7.31.2006
7.30.2006
7.27.2006
Into the World
Put something new into the world today: the voice in my mind said. Let’s not judge ourselves by what we purchase or consume but what we create.
7.26.2006
Interview
An Interview with John Anthony Craig – Photographer
What inspires you? What are your inspirations sources? Balance in self, culture and nature.
Which people or personality inspires you? Thich Nhat Hanh, Mother Teresa, Buddha, Jesus, My wife & daughter.
How does your creativity help/support/ or challenge you and people around you?Photography, composition and integral business has enveloped my critical thoughts. I enjoy being a photographer: I am lucky enough to earn a living without having to actually earn a living. Photography and composition is my life, there is no separation or ending/starting point of my work day.Integral business: It is what is fundamental and comprehensively connective to the ethics of my professional life. The goal of integral business is to work with a purpose. A balance lifestyle, satisfying clients, earn a living for my family and community and environmental service.Going forward I will further integrate integral business ethics into my photography business by reaching out and donating my services to nonprofit Pittsburgh PA organizations.
Which books, magazine, music, movie, website inspired you:
Zaadz, Craig Photography, Bach, Walden, Ken Wilber, Michael Hedges
What is the best creative example that you can remember? My dog running in the woods (peace with all)
What is your cure for lack of inspiration or best problem solving trick?
Today we live in a world were we can create a balance in self, culture & nature in body, mind and spirit. With the connection of eastern & western philosophy we can gather the best of the best for our personal practice.Music & photography offers a balance practice to me: I need to service my audience while being true to my composition. Inspiration needs to come from culture and nature: from the interior and exterior of self, soul & society. Meditation, yoga, academic study, diet has to keep me well in order for me to serve. For I and the audience are one: “the beginning illusion ending eternally.”
How do you use of your creativity in your life? How do you include it in your day to day work? Does your work feel like playing?Photography – I love what I do: It is a wonderful place in life to say I love what I do. I do not have a job or a profession maybe a calling but that might be a reach to say. I love being a working artist, photographer. There is no separation in my personal, professional life: it’s all the same. The idea that I do not have to go to work but I am always at work is my life. I get to see the world in many different perspectives: my job is controlling light to document a moment. What is light (top five reasons light is confusing by Stuart Davis). Light is simply a reflection of love: ok ok that is a little corny but that is what it is. It is that spark of divine moment that I capture in a camera for all eternity. Spark of divine moment? What is that? Life, sunrise, smiles, kissing, birth, death, breath, elements, you, me.
What is creativity for you? From one word to a paragraph, how would you describe it? Spiritual creativity is a phrase that has been crossing my path in resent reading. I feel that both words spiritual and creativity can/are use interchangeable in photography. They both represent a practice that is root in daily life and faith: you need to see/feel beyond your own five senses to transform and include your own senses for the practice to become faithful. Photography is only a moment of perspective.
What inspires you? What are your inspirations sources? Balance in self, culture and nature.
Which people or personality inspires you? Thich Nhat Hanh, Mother Teresa, Buddha, Jesus, My wife & daughter.
How does your creativity help/support/ or challenge you and people around you?Photography, composition and integral business has enveloped my critical thoughts. I enjoy being a photographer: I am lucky enough to earn a living without having to actually earn a living. Photography and composition is my life, there is no separation or ending/starting point of my work day.Integral business: It is what is fundamental and comprehensively connective to the ethics of my professional life. The goal of integral business is to work with a purpose. A balance lifestyle, satisfying clients, earn a living for my family and community and environmental service.Going forward I will further integrate integral business ethics into my photography business by reaching out and donating my services to nonprofit Pittsburgh PA organizations.
Which books, magazine, music, movie, website inspired you:
Zaadz, Craig Photography, Bach, Walden, Ken Wilber, Michael Hedges
What is the best creative example that you can remember? My dog running in the woods (peace with all)
What is your cure for lack of inspiration or best problem solving trick?
Today we live in a world were we can create a balance in self, culture & nature in body, mind and spirit. With the connection of eastern & western philosophy we can gather the best of the best for our personal practice.Music & photography offers a balance practice to me: I need to service my audience while being true to my composition. Inspiration needs to come from culture and nature: from the interior and exterior of self, soul & society. Meditation, yoga, academic study, diet has to keep me well in order for me to serve. For I and the audience are one: “the beginning illusion ending eternally.”
How do you use of your creativity in your life? How do you include it in your day to day work? Does your work feel like playing?Photography – I love what I do: It is a wonderful place in life to say I love what I do. I do not have a job or a profession maybe a calling but that might be a reach to say. I love being a working artist, photographer. There is no separation in my personal, professional life: it’s all the same. The idea that I do not have to go to work but I am always at work is my life. I get to see the world in many different perspectives: my job is controlling light to document a moment. What is light (top five reasons light is confusing by Stuart Davis). Light is simply a reflection of love: ok ok that is a little corny but that is what it is. It is that spark of divine moment that I capture in a camera for all eternity. Spark of divine moment? What is that? Life, sunrise, smiles, kissing, birth, death, breath, elements, you, me.
What is creativity for you? From one word to a paragraph, how would you describe it? Spiritual creativity is a phrase that has been crossing my path in resent reading. I feel that both words spiritual and creativity can/are use interchangeable in photography. They both represent a practice that is root in daily life and faith: you need to see/feel beyond your own five senses to transform and include your own senses for the practice to become faithful. Photography is only a moment of perspective.
7.25.2006
Homage
In photography we are all stealers of ideas, but hopefully only the good ones. This past Sunday I set out trying to photograph specifically in the style and framing of John Daido Loori. Loori, books and portfolios have been a constant source of inspiration, compositional influence and enjoyment. Take a look at the first fourteen photos (here) and then decide for yourself if I am a stealer of ides and if it was a good one.
7.24.2006
7.23.2006
Something to get lost in
Spent Sunday morning hiking in the woods, very peaceful: Wilderness, nature and a quite moment.
7.21.2006
Mallory Lane
Tonight at 7:30 Mallory Lane at twin peaks – sounds kind ‘a cryptic but it is not: photos will be post on Monday.
7.20.2006
Entertain the rest of nature
"Entertain the rest of nature"- the question is answered. That is my purpose. The earth needs nothing from me God provides the four elements; Gaia is the care taker, holly spirit the keeper of the lands. Earth will not lose there is no damage I can do that she may not heal herself (not with out saying that we may eradicate our own civilization) but Mother Nature will not loose. Art, composition, beauty is our only gift to the wild we must entertain the wilderness for us to keep our place.
7.19.2006
Moment
Current Reading: The Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder
Music: Essential Bach
Mood: shaky – it’s a mood
Sounds: Silence
Sights: Day dreams
Smell: nothing – oddly stranger to recognize the lack of odder?
Temperature: 84 & partly cloudy
Thoughts: Jennifer Aniston’s just sign on to play the title role in Grace & Grit my favorite book.
Music: Essential Bach
Mood: shaky – it’s a mood
Sounds: Silence
Sights: Day dreams
Smell: nothing – oddly stranger to recognize the lack of odder?
Temperature: 84 & partly cloudy
Thoughts: Jennifer Aniston’s just sign on to play the title role in Grace & Grit my favorite book.
7.17.2006
Perceiving & Existential Composition
This photo represents two important tips on photography Perceiving & Existential Composition.Last week I was photographing the All Star game in Pittsburgh and the best photo of the night stood 3 feet away from my tripod.
Quotes
Today I want to share some quotes from friends and fellow bloggers that have cross my path recently via e-mail, comments and posting. All of them represent my love for photography, hope you enjoy.
“Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.” - Walker Evans (Via Melis’)
“Art is an intentional system of practice, which is what leadership becomes when we truly understand its power and responsibility.” Jack/Zen
“Photography is a way, without any art history background or other formal training, the way I freeze a moment in what I perceive as time from a perspective that only I am experiencing in that moment. I am not satisfied with just any perspective.” (Via Zoe’s)
“Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.” - Walker Evans (Via Melis’)
“Art is an intentional system of practice, which is what leadership becomes when we truly understand its power and responsibility.” Jack/Zen
“Photography is a way, without any art history background or other formal training, the way I freeze a moment in what I perceive as time from a perspective that only I am experiencing in that moment. I am not satisfied with just any perspective.” (Via Zoe’s)
7.14.2006
Prefer
“When humans know themselves, the rest of nature is right there” – Gary Snyder
Acceptance of what I prefer: - no longer will I question myself on what I prefer in life. Too often I felt corner by the culture I chosen to be influenced by; often questioning myself is this my own voice tell/asking me or is it the influence of the preverbal thought provoking philosophy I indulge myself in?
I prefer a vegetarian diet, though I am thankful for what is served to me. I choose composition as my art, not photography, writing or guitar but the constant growth of self, cultural and nature is what I call my art, my composition. Although, I am humble by the fact that I can support my family through photography and music. I call my self a Christian but feel furthermore integral towards deepening my faith. I enjoy the mindfulness of the Buddhist and the beatitudes of Jesus and accept as true that I would be comfortable in any house of worship. Bach cello suite is by far my favorite piece of music. Playing a nylon classical guitar is what I prefer to all the technologies of current music/instruments. Henry David Thoreau, Gary Snyder, Ken Wilber, Thich Nhat Hanh, Nietzsche and Mother Teresa have influence, inspired me habitually though there lives, works, books and legacies. Yoga and meditation is my preferred daily practice for balance of body, mind and spirit. A walk in the woods with my dog has been my utmost education in life.
Today I take comfort of who I am; I am the collective, collaborative knowledge of all the past inspiration, knowledge and family that has developed the person that I am. I take comfort that I am a individual of self drive: growth in body mind and soul is the motivation that I prefer.
Acceptance of what I prefer: - no longer will I question myself on what I prefer in life. Too often I felt corner by the culture I chosen to be influenced by; often questioning myself is this my own voice tell/asking me or is it the influence of the preverbal thought provoking philosophy I indulge myself in?
I prefer a vegetarian diet, though I am thankful for what is served to me. I choose composition as my art, not photography, writing or guitar but the constant growth of self, cultural and nature is what I call my art, my composition. Although, I am humble by the fact that I can support my family through photography and music. I call my self a Christian but feel furthermore integral towards deepening my faith. I enjoy the mindfulness of the Buddhist and the beatitudes of Jesus and accept as true that I would be comfortable in any house of worship. Bach cello suite is by far my favorite piece of music. Playing a nylon classical guitar is what I prefer to all the technologies of current music/instruments. Henry David Thoreau, Gary Snyder, Ken Wilber, Thich Nhat Hanh, Nietzsche and Mother Teresa have influence, inspired me habitually though there lives, works, books and legacies. Yoga and meditation is my preferred daily practice for balance of body, mind and spirit. A walk in the woods with my dog has been my utmost education in life.
Today I take comfort of who I am; I am the collective, collaborative knowledge of all the past inspiration, knowledge and family that has developed the person that I am. I take comfort that I am a individual of self drive: growth in body mind and soul is the motivation that I prefer.
7.13.2006
The Practice of the Wild
“Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” – After completing that sentence I knew I was reading one of the most significant books in my life. The Practice of the Wild: Essays by Gary Snyder will stand next to Walden by Henry David Thoreau in my most influential and perspective reads I’ve have encountered. Deep bows of gratitude to Ottmar Liebert for recommending this book on his blog.
7.11.2006
Existential Tips On Composition
The extraordinary is hidden in the ordinary.
Engage in the world around you.
What if your life is only a dream?
Do your preconceptions prevent you from seeing clearly?
Light is only the past illusion of what all ready happened.
Beyond the ego is the artist power.
Observing equals creating.
Perceive?
Photography is nonthing until you become aware of (of)
Engage in the world around you.
What if your life is only a dream?
Do your preconceptions prevent you from seeing clearly?
Light is only the past illusion of what all ready happened.
Beyond the ego is the artist power.
Observing equals creating.
Perceive?
Photography is nonthing until you become aware of (of)
7.10.2006
Perceive
Recognizing an opportunity when a story needs to be told. Standing naĂŻve in a crowd, courageous enough to live with not knowing? If you were to do only just one thing “perceive”. This is were the photographer starts...
7.09.2006
7.07.2006
Clearview
- Great night last night: I got to photograph the guys from Clearview!!!!
- 3 brother 1 purpose & incredible music.
- Photography + Musicians = Fun (see this)
7.06.2006
Understanding Art and the Mystic of Photography
Dismantling the myths of contemporary photography: In a previous post I was asking what is photography? Painting with light, the act of composing with in a box, raw binary data, information stored on disk, a picture preserved on paper? Dogmatic approaches vs. meditative minds eye’s development states of photography are the developmental tools towards growth. Technology can help us transcend technique but the aware or awakened photographer can bring new information to the audience of there works.
Art (exterior) is repetition, practice and technique. Mystic (interiors) is the pursuit of higher level of consciousness. Duality is a blessing as long we work towards a balance of the two. Dismantling the myths of contemporary photography is the quest for whole brain photography; behind the lens is equally as important as what is in front of the lens.
Art (exterior) is repetition, practice and technique. Mystic (interiors) is the pursuit of higher level of consciousness. Duality is a blessing as long we work towards a balance of the two. Dismantling the myths of contemporary photography is the quest for whole brain photography; behind the lens is equally as important as what is in front of the lens.
7.05.2006
When not Photographying
From Sunday morning to Saturday night, from the cathedral to the street, John Anthony Craig is a seven?day?a-week performer-songwriter and multi-instrument player. You may have seen him in such places as national coffeehouses and bookstores, including Border?s Café ˇnd Starbucks, at Holistic Health Seminars, or on stage at your local church festival. No matter where you have seen him perform, you will always walk away filled with spirit and energy.
While he has established himself as one of the musical mainstays of his native Pittsburgh, his music has also touched hearts as far away as Paris and Spain. Craig?s first glimpse of national attention came when he teamed up with singer/songwriter Sarah Wilkins. Together, they released their first CD, ?Hope and a Future?.
Recently, John has focused his musical talents as a guitar synth instrumentalist featuring a classical jazz blend style with an acoustic new age edge.
John has recently completed his first instrumental project, which is titled ?Namaste? and is working with Sarah Wilkins on their second CD.
While he has established himself as one of the musical mainstays of his native Pittsburgh, his music has also touched hearts as far away as Paris and Spain. Craig?s first glimpse of national attention came when he teamed up with singer/songwriter Sarah Wilkins. Together, they released their first CD, ?Hope and a Future?.
Recently, John has focused his musical talents as a guitar synth instrumentalist featuring a classical jazz blend style with an acoustic new age edge.
John has recently completed his first instrumental project, which is titled ?Namaste? and is working with Sarah Wilkins on their second CD.
7.04.2006
Dialog
What is moral? That was the question asked to me: I responded “anything that leads to growth in body, mind and spirit in self culture and nature.” Constructive or deconstructive nature was the next question asked of me. I responded “ Constant re-construction of all the deconstructive nature.” Explain? “Reflection back on history we learned that many things that were once acceptable; slavery, women lack of rights, land wars were one all sociably expected. What is it in our current moral perspective that could be viewed as not moral when history reflects upon it? Environment treatment, religious beliefs, economic social class, disease prevention.”
Treason was spoken subsequently? I asked “treason of whom” Treason! Again I responded “treason of whom” Disloyalty of self: I stand and look up the conversation was over and I stood alone.
Treason was spoken subsequently? I asked “treason of whom” Treason! Again I responded “treason of whom” Disloyalty of self: I stand and look up the conversation was over and I stood alone.
7.03.2006
An Artist Mind
An artist mind is never made up: there is no absolute to achieving the absolute. Perfection is the process, the mind’s eye on no account rest and is eternally growing.
What can American society glean from this perspective? Unalterably made up are the public minds on politics, environment, health care, ect… When perceived moral outlook leads to blind eye judgments: Argument instead of conversations, winning vs. growing it is an assault on the overwhelming majority forcing decay on a global process. Art is the constant creation, life is the constant creation if we stop creating and we stand still in thought, work and deed we breathe our last breath.
What can American society glean from this perspective? Unalterably made up are the public minds on politics, environment, health care, ect… When perceived moral outlook leads to blind eye judgments: Argument instead of conversations, winning vs. growing it is an assault on the overwhelming majority forcing decay on a global process. Art is the constant creation, life is the constant creation if we stop creating and we stand still in thought, work and deed we breathe our last breath.
4th of July
Fourth of July tomorrow(insert patriot music here), will I be photographing fire works? Nope; I will be at an amusement park trying my best to amuse people. Smile - Peace & Love
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