Black and White

Black n White Sunset Berkeley 1
Originally uploaded by walkina

This stands out as one of my favorite Black and White shots. Do you agree with me? Leave me some feedback and let me know.
Thanks,
Jason

Secrets... To Hide is to Lie

Secrets... To Hide is to Lie

In another of my insomniac moments the other night I found myself surfing the boob tube to find something that would put me to sleep. Instead I found "Unfaithful". This is the movie in which a beautiful older woman decides to have a secret affair which ultimately results in a twisted series of events. I must make it known that I have seen this movie previously. I guess that in my daze I was sucked in to the drama. So what began as a search for for a means to sleep transformed into an inspirational look at the dishonesty of some relationships. This movie has a crazy ability to make the viewer reflect upon there own relationship with such a questionable eye. After the movie was said and done, I let the pen go and I came up with my look at the potential dishonesty some relationships may face.

Secrets
By: Jason Byrd

“I always had a crush on you”
Causes questions in my head
And what secrets do you hide from me
How many other things were said

Don’t judge a book by its faces
Wait to read what hides inside
If attention is paid to details
It reveals the feelings denied

I hope you don’t try and hurt me
Revenge is my oldest friend
Only things that will be left standing
Tis I and my dear oldest friend

I love you too much to do this
I simply can not hide the pain
And no matter what it is you say
You are taking my love in vain

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

About Me... A Tale of Two Personalities.

About Me... A Tale of Two Personalities.

As I sat and read my blog, I realized that I did not have anything in the "About Me" page nor did I have anything describing myself in any way. To this point I have only written when I was emotional, so I thought I would write something I thought myself. I have never done a reflective piece. As it turns out, I really enjoyed it a lot. In all honesty, I will most likely do another similar piece soon as I did enjoy it. Perhaps I could write about others in a similar manner. At any rate.. here I am as a poem, I hope you enjoy.

High Octane Emotion
By: Jason Byrd

I am burning high octane as
The friction builds and the temperatures rise

With a roar I accelerate from 0 to 60 with
Such quickness I am startled and surprised

The soundtrack of my life has been randomly cycled from
A Brushfire Fairytale to the fierceness of Pennywise

A fresh coat of Black embraces a Blood red set
Of numbers that becomes the haunting face of my disguise

At extreme speeds I begin to shake and loose control
While the glare of passing lights is blinding my eyes

After pushing the red line my fuel has been emptied and
As I spin out of control I calmly refocus my attention to the prize

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

WATER: A CALIFORNIA STORY

WATER: A CALIFORNIA STORY

Recently I became a member of the amazing photo sharing website Flickr.com and became pleasantly surprised at the amount of exposure I got on my photography. For some time now I have been selling a random selection of my photography in my online shop on Etsy.com. I noticed that a considerable number of the artist selling photography on etsy also had a flickr account which they linked to their etsy store. Shortly after I learned about flickr, I decided to give it a try.

Shortly after my inaugural round of photograph uploading I was notified that I had received a comment on one of my favorite photographs I have taken called, “Lady in Red”. This particular photograph is inspired by the memory of my very dear friend who had her life tragically taken from us very prematurely. More on this photograph can viewed on my very first blog post called, “Ode to Friends Lost”. The comment was from a group called, “Water: A California Story”. They were asking me to submit my photograph to their pool. I read a little on the group and loved the concept so I agreed and submitted my photograph.

Some time later I received another comment on the same photograph again by the very same group. This time the comment stated that my photograph had been selected to be part of their “Water: A California Story” exhibit that will be held at the San Diego Natural History Museum. I can not explain the feeling I had. I am but a budding photographer and never have I had a photograph selected for such an honor. Upon composing myself, I began to further research the exhibit. On their home page the opening lines read, “Celebrate water, our natural resource—more valuable than oil, more precious than gold—the essential ingredient of our life, culture, history, and future.” As a native Californian who has grown up surfing, swimming, and playing in our beautiful ocean; how could I argue with such a statement? The more I read about this cause the better I felt about being a part of such an amazing exhibit dedicated to such awareness.

I would urge every Californian to take a look at the website and read up on some of the amazing information that is provided about our current water situation. I remind all of you that regardless if you are not a member of the “Green” movement, an active beach lover, a fisherman, or anything else knowledge is in fact power. The more we know about our environment and our natural resources, the better we are equipped to learn about how to possible better our current ecological situation. For those of us in the San Diego area, please feel free to visit the San Diego Natural History Museum and check out the wonderful exhibit. There so many amazing pieces of art and the information you will learn is invaluable. The exhibit kicks off on Saturday July 19, 2008. Hope to see you there. A very special thanks to Michael Field the Exhibits Designer for the San Diego Natural History Museum for selecting my art to be a part of this wonderful exhibit. The honor is mine.
Congratulations to all other photographers selected!!

Check out these links about the Cause and the Exhibit:

WATER: A CALIFORNIA STORY
www.sdnhm.org/exhibits/water/castory.html

And

Informative page
http://www.sdnhm.org/exhibits/water/index.html

Check out my photography listings at:
Neverland Design

And

My Flickr Photostream

The Wrong Side of the Bed?

The Wrong Side of the Bed?
As it turns out, I tend to wake up on the wrong side of the bed most days. I can’t seem to place whether or not it has something to do with the my 3 wonderful and overwhelmingly loud boys who always seem to be awake and at full speed well before any rooster can be heard; or if it just has to do with the fact that I don’t suppose I mind waking up on the wrong side of the bed. In fact, at times I welcome the gloomy cloud as it always seems to give me the best excuse to not speak to anyone; which in all honesty is sometimes ok with me. Don’t get me wrong, I have long been a supporter of companionship; but let’s face it sometimes a moment to yourself is just what the doctor ordered.
If any of you are anything like me, a day swirling of grumpy and careless fast food drive-through attendants, grumpy and increasingly geriatric local postal service assistants, grumpy and painfully pushy super market shoppers, and of course the average grumpy and carelessly distracted motorist, you may need a moment of silence to reflect on the events that Pissed You Off!! As a father of three growing boys, patience was something I have to display All the time. The question here is when do I get to be grumpy for a minute. Everyone else gets that second to be grumpy and it always seems to be when they are helping me? Is it me?
So to all… Remember, it is ok and arguably healthy to be grumpy on occasion. Furthermore, I recommend it. For me it always inspires a stronger sense of reflection as to what things are actually making me so grumpy after which I usually realize the oversensitivity in my ways. The larger challenge lye within the balance between not affecting the happiness that may be going on despite my grumpiness and having the grumpy moment I may deserve. I did this poem after a recent grumpy day. It was not created directed at one individual as it may seem; it is simply a collaboration of interesting words that I related to being upset. I enjoyed the way the words fit with each other.
I present my ode to grumpy days everywhere:

The Making of Hate
By: Jason Byrd
04\08

Oh I sit here thinking
Of all the things you’ve done
Your lies, dishonesty, and hate
And that thing that you’ve become

You told me once that you loved me
That you’d never do me wrong
And when I realize your lies
I’ve seen them all along

Sick and twisted melodies
Are swirling in my brain
And when my pain returns to you
You’ll never be the same

If once or twice you’ve thought of me
In your disconnected mind
Just realize my thoughts of you
Have since become unkind

When in fact the dust has cleared
And you see what’s in your path
Your lies, dishonesty and hate
Are things you can’t ever take back

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

Proud Daddy

Proud Daddy
I am truly the luckiest father in the entire world. I have the most intelligent and loving little boy ever. I do not find it easy to put in to words how I feel about that little boy. I am truly blessed to have a son who does everything to make me happy. At 4 he was learning to read, play the guitar, drums and piano and he draws some of the most interesting abstract pictures ever.
I remember when he was about 9 months old I was driving him to the sitter before work. It was about 5:45a so we were both very tired. I decided to put on some relaxing music to inspire him to go to sleep during the 1 hour drive. I played the only cd in my truck, the second disc in Ben Harper’s Live from Mars 2 disc set. If anyone is familiar with this particular cd you will note that this is the disc containing mostly acoustic songs. I always play that disc in random mode because it has been the only cd in my truck since I bought it. The second song that played was called,”Like a King/I Rise” and to my surprise he began singing the song like he wrote it. He knew all of the words, inflections in the melody, everything. The funny thing was that at the time he pronounced the sound of an “L” as if it were a “Y”. I almost cried when I heard from a tiny voice coming from behind me softly singing, “Yike a King”. Geez I love him so much.
I could go on forever about my little man, but at the risk of making you all sick I will not. Today I missed him too much to handle. Weekend at mom’s house can be a hard time for me so I just took out my favorite photo of him and I was overwhelmed with emotion and words that were beating in my head. I grabbed my notebook and began to write this little poem for him.
Gavyn,
Daddy loves you and can not wait for you to come back home. I am so proud of you I cry every time I think of you, all you can do, and all you have to accomplish in your future.

Angel
By: Jason Byrd

When I look into your eyes
I see myself in you
But most of all I see you conquer
The things I could not do

My heart is filled with so much pride
Each time I watch you play
And hear those bright insightful things
You always seem to say

The warm smiles that you give to me
Can set my heart at ease
And the pedestal that you hold me on
Has brought me to my knees

All the visions that I had of you
Were more than I expected
And as long as air is in my lungs
You will always be protected

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

Muse

Muse

I have often thought of myself as a self reliant individual who had taken his life into his own hands. For years I depended only upon myself in times of need. From a very young age I was taught that dependence upon another may lead me into a future uncertain. I was reminded daily of the festering wounds that are left when a loved one has cleaved the trust out of your heart.
It was not until recently that I realized the error in my ways. About two years ago I stumbled upon the muse that my soul had long been calling for. Since that time I have learned so many valuable lessons. I have since come to the conclusion that it is far more difficult to rely on the goodness of others than to rely on the determination of one’s self. During many times of reflection I realized that during my so called self reliance, I had lost out on so many essential occurrences. I had spent so much time loving myself that I had never experienced the feeling of love, dependence, trust, and faith.
Since that time my life has taken some unexpected turns. Despite the fact that the individual of yesterday would have never allowed these turns to detour me from the road ahead; I have never felt more at home on this road and focused on the ultimate destination at the end of the road.
To my muse,
You have taught me more about life and love than any single person or event in my life. You have found a way to open the door to most sacred places and allowed me the freedom to express freely all of my own creativity. You have taught me that allowing myself to truly love another has enabled me to truly love myself.

She
By: Jason Byrd
05/08

She’s standing so lonely and free
Living vicariously
Through the hopes and the dreams
That someday she’ll finally be
All she never thought that I’d need

Time will answer her cries
Or prove the deception of lies
When will the torture subside
From a heart that once was denied
Despite the ways it thought it tried

Take time to open your ears
Allow me to wipe up you tears
Let me silence your questions and fears
With your love my heart has been seared
And my future is finally clear

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

Irreverent Existence

Irreverent Existence
By: Jason Byrd
06/10/08

Walk with less irreverence
Talk with less distain
If you knew you had me
You’d hurt me once again

If you’ve read my memoir
If you’ve heard the cries
Then why the soothing Poison
That’s hollowed out my eyes

Words are loud when written
They sneak between the ears
When rearranged correctly
They amplify our fears

Try to paint my picture
The colors swirl about
You painted yourself in here
So bleed your own way out

Meter with no rhythm
A poem without a rhyme
A beat that’s always thumping
While never keeping time

Mounds of wilted flowers
A rose without a thorn
My head was hanging proudly
That day when I was born

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved

Ode to Friends Lost

Ode to Friends Lost

It is fairly safe to say that we have all experienced some sort of loss in our lives. Whether it was a friend or family member, it certainly leaves the very same emotional sting. A year ago I lost a very close friend. The loss was very hard for me to take. I had a ton of unanswered questions. The 1 year anniversary of her passing was a few days ago and I know nothing more today than I did then. I do know that she is on my mind all the time. At times I really feel like she is out there. I shot a photograph of the clouds and began to let my mind dance with pencil across my page and at the end I was left with a poem dedicated to a very important person in my life. So to all who have experienced loss and have wondered of loved ones passed i remind you that all who have passed live on in us. Through our thoughts and memories we help keep them with us always.
To Erinn,
You will never be forgotten. I don't believe I could forget you if I tried. Your vibrance and beauty will be missed always.

Lady in Red
By: Jason Byrd

Lady oh Lady
How are you up there
Your soft, subtle curves
Your flowing red hair

Lady oh Lady
Do you dream of me
Or slumber so softly
So soundly carefree

Lady oh Lady
Who knew that a storm
Contained such a beauty
So vibrant and warm

Lady oh Lady
Please wait for me there
Until I may join you
And bask in your glare

Lady oh lady
Embodies a dream
Infiltrated my mind
And forced me to see
That…..

Lady oh lady
I’m under your spell
Your glorious secrets
I never shall tell

© 2008 Jason Byrd – All rights reserved