Ring the Bells That Still Can Ring
Bozeman, Montana
2016

Feeling more positive today.

You Want It Darker
Dunhuang, China
2016

Pardon me if I’m feeling a little dark this week.

Dune Walkers
Dunhuang, China
2016

Forlorn Panda
Yinma, China
2016

Spent Beauty #15
Yinma, China
2016

Anywhere Leaf
Yinma, China
2016

When I came across this shot in my large collection of images from China, it struck me as being out of place; it looked like a photo I could have taken anywhere around home or even elsewhere in the world besides China. It reminded me that for all that seems unique and different in China there is much that ties that place, and all places I visit, to my normal everyday world.

On this election day, the most divisive and contentious of any I’ve ever experienced, I’m going to try to let my experience with this leaf be a reminder to me. A reminder that, in spite of the often huge gulf between myself and those I disagree with politically, there is still much commonality between us that should be embraced and savored whenever possible.

Camel Driver
Dunhuang, China
2016

Bricks and Steel
Yinma, China
2016

One more warm-tone still life.

Still Life in Blue and Brown
Yinma, China
2016

Back to the warm tones in the same warehouse area as the photo from a few days ago (here), this time set off nicely by the bright blue of the fan housing.

Bagging Seeds
Yinma, China
2016

I believe this machinery is used to remove sunflower seeds from the seed heads and then bag them. These women were Muslim, so I wasn’t sure if the face coverings were due their religion or the dust created by the machines. Perhaps both.