Our Ways Are Not His Ways

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: ‘Photo: ‘Our Ways Are Not His Ways‘ – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella

Our ways are not His ways …

Our thoughts go in many directions like the leaves from these plants. Yet, God’s thoughts are above our thoughts.

I, too, fall into the (dangerous) trap of finding solutions for my problems without God.

Yet when I come to the end of my rope, and finally turn to God, the situation comes out way better than I could ever do myself.

When will I ever learn. I’m not God and never will be.

Morning Storm

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography, Productivity, Sports, Travel — 1 min read
The thing about the storms of life, is that they are not forever and after the clouds pass it is a new dawn. The effects of the storm may have an impact for some time, but it is all about how we respond to storms and not react to them. Photo: ‘Morning Storm‘ – Copyright Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved. Note: A white border in included in the design of this artwork.

The Changing Colors of Fall in Illinois

— Posted inPersonal, Photography, Travel — 1 min read
Early Fall colors changing from green tree leaves to orange, yellow, brown, and gold, under the clouded blue Illinois sky. Just like in life, there are seasons when it is colorful, and it takes the average days to know the difference. The Changing Colors of Fall in Illinois – Color Art Nature Landscape Photograph Copyright Frank J Casella 2020 All Rights Reserved.

Shades of Autumn

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Personal, Photography, Sports — 1 min read
Something rather nice about this. It looks slightly crooked but that works towards the general feeling of tranquility in this very well lit scene – that the human figure is perfectly perpendicular, in contrast to his surroundings – in that what is going through his mind that is at odds with his environment. Photo: ‘Shades of Autumn’ – Copyright 2016 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved.

Picture of Faith

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: ‘Picture of Faith‘ – Copyright 2014 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved.

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” ~ Hebrews 11:1 (Catholic Bible version).

When I see this moment of hands reaching out to God in prayer, in community, it illustrates to me the outward expression of the inner faith of a community of prayers, in belief of what is hoped for.

Said another way, sometimes, when we don’t have answers or can’t provide a solution, praying to God and trusting Him in faith has proven to do what we can not. In His time and not in ours.

God wants us to depend on Him, and Loves us to the point to provide us the freedom to make that decision.

Sunlight Through The Trees

— Posted inGadgets, Personal, Photography, Productivity, Software — 1 min read
The sunlight illuminates the leaves in the trees along the trail at the Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve in Illinois – USA. Photo: ‘Sunlight Through The Trees – Orton Effect’ – Copyright 2022 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved.

Orton imagery, also called an Orton slide sandwich or the Orton Effect, is a photography technique which blends two completely different photos of the same scene, resulting in a distinctive mix of high and low detail areas within the same photo. It was originated by photographer Michael Orton in the mid 1980s.

This now can be done with the push of a button in post processing software, just as ribbet.com. However you can manually layer it in Adobe Lightroom as well.

There are a few photography techniques like this that I employ, but for the most part my photography is devoted exclusively to Fine Art Photography . those images which are technically excellent virtually straight from the camera with minimal post processing.

Curves In The Woods

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Personal, Photography, Productivity, Travel — 1 min read
The interesting lines and curves in the woods, highlighted by the light and shadow play. Reminds me of the many twists and turns in life as well, highlighted by ups and downs. Photo: ‘Curves In The Woods‘ – Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved.

One or Another – Square

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: ‘One or Another’ – A stand-alone tree with Autumn leaves by a fence in the wooded preserve – Copyright 2013 Frank J Casella

I’ve been attracted by trees lately. The light and shadow play on the branches. The colors from the Fall Season. But deeper, the formations from their environment and the other trees around them .. Or not.

Trees, very much like our lives, all have a life of their own. Each one is different in their own way, though they may be the same kind: Birch, Cedar, Oak, etc. Some tree branches it seems are attracted towards the Light, while others it seems move one direction because of a branch or another tree forces them from another direction.

There are many directions that we can go in life .. One or Another … The choice is ours.

A good choice today will lead to a better tomorrow … We have the power to choose … Use it wisely.

— Zig Ziglar

“The stumbling block to the pessimist, is a stepping stone to the optimist.”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

Acceptance

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Photography, Travel — 1 min read
Sunday in the park in Chicago is a lesson on acceptance. Here we see people out for a ‘walk’ on Segways, while others enjoy lunch in a tent at Lake Michigan, and cars move along on Lake Shore Drive. All in a stones throw of Willis (Sears) Tower in the background. Photo: ‘Acceptance‘ – Color Photograph Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella

Speak Lord For Thy Servant Is Listening

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 1 min read
Speak Lord for thy servant is listening: A black and white photograph of man in prayer. Prayer, especially in numbers, is much needed in this war torn world. But then so is listening, not only to God but to others. Photo: ‘Speak Lord For Thy Servant Is Listening‘ Copyright 2010 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved.

Autumn Colors in the Neighborhood

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: ‘Autumn Colors in the Neighborhood‘ – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella – Deep in the season of Fall, red, yellow, and green sprinkle a neighborhood street in Midwest America. Before you know it the colorful ‘show’ will be over, as in the colorful seasons of life, it goes by so fast. Make each day count!

All Of Us Are Different, Yet Together

— Posted inDesign, Photography, Productivity — 1 min read
Photo: ‘Morning Sunlight Architecture City Of Chicago‘ – Copyright 2017 Frank J Casella. The London Guarantee and Accident Building, and Trump Tower Chicago.

I’m always intrigued with the juxtaposition of new and old in cityscapes.

What struck me about this view of Chicago architecture was the Illumination from the morning sunlight. Then what came into view is how these structures are from decades apart of each other.

Though each of these are different, they blend together with such beauty, especially when enveloped by the sun and shadows.

Much as in life, and in living our faith, all of us are different, yet together we can do great things that create beauty in this world… such as these buildings… especially when enveloped in faith in this love of the Lord Jesus.

In a similar way, as beauty from the morning light brings promise to prepare for the coming of the new day ahead, so too must we live our faith looking for signs in preparation for the beauty of the coming of the Lord.