Asheville, North Carolina Sunset

If you follow my blog, you know that I often visit Asheville, NC.  I have a few geat friends who are transplants to the area, which makes this part of Western North Carolina even  a little more wonderful.  Neighbors/friends of the cabin retreat that was home for a few days, have a clear view of Asheville area sunsets.  This photograph of mine was captured two evenings ago on their deck.  I wish I was there again this evening.  You can see this photograph and few others by clicking here.

Enjoy!​

Nathan Mark​

If you Meet a Buddha on the Road...

I call this collage, "If you Meet a Buddha" which is based on the saying, "if you meet a Buddha on the road, kill him."  As the saying implies,  just when you think you have everything (Truth) figured out, you do not, so keep on searching.  Included in my collage is the is the statement (in Hindi script), "true knowledge" along with a diagram on Buddhism.

The search for Truth is life long and never complete.  Our assumptions of the Truth probably get in the way of really finding Truth.

Image sources from this work include those from Fotolia, public domain, and as requested attribution for the following:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Relationship_between_the_Major_Components_of_Buddhism.png; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dhamma_1Prakrit-HI.png; ​

"Buddha on the Road​" (click image to see full version)

Deep

I created this digital collage a few weeks ago.  For me, "Deep," represents both the complex internal world of the unconscious and the outward expression of ultimate commitment.  

​Images are primarily from Fotolio; I photographed the clouds with my Iphone  and, of Ghandi, the image is public domain.  The collage was created with Photoshop CS6. 

 

Deep​

Fab

Below is my latest work, entitled, "Fab."  I manipulated two drawings of ​the great naturalist and artist, Ernst Haeckel ("Copepoda" and "Crinoidea").   I find his work both facinating and surreal. 

Enjoy! Nathan Mark

website update.....

Today my updated website goes live.  I have used Squarespace now for several years and could not be more pleased with both the quality of the product, the ease of use and exceptional customer service.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.  I am open to any suggestions or comments.  ​Enjoy! Nathan Mark

Lynda Turns 50

Above is a collage I created to celebrate my sister's, Lynda Caroline Phillips,  50th birthday.  Lynda, who has Downs Syndrome, has lived an exceptionally, wonderful life inspite of her "handicaps."  My parents, when confronted with the fact of having a handicaped child, faced reality and responded early, and more imprortantly, lovingly  (my sister began school at age 3).   As a result, at age 50 Lynda lives a healthy, balanced life of independence and support through the Life Bridges in Cleveland, Tennessee.  My sister was recently interviewed by the Cleveland Daily Banner which you can read by following this link.  The above collage has my sister at age (app) 5 holding the hand of my brother, John Phillips.  Included in the above is my cat Silver (because my sister likes cats and Silver in particular) and the Mars rover, Curiousity.

Dig Yourself

 

My latest collage, "dig yourself."  I want to give acknowledgement to Maple Rose Stock for the peacock.  I think everybody should dig themselves.  Enjoy! Nathan

My Tribute to Neil Armstrong

For those of us who grew up along with the NASA space program, the death of Neil Armstrong is a loss.  I clearly remember watching his first step on the moon on my family's black & white television, after my parents, knowing the historical significance, woke me view it with them.  This is a memory I value even more today.
The world today has many heroes, but for those of us who grew up in the 1960's, the NASA astronaunts were ours.  Neil Armstrong and his peers were brave, bold explorers.  Someday we, or those after us, will follow in the footprints they have left behind.
My collage above was created with photographs from the NASA website.  I used Adobe Photoshop as my tool for the creation of the collage.
Nathan Mark

Reba Mae Henderson Mitchell

This week marks the fifth year aniversary of my grandmother's, death (Reba Mae Henderson Mitchell).  Those who are older experience a common loss for those who are so imprinted into our childhood memories and who are so very absent today.  My father, Ronald Herbert Phillips, digitized many of my grandfather's slides including the one above (my grandparents were obsessed with family genealogy, which is why full names are included in this post). My grandfather, Ralph Brooks Mitchell, loved photography and my grandmother was often within the view finder of his camera. This photograph is one of his best, sentimentally speaking,  and captures the essense of my grandmother, who was always at her best.  Nathan

Rap River Run, 2012

This was my 5th year photographing the Youth and Family Alternatives, Rap River Run.  The race is a "perfect storm" for 1) one of the best races in the Tampa Bay area; 2) the race proceeds go to fund Pasco County's only shelter for runaway and homeless youth, the RAP House; 3) such an event is only made possible with the good efforts of tremendous, local, community volunteers and businesses.  Although it might be obvious from the name of the race, "Rap River Run," the course of the race follows a beautiful tree lined section of the "Cottee River" in New Port Richey. This was my first year to photograph the race along the Pithlachascotee River and have included some of my photographs. 
I am not aware of any race in Florida that has so much to offer both the runner and the those who care about our young people. Please support the official photographer of the race, EventsMugShots by purchasing their photographs of the event.  Click on the photograph above or here to see a few of my photographs of the race.  Enjoy!  Nathan

View from the Beach, Pass-a-Grille

I took this photograph yesterday during a visit in Pass-a-Grille Beach, Florida.  This community is the end of the road for Gulfview Blvd., the main road that passess through all the barrier islands of Pinellas County, Florida.  I originally gave this image a b&w treatment, but the view of the great Don CeSar Hotel in the background reminded me of those old Florida post cards and I decided to go with a more retro look.  I hope you enjoy, Nathan 

Asheville, River Arts District: View from the Street

Click on the image above or here to see a few photographs from my recent trip to Asheville, North Carolina.  The River Arts District draws not only local artist from Western North Carolina, but from across the country: it is a true distillation of rich, local artistic talent. If you find yourself in the area, and you appreciate all things artistic, you would need to allow sufficient time to explore this wonderful part of this exeptional city.  Enjoy! Nathan

Say, "Cheese?"

Above is composition that I completed today that I call, "Say, Cheese?"  The mouse is a photograph of a toy that I took today.  I give credit to chefranden for the hungry cat.  Click here or on the photograph above to see the photographs that I used for this composition.  Enjoy! Nathan

Silver

I took this photograph of "silver" today, who was in his own nirvana while enjoying a warm Florida winter day outside (which is like spring time for most north of here: sorry to rub it in). He is a wonderful, beautiful Russian Blue  (orphaned by a foreclosed neighbor who chose to abandon him) and a joy; unfortunately (recently discovered), he is also a poster child for fenile diabetes. :)
Enjoy, nathan

Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida

 

A few weeks ago, I visited the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.  As with most museums, the experience of viewing great works of art up close is a treasure.  If you love art and are in the St. Petersburg area, you will appreciate and be inspired not only by the works of Dali, but by the beautiful architecture of the museum.  The main lobby staircase, as seen in my photograph above,  pays tribute to Dali's facination with the double helix.  It is also the only place inside the museum that one my take photographs and I would encourage you to do so at your next visit.  Click on the photograph above or here to get a better viewMy photographs were processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as Silver Effects Pro.  Enjoy! Nathan