frjack Loc: Boston, MA

This was a good year to come to Slovenia. Spring is exploding, something it is not doing on the east coast as per my friends in eastern PA (home). Am grateful I have no pollen allergies. Everything is blooming. Sunday was a bit cooler than previous days. It felt more like late October in Boston complete with overcast skies than spring. But, by the time I went out the sun broke through and the day turned perfect. Wandered along the river shooting mostly outdoor cafes and a few of the bushes blooming. Spent about two hours wandering and shooting anything that caught my eye.

I was recently asked to cover for another Jesuit here and direct a weekend retreat for photographers in June. The day begins with a form of prayer known as lectio divina, sacred reading, that is particularly associated with Benedictines and Trappists. After spending time with the lectio and allowing it to "seep into" themselves, the photographers leave the retreat house in silence and alone for several hours with their cameras or cell phones or whatever they are using. After a few hours they return to the house, download and look at their stuff, and then, in the evening there is time for each participant to share two to five (that will be an absolute limit) photos and talk about what about their meditation on the lectio drove them to take the photo(s).

Photography is one of my entries into prayer and meditation, oftentimes but not exclusively when in a church, and sometimes morning meditation and lectio tells me that I gotta go out with camera later in the day. The prerequisite for that is I must be alone. The retreat will be interesting. No discussion of focal length or camera brand (especially the latter) allowed. What stirrings drove you to take this photo? What does it say to you now?

Blossoms against the castle

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Different blossoms same basic perspective

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The forsythia is rooted about eight feet below the balustrade.

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Looking away from city center. Great walking paths on both sides of the river. Three miles every other day. Without camera. No stops.

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Cafes always have some sort of flower on the table in a simple arrangement.

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Daffodils are obviously in season.

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Like the effect created here.

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Even if only one or two daisies, there are flowers on table.

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angler Loc: StHelens England

Beautiful shots Fr Jack.

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

Beautiful, thanks for sharing with us. Personally looking forward to some color in NE Ohio

Fran

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Very nice series and photos Fr. Jack.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the compliment. After the cloudy start it was a glorious day but with fewer people clogging the area around the river than the previous week.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks Fran. I took these in part for a friend in Boston who is close to losing it due to the lack of color.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Love the sharp contrasts of light and dark in your b&w shot. I also like the oversized container for the yellow tulips. Have to say the ashtrays in two other close-ups are not photogenic - lol. I'd be so tempted to re-arrange the elements

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the comments. The ashtrays are not photogenic but they are a feature of life here. Smoking is not allowed in restaurants but is allowed at the outdoor seating area. There are a lot of smokers here but rarely do I see anyone walking and smoking. A cigarette is meant to be enjoyed over coffee. It is a little startling to female university students rolling their own cigarettes at a cafe. It is a way of life so the ashtrays do lend a certain integrity. Many of the silver ones are stamped with Marlboro, my old brand. Quite 38 years ago.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I don't know what drove you to take these photos, Father Jack, but whatever it was must have been inspirational. Nice work!

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Enjoyed the series very much and the information. Excellent captures and compositions, love #4.

thomt

Love it the time I was there been to the castle great place to vist

tbell7D Loc: Houston

Very appealing set of photos Frjack. I also enjoyed reading your commentary. Thanks for sharing.

repleo Loc: Boston

Fr Jack - I share your friends despair !!!

Lovely photos - I especially like the tables in B&W even though I am yearning for Spring color.

If you are not already familiar with it, I think you might enjoy "The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes" by Andy Karr and Michael Wood. I think much of it would mesh well with your lectio divinia preparations.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the generous comment. I think the drive is an awareness of the complete unexpectedness of finding myself in a place I never expected to be and being old enough to relish it. Every time I walk along the river there is something that I hadn't noticed before, sometimes a little detail and sometimes a structure that looks different. That is why I don't take the camera when I go for a "walk" but do take it when in the mood to stroll, to contemplate, and to look and see at the same time.