-Nicholas Pippins

Miscellaneous Images From The Last Week in Oaxaca

2009-06-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Iohan and Donaji. The oldest and youngest children of the family I am living with. They are both really nice. Also, extremely sweet to each other. I think we forget how wonderful our siblings are. I sure am thankful for mine more recently.

Rosaries made from ceramic "Barro Negro". The area near Oaxaca is famous for this pottery. Is it very beautiful, and worth the trip to the pueblo were it is made. This art is traditionally made in San Bartolo Coyotepec, it is a very nice and tranquil place, compared to Oaxaca. The church there is also very nice looking. However, it was closed while I was there, and I could not go on the grounds.

Some sandals out in the Campo

The flowers in the rainy season here are very beautiful. The wild flowers are still a little far and few. This only makes them more beautiful.

A forgotten shoe in the road near my families home outside the city.

Me, in the forest!!

My friend Donald. I had the pleasure of running around with Donald for two weeks. He has now left Oaxaca for his land in Michoacan. He is an Austin native, an alum, and retired employee of UT.

Thank you as always for stopping by and taking a look!

¡Hierve El Agua y Mucho Mezcal! ¡Ayayay!

2009-06-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

The Church of Santo Domingo. The churches here are absolutely gorgeous. Also, within the walls of this church is a museum and a botanical garden. I plan on going to the museum tomorrow.

Hierve El Agua (The Water Boils). These springs literally come bubbling up on the side of a mountain. They are not hot or cold. However, they are heavy in mineral content. Because of the heavy mineral content there are formations of travertine (sp?) all over everything. There are beautiful pools that extend to the edge of the ridge.

Some formations.

A photograph from in the pool (yes I took my camera in the water!)

More formations. The amount of wild looking formations are endless.

The postcard shot.

Another photograph in one of the pools

This is a a little stream of the water coming out of the rock. The heavy mineral content creates many colors.

Another spring in a different part of the mountain.

This area, at least during the rainy season, is green and beautiful with many plants that become ready to bloom during this season.

"Viva Mexico" scratched into the red bark of a tree on the side of the mountain.

¡¡Maguey!! This region is also famous for its Mezcal. The wikipedia article after this link is good and correct about the production of Mezcal. Mezcal is a close relative to Tequila, and some of it is really good.

This young girl was helping with a stage in the process of mezcal production. After they cook the roots of the maguey plant, they smash it with a large stone wheel.

Maguey or blue agave.

P.S. I bought a bunch of this stuff. But they don't really bottle it at the factories. So you have to fill up a plastic bottle you have on hand. I have since found a store that sells glass bottles and tops specifically for this. I have bought one to put my mezcal in. I have a feeling that on of these weekends might get a little borracho.

Fotos de Los Calles de Oaxaca

2009-06-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

I am learning more and more about the teacher protests and other group protests that have been happening in Oaxaca for the last 28 years. I am also learning more of the indigenous peoples of this region and the pueblos they live in. The most famous and instrumental protests occurred in 2006.

There is graffiti all over the city of Oaxaca. Most of the graffiti is in reference to political groups, and the ongoing protests. There are many references to APPO. There are many calls to fight against capitalism. As well as many calls to free political prisoners. Some of the graffiti in these pictures has already been scrubbed of the walls of churches and municipal buildings. I think it is on going process.

I also found a Chevy Nova in Oaxaca. For those of you who do not know, "no va" means no go, or doesn't go. It seems to be a kind of marketing legend that this car sold poorly in Spanish speaking countries because of the name. I have found that this is apparently false after reading some internet articles. I also put a little vintage flair on this photograph in PS due to the timing of this story.

Enjoy. Thank you!!

Fotos de La Playa

2009-06-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

The beautiful and talented Margaret Compton Hobbs

My Mom and Dad

AND......The CRAZY family shot! AAAaaaahhhhh!!!

El Primero Post de Mexico

2009-06-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ohh Yeeaaahhhh!!!

A few night time shots. The first I have done in quite a while. There is really something about slowing down and paying the attention to an exposure that is over ten seconds. The longest ten seconds of your life. Waiting for that click of the shutter and mirror.

The moon was almost full. The sky was clear. The perfect conditions for a few long night shots. As well as a great night for a few tequila shots. Also a good thing about those long exposures. You can do something else!

I really love Mexico. These were taken near Playa Del Carmen. I am now in Oaxaca taking classes for Spanish. A great summer. However, it is very often difficult to be away from family and friends. These journeys are for healing, but man they hurt sometimes. I love you all!!

Thank you for reading and looking.

WIldflowers near my parents house...

2009-05-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

I shot these the other day after reading a blog post by Chase Jarvis about stepping outside the daily work and doing something for yourself. Lately, I have been working a lot on this school job. I have taken portraits and group photos for them. I have not shot much for myself in several weeks. Except for these flowers, and some iphone pics. There are so many ideas I have and so many things I want to do. I really want to concentrate on creating some really great photographs to show you out there, I need to step it up. I know now what is it to trudge through a paying gig that is more than a few hours at a wedding or event. The amount of work I have done after the shooting is incredible. I feel like I need an assistant. The actually taking of the pictures is wonderful. I need to find a way to bypass the post for the really big projects, because the pay is good. It is a job.

I shot several of these pictures with a little kick of light from an sb-800, with the CTO filter that comes with the flash, and the diffuser dome on. I believe I was compensating the exposure down 2-3 stops and just adding a little light from the side. Flash exposure compensation at -1. I have had a little help with the grip recently from Joe McNally. This means that with a flash in hand, I was shooting with the camera shoved up in my left shoulder, and my left eye in the viewfinder, the flash in the left hand around the right side of the camera. Now I bet I moved the flash around a lot depending on were I wanted the light, but with this method described you really are more stable and balanced. Or bring a light stand like a smart photographer...

Austin Reggae Festival, The Skatalites!!

2009-05-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

I have not been to this festival in probably 6 years. It used to cost two cans of food. It benefits the Austin Capital Area Food Bank. Now it is fifteen dollars, and food is appreciated. How expensive Austin is getting!

Ms. Zoey Brooks!!

Ezekiel Zacharia Brooks

Notice the crack, and FOUR hula hoops. That means he is a hula hippy to the forth power!

Notice it again...

The Skatalites!!! http://www.skatalites.com/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skatalites

They were great.

They could really break it down. Even if two of them are like eighty. It is awesome.

The Ska Thrust

I think he might be looking at me in this one.

Dance

Dance

Dance

They definitely did not have a jumbo tron at the Reggae festival last time I went. Or the cranes and condos buildings in the skyline.

Condos...And the end of a great day!

Camping with the class. First real post in 6 weeks. Ha!

2009-05-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

A litle bit of McNally reading on the way to Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi.

Replicas of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

Another

Driftwood on Lake corpus Christi

Shells at Corpus Christi

Pipe on Lake Corpus Christi

Orchid at the botanical gardens

Jellies at the Texas State Aquarium

An image from inside the aquarium. Saw this and snapped a few before she realized I was taking pictures.

Bridge over the bay.

Dolphins in the aquarium.

San Jose Mission. If you ever want to see a real mission, go there.

The Church at San Jose Mission

Wall of the Church.

Candle offerings con Jesus Christo.

2009-05-08T12:16:00.001-07:00

My labyrinth picture us on the Hendrix website!! Cool!! http://ping.fm/214j3

2009-05-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

My picture is on the Hendrix College website!

http://www.hendrix.edu/religiouslife/religiouslife.aspx?id=40474

Inspired by Nick Pippins himself. Cool

I have not posted in a month

2009-05-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

I will SOOON! Lots of work. Need to catch up. Lots to show you. Thank you.

Total Physical Response video

2009-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

TPR lesson 1, part 2

A TPR (Total physical response) lesson performed at Austin Montessori School. Paula McDermott has been helping the school with Spanish. Her blog: http://si-ams.blogspot.com/

2009-03-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend Tanner. He is looking at his dog, brock -- you may remember from an earlier post. Thus the cutey face. One of my best friends. Good man, and I like the picture.

Others

2009-03-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

We also took pretty pictures in the Austin botanical gardens. The light was not that great. But I got some workable shots. So not just karate shots. Awwww...

hiiiiiAAAAHHH!! KARATE!

2009-03-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

These totally awesome images, I took the other day. This family had all recently become black belts in karate. The mother wanted some pictures to commemorate the passing of this event. It was really fun. There were people all over this park. Guys on skate boards riding through our shot, girls with kites in the shot. Windy as it could be, and still take pictures. My light stands were falling over. Luckily Zach was there to catch them. Actually my sb 800 took a fall all the way down from the 6ft light stand. Rough. Has happened before. Love you Nikon. Anyway, here is the set-up:

sb 800 camera left. Sb 600 camera right. Zach on guard. Me a little bit down the hill so I am level with the subject on the bench.

High Speed Sync Flash on manual, full to 1/2 power, group A. Ambient exposure 2-3 stops down from the metered exposure. Add the light with flash. Commander mode. Nikkor 24-120mm. Love you Nikon Creative Lighting System.

HiiiiiiAAAHHH!!!

And Zach.....Whats up?

2009-03-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

I took these of the kids. More funny ones to come. I love them!

Thanks for looking!

A fleeting moment

2009-03-12T20:17:00.001-07:00

I took this the other day in the middle of the shoot for Austin Montessori School. I was waiting for the next group of children to come to where I was set up. I was taking pictures right in front of this mountain laurel bush, and this butterfly was flitting about. It was quite nice to chase a butterfly around in the wind for only a few moments until the children arrived and I was working again.

2009-02-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hey ladies...I have a bear on my shirt.

...Umm. Both your parents had curly hair.

cough...cough. Mmm Hm.

These are some of the pictures I took today for Austin Montessori School. I have finished two classes. I have eight left. These are not the best and not the worst. Except this particular one at the end. I think she is beautiful. Taking pictures of children is a lot if fun, but quite demanding. I have never taken pictures on this scale before (300+ students). I am shooting my Nikon D300, and a manual focus Nikkor 85mm f2.0. I love the lens. I have my sb-800 camera right and sb-600 camera left. The sb-600 is stopped down 1 stop. The camera is in commander mode TTL and Auto FP high speed sync. I love you Nikon! I was mostly shooting at 400 ISO, f2.0-4.0, shutter speed 1/500-1/1600 (depending on the amount of sun, it was partly cloudy and windy). I think this might be the first post were I really have broken down the tech. I will have to post all the really funny cute mess ups.

The death of a chicken, elementary rock stars, and KITES!

2009-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

Last week the Terra classroom lost a member. One of the chickens we keep died. This chicken became food for a roaming animal. I imagine a raccoon, possum, or cat. It happened over the long weekend and was cleaned up by the time the children returned. Despite this, they noticed within a day that the chicken was missing. This hen's name was grace to most of the children.

Needless to say, many of the children were upset and filled with emotion over the death of this animal. It was very interesting to see the different reactions the children had to this experience. I know that a handful of the children have had grandparents as well as family pets die. Maybe not so coincidentally, these were not the children that seemed very involved in the Grace's death.

There were several separate memorials that took place among the children. Since Grace became food and was cleaned up, there was no body to bury. The children wanted to know what had happened to her and to have something that they could have a ceremony with. I explained the reality of the situation to them. So because of this, many small offerings were made. A grave site was prepared, in and around which they buried and placed their offerings and items. These included stones, plants Grace liked, chicken feed, water, feathers (possibly actually Grace's). These were among others.

It was a good opportunity for our class to discuss the event of Grace's death, and as such speak to an aspect of life that we are too often shielded from. It gave us the opportunity to speak about the natural food chain and responsibility and gave the children an opportunity to create healthy ways of coping with these events. I have recently become much closer to death and dying, and the grief that can follow, because of this I felt it was eye-opening to see the way these children reacted to this situation.

caption: "Please do not touch this candle or the flame.
This is Grace's candle of new life.
note: keep your body 4 cm away from the candle"

"Candle of New Life"

The light of new life. Birth AND Death is new life.
The in and the out. Inhale and exhale...and the time between? That is the question.

Grave site of Grace and Ferdinand. (Ferdinand died last year)

However, these events pass quickly. later that week some children brought in some ELECTRIC instruments. Yeah!

Rock stars already. They are actually very talented, as well as many others in the class, with music.

And this weekend we flew kites!!!! Yay!!

These are all of my sister flying a stunt kite that I have had for years. Good day.

Thank you for looking everybody!

More Sculpy Things, and Other Classroom Stuff

2009-02-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Mohawk Dude!

Chocolate, Happy Valentines Day

Una Hamburgesa

Best Friends

Geometric Children

And Their Shape

2009-02-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

Ok. Here is some clarification on the Neville family and "Dumpstaphunk"

Ivan, for whom the band is named, is the keyboard player and the son of Aaron Neville. The Guitarist, Ian Neville, is the son of Art Neville and the cousin of Ivan. They Rock!

Dumpstaphunk

2009-02-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

This weekend in Little Rock AR I went to see "Dumpstaphunk". They were pretty funky. One of the guitarists is, Ian Neville. He can shred and he looks no older than 20 something. He is apparently really hot in New Orleans right now. You guys should see them some time. Pretty bad. The organ player, Ivan Neville, plays this organ that is amplified by an old Leslie amp. (has one of those spinning cone things, like a Hammond) It may be a Hammond, But I don't know much about that sort of thing. I also shot this show with my manual focus 80mm Nikkor f2.0 from like the 80's. I just love it!! Great portrait, and low light lens if you every get one. Thank you for looking!

Ivan Neville

Ian Neville

Random thing from class

2009-02-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

A full cycle child in the upper elementary Montessori classroom where I work made this the other day. The 6th grade students are all working on reports and presentations on different parts of the body. This child is doing the pancreas and kidneys. This is a model made of "Sculpy". The organs in the model are the Gall bladder, Pancreas, Duodenum, and Kidneys.
You can bake the clay and it gets hard. There is acrylic paint on top of that. I think it is cool. He made it really fast too.

Mmmmmmm.....Leftovers

2009-02-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

These are all left over photographs that were taken this summer in San Miguel De Allende. I have just now put them up. Looking back at the trip, these are ones that didn't really make the first cut. However, I like them very much. Thank you for looking.

random pictures from the last two week

2009-02-01T19:36:00.000-08:00

My cousin Zach Brooks has been living with me and my family for the last several months. He is wonderful to have around. He is 22, really funny and good looking. He is also very single. Ladies? Looking for a handsome, funny man?

Brock! One of my very closest friends, Tanner Autrey has recently taken in an English Bulldog named Brock. He is totally awesome! He burps and farts and make all kinds of crazy noises. Snores like your grandfather and smells like your little brother. Also he is very smart.

I went to Westcave Preserve again the other weekend with my beloved Margaret Hobbs. It was still green! Still beautiful in the winter. I love Texas! Westcave is such a beautiful place. The men who run the preserve say it is the prettiest place in Texas. A beautiful slice of the hill country off of the Pedervnales River. It is also right down the road from Hamilton Pool. Both of these places you should go to if you are every in the Austin area. Hamilton pool is a large grotto with a huge waterfall. It was formed during the same period and in the same way as the grotto at Westcave Preserve. However you can swim there! It is amazing. I will be going this spring after we get some rain. I am sure you will get some pictures. Thank you for looking.

Civil War K.I.A. Reenactment in Arkansas, Faulner County

2009-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

I edited these pictures the other night. I have not looked at them in quite a while. I have been going through some older film stuff and doing some digital edits. It is also nice to look back at what I was creating a couple years ago. These were taken with some college friends of mine (Sean Harla, Nicholas Cantell, and Kingsley Coppinger). Sean Harla (Union officer uniform) is a huge Civil War buff. He has an extensive knowledge of Arkansas Civil War history. He also owns a lot of period gear and participates in reenactments. They dressed up and we did some KIA (killed in action) scenes. It was common for soldiers to loot the supplies and gear of the opposing casualties. A macabre scene. There are two confederate soldiers and one union officer, and we placed them in different combination along this theme. We tried to stay true to a historical frame. I hope you think these are interesting.

Thank you for looking!

Alan the entomologist

2009-01-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

Male Monarch

Yellow Sulfur butterfly

Gulf Fritillary

All these butterflies were caught and preserved by Alan Taboni. I had the pleasure of photographing a few of them. I used several pieces of white foam core board, my reflector kit, SB-800 and SB-600. I set up one piece of foam core flat on a table and another propped up as a background. Shot my 800 and 600 from opposite sides through the diffusers in the reflector kit. We pinned the specimens to a piece of styrofoam and shot at an angle to cut it out. I used a macro attachment on the front of a Nikkor 50mm f1.4. Even with a bad magnifier on the front of the lens they turned out great. Once I took them to edit they really popped. Hope you think these are cool, and beautiful. If not slightly weird, because they are all dead and pinned.

Thank you so much for looking,
-Nick

Travel Therapy

2009-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

A Poem by Mary Oliver

Heavy

The time
I thought I could not
go any closer to grief
without dying

I went closer
and I did not die.
Surely God had His hand in this,

as well as friends,
Still, I was bent,
and my laughter,
as the poet said,

was nowhere to be found.
Then said my friend Daniel
(brave even among lions),
"It's not the weight you carry

but how you carry it–
books, bricks, grief–
it's all in the way
you embrace it, balance it, carry it

when you cannot, and would not,
put it down."
So I went practicing.
Have you noticed?

Have you heard the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?

How I linger
to admire, admire, admire
the things of this world
that are kind, and maybe

also troubled–
roses in the wind,
the sea geese on the steep wave,
a love
to which there is no reply?

- Mary Oliver

Travel Therapy

I dream of far away lands.
I yearn to see the world for her,

through her
will I see the land of the gods.
By my eyes will I see
Those infinite entities

My mind travels to distant lands,
collapsing onto this one,
where I am.

- Thank you

More pictures from this year. Thank you.

2009-01-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

These are more pictures from this year and the camping trip.
Longhorn cavern, Westcave preserve, Inks lake. The beads are from the classroom.

Thank you.

-Nicholas

Miracles

2009-01-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

Miracles
by: Walt Whitman

Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with anyone I love, or sleep in the bed at night with anyone I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey bees busy around the hive of a summer afternoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.

To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the ships with the men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

I have had the pleasure of being an integrated feature in a Montessori classroom this last couple of months. I am an assistant in a class of 24 nine to twelve year old children. Despite the daily challenges, and "the grind" so to speak, I feel as though I have been an observer of continual miracles in and out of the classroom. The children continually surprise me. They surprise me with their extensive knowledge on just about every subject I know about. They amaze me with their seemingly adult analysis of complex situations and interpersonal problems. They surprise me with their humor and sometimes unfortunate knowledge of the popular world. However, then, on top of the almost infinite amount of knowledge they communally posses, they soak up intense pieces of history. They write, wonderful, humorous, and poignant pieces of prose and poetry. They struggle and cry and laugh and love and hate. All of these with so much intensity and clarity. They take the moment and ride it to their own devices. Seemingly more acutely present in these moments than I have been for many years.

It seems that some of us spend all our early years learning and accumulating so much knowledge, only to reach adulthood wanting to reach back again and find sense of the moment. Wanting to reach reality in our lives. Wanting to strip down our sense of self in order to find the true self, the still self. I am trying to take many lessons from the children in my community, but this one is the greatest. The moment to moment living and learning that they do has been forgotten by so many of us. It has happened through disillusionment and disappointment. through a loss of faith and a loss of love. But mostly fear through the lost faith in love. I see this too within the children of this community. The beginnings of adolescents is the ends of children. it is into this new phase of development that we guide our children. Hopefully we have given them the tools they need to fully expand into the beings they will ultimately be. Is is not really a question of how, but when they will arrive at the same point we ourselves inhabit, and the reality being such we hope that we have done our job. That maybe these children will be more well equipped than we ourselves were.

It has been said many times that the highest gift one can give to another is the silence that dwells in the heart. For it is only when the body (mind) is quiet that the true love of well-being is allowed to flow through the hearts of us. I am thankful for the quiet experiences I have been given, and those quiet experiences that I have helped to facilitate. THANK YOU.

Our class went to Longhorn caverns, Inks lake, and to Westcave Preserve during the fall semester. It was beautiful and full of quiet moments, for me and the children. I was truly impressed at how well they performed and behaved when put into real world situations and pressure.

Journal excerpt:

Stay here and now and all things will always be ok. Take
solace and comfort in the present moment.
Be compassionate with yourself.
Nick. Show yourself the gentleness that you need....

Hold yourself as you would love and hold your beloved. Tenderly
holding your heart.

Find Grace and Tender Unconditional love through
the children. Use their example.
See how they live through the moment. They relish it and
scream it and cry it. They live through it completely.

Westcave preserve

A paradise deep in the savana of Texas. Listen...
Can you hear what the Conquistadors heard on the Pedernales?
Can you see what the early German settlers saw?

NO

See what you see.
Hear what you hear.
....

I am sitting among these individuals who will carry on an interesting legacy.
Those children with very little connection to the earth.
To decomposition and growth.
Did I feel and know how beautiful and full of well-being the world was
When I was young?
Do I feel it more now?
Did I feel it then? I think I did.

Are you listening?
Children?

Rare moment, this silence.

Doc

2008-07-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

Thank you as always for traveling to this page. I have been a little backed up on the picture front and have many things to show you. I hope you enjoy them.

The other week I was lucky enough to go to one of the best and most moving concerts I have been to in a long time. It was just incredible. I wish you all could have been there, and if you ever go to San Miguel please look this group up. The name is Gil + Cartas. And they play with Doc Severinsen. The website is http://www.gilandcartas.com/ and you should all buy CD's.

Gil and Cartas

I wish I had a sound clip because the live show is completely amazing. I actually almost left to table because I was becoming rather emotional after a couple glasses of wine. Absolutely beautiful. The violinist and the guitarist are the epitome of virtuoso and have been playing together since 1973. It is truly amazing that this caliber of experience can just fall into your lap.

If you would like to see a more extensive gallery it can be found on my flickr page.

Nicholas Pippins @ Flickr

Love and Peace,
-Nick

P.S. Let me know what you think

2008-07-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

I went on an amazing horse tour a week ago. It was beautiful. I can't believe I took my camera on a crazy Mexican horse. But it was definitely worth it, only because nothing happened. Thank you as always for looking.

The women in the picture go to my school, definitely do not smoke, and drink very little. It was hilarious. They bummed cigarettes from the cowboys and demanded that people start taking pictures.

The church is supposedly the first church in San Miguel, and was incredible. It looked well kept up. The statue I believe is Saint Anthony.

Peace and Love-

2008-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have not done much interesting shooting in the last week. However, I have taken the opportunity to edit and upload some random pictures I have taken over the last month. The photographs of the doors I took on my first day at the Academia. The photograph of the flower I took last night. The other few I am not sure about. But thank you as always for looking. I hope you are having a relaxing and beautiful summer, even if you are really busy. Peace and Love.

2008-06-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I came by this amazing sight. I just love it here. You should all come sometime or another. At least to central Mexico. Central Mexico is rich with history of the indigenous peoples, the Christian evangelization (if that is a word) of those peoples, as well as the Mexican cause for independence.

So I just came upon this troupe of dancers participating in a traditional Aztec dance and ceremony. When I say I came upon them I really mean you could hear the drums and dancing from about 5 blocks away and I just happened to have my camera. It was beautiful. I wish I had a digital sound recorder so I could play a sound clip for you all. The dance was fast, colorful, complicated and beautiful. All ages participated in this dance, and it went on for more than an hour. Although it seemed that the women presided over the ceremony. I have concentrated on the costumes that were the most elaborate because they were the most attractive to my photographic eye. I will upload a more extensive gallery onto my flickr account soon if you would like to see more.

Thank you all for looking.

2008-06-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

2008-06-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Two views from my current favorite restaurant, Cafe San Francisco. It is one of the only places in the Jardin that is worthwhile. Wonderful Mexican shrimp cocktails and fresh ingredients. Good Margarita's. Fabulous people watching and great view of the Parroquia. Beautiful.

Mas Locos

2008-06-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

Mas Locos

Dia De Los Locos

2008-06-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Dia De Los Locos. The biggest and craziest parade I have ever seen.

2008-06-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

There are beautiful people all over this city and all over the world. This women was waiting for something. I have no idea what. Her son, food, money. I took this picture across the street from the main church in the square. The life for most Mexicans here is remarkably religious. I am continually amazed at the amount of kindness that is shown between individuals despite many problems between classes. I will hopefully be blessed to show you many more individuals that live a life in the working class similar to this women.

Influence of Mexico

2008-06-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

There is a beautiful park on the rich side of town in San Miguel, where there is a high concentration of million dollar homes. Which was weird for me. Million dollar homes in Mexico? I suppose I should have known, especially in San Miguel. There are a lot of very affluent poeple here and many more moving here. So there are these artists who sell their art in this park every Saturday and Sunday. It's just beautiful. And the prices are good.

So I had just looked at all this colorful mexican art before I took this picture. When I got home and edited it I think I had this mexican sensibility to make everything too bright and colorful for anyones tastes, except mexicans I suppose. So this may be the first in a series of color popin HDR shots of the city....ALL BEWARE. Nick has been bitten by the Mexican.

2008-06-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

I just love some of these views from the street. It's not the most striking architecture, but I feel it represents the city better.

children in San Miguel

2008-06-11T13:25:00.001-07:00

A little HDR for you guys from a beautiful day

2008-06-10T11:49:00.001-07:00

The sky was too beautiful to sacrifice, so I merged 3 exposure in photoshop so you can get the full beauty of these churches in San Miguel.

2008-06-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

A view of the sky from the patio of the house that Don and Donna Goertz keep in San Miguel. A beautiful house in a beautiful place with beautiful people. This is were I stayed on my first night in San Miguel.

First night on the town

2008-06-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

The church in El Jardin. (the main square) Yes this was handheld, who's got skills.

Some students that take spanish with me at the Academia.

Some more...

Great bar on the top floor of Mama Mia's

2008-06-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy hour Margaritas at Manolo's! No afternoon classes on Friday. A perfect time to fully initiate one's self properly by drinking tequila at lunch time....

Uno mas por favor.

A sunset behind the city. A snap shot you can't pass up.

This one as well. A seniorita taking some food home after work on a friday evening.

2008-06-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Another view with a beautiful sky of Don and Donna's neighbors home. They are a couple from California that have permanently retired to San Miguel. There are just a few Americanos here....

A quick snap shot of a gentleman asleep in his car during the 5 0'clock heat of the day. The temperatures here are about 90-95 at the highest and 60-75 during the evenings.

A common street view in San Miguel. You may see quite a few of these.

Travel Partners

2008-06-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Don Goertz: A wonderful man to travel with. He is a scholar and professor of Latin and German as well as being quite proficient in Italian and Spanish. He has been just about everywhere you would ever want to go in the world several times over. He also has a wealth of knowledge about all of the cultures to which he travels, which is very helpful. He alo drove us down here which was totally awesome.

Countess Jean: A wonderful uppity older women that usually spends 6 months out of the year in San Miguel. She has been everywhere in Mexico and also has a tremendous wealth of knowledge about the region. She is also quite fluent in spanish and is wonderful travel company as well as margarita company.

2008-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is the house were I stayed on the first night. A view from the patio of a house that Don and Donna Goertz keep in San Miguel. It is a beautiful home, in a beautiful place, with beautiful people.

2008-06-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Descent sunset on the first night in Mexico. We stayed at a touristy pink and yellow place. It was pretty nice. Right on the highway.

2008-06-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

2008-06-01T22:16:00.001-07:00

Hello....