Fredag igen och färd till Sundsvall i eftermiddag.. skönt med helg!
Försökte mig på IR-effekter i Photoshop igår. Resultatet blev inte riktigt IR som det “ska” vara men gillade detta bättre än det vanliga, fina färger!

Foto: Henrik

Vaknade i morse av att solen lyste på mig. Det var en riktigt märklig känsla. Är i en period då jag sover lätt, och har låång insomningstid…..så morgnarna blir förskjutna.

Fortsätter med blomkuren, den verkade funka, de drar till sig solljus : )  Det här är en hägg från granntomten, den 14 maj i år.

Two plus weeks after the trip and I am still thinking about JTree. Part of it is that photos from other participants are still surfacing. The other part is that I’m a bit dumbfounded. Why? That’s hard to answer. It’s not the first climbing road-trip I’ve been on nor the last. Something about it was different in a way that is difficult to express. It’s helpful that others have tried, but their impressions seem to mirror my own.

I was never certain I would even make it. I hemmed and hawed right up to the week before. I did this for the better part of two months prior. There were various reasons, but in the end I needed to go. It was made more attractive because I had met some of the others on a smaller trip to the valley. That and many of the people who I had acquainted myself with via Twitter were going. There were 20+ participants from as far away as Montreal and Philly. Crazy. If they could travel thousands of miles, what reason could I have for not going 500?

It all started rather modestly from an email between a few, but took on a life of its own. I attribute it to the “Twitter Effect”. An idea is put out in there, 5 commit to it, 20 like it, 100 follow it, and in the end 20 participate. Then we name it JTreetweetup #1. I’m not going to go into the whole twitter thing, and how I only did it out of curiosity, or how I’ve met a bunch of other climbers. I will say, I haven’t been doing it very long and I am honestly developing some real friendships.

Ya, friendships, real life connections, I think that is the essence of this trip for me. Well, there is one other thing but I’ll get to that last. The first thing is friends. If it weren’t for friends I wouldn’t have been able to go. Thank you Katiebeth (@katiebeth)! Here’s a girl went who came to Yosemite to climb her first multi-pitch trad route without ever having met me face to face. Talk about a trusting soul. Besides that, she is wonderfully kind-hearted and warm. Check out her blogs ( Beautiful Moments & Not Fearless), she’s not a bad writer either. It took about one email to arrange a ride with her from Fresno to JTree. Relative to my inner cynic that might be a unique experience. However, I was astonished because everyone I met in JTree exhibited the same grace and goodwill. That could be the beginning and the end of the story, but I found a lot more.

Campfires and friends, photo Darren Lui

I’m a bit of a cynic by nature. I’ve pretty much conceded that humanity is doomed to self-destruction due to selfishness and greed. The friends I’ve made prior to JTree, and those I met in JTree, are proving my cynicism unfounded. I left JTree feeling like I had just met my extended family. Everyone was really warm, friendly, helpful and generous. I wasn’t in camp ten minutes, and Darren who I had never met, was helping me setup my tent in the dark. Tiffany, in her blog said, “The fascinating thing is that when we all showed up to camp, there was no weird ice breaking needed. No weird warm up conversation to ease into environment. It was as if we’d all climbed before together.” I completely agree with the sentiment. In fact, it felt as natural as any trip I have taken with partners I have known for years.

On Friday night we were doing this thing where everyone was answering the same question, a round-robin of sorts. The question that came around was, “What do you want for Christmas?” The night before I had slept very little and was feeling pretty trashed after climbing all day. I really had no answer to the question and tried to joke my way out of it. I don’t think I came across as funny (grumpy me). I did think about it later, and the answer I would have given was, “I don’t want anything.”

That would have been the truth. I really didn’t want anything. Being there in JTree climbing, surrounded by friends, eating, talking, enjoying the eye searing smoke from our campfire, was already as much as I could ask for. And if I had a wish I’d do it all over again. I like to remind myself that life is a gift. There in that moment it was never more apparent. How could I be so greedy as to wish for more? I couldn’t, I was content. For various reasons I’ve lost some connection with my old climbing partners. Grad school also took its toll on other aspects of my social life. The desire to reconnect to friends and fellow climbers only magnified the richness of my experience in that moment. These new acquaintances and friends made it easy to feel connected, welcome, and part of the family. All you’d need is one good “tacklehug” and you’d know what I’m talking about

I came home from the trip feeling very different from when I left. I know this may sound a bit melodramatic, but it restored my sense of closeness to people. My cynicism lost its edge. It’s hard to articulate, which is why I’m having trouble with this post. I found new friends, reinforced friendships, and left feeling like I was part of something warm and fuzzy.

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

That quote couldn’t be more accurate  and Its not the first time I’ve eluded to such a sentiment since meeting the twitter crew. After walking away from this writing for a day I realized something. The expectation for this trip was a typical climbing road-trip. Go climbing, hangout with friends, come home. I left with a typical expectation of what was to come. The trouble I’m having is the unexpected nature of it. It wasn’t just another road-trip of climbing, camping, and carousing. It was finding a whole bunch of real people who are about as cool and easy to be with as people (climbers) can be. I’m still not sure how to describe it, and maybe I don’t need to. The impression I’m left with is one I want to keep. Writing it down may only be a hollow attempt to label something ineffable. Screw that, I like the indescribable nature of it. Like a first love or a Sierra sunrise, there are no words to do it justice. I’m gonna leave it that way. To everyone that went, it is an honor to know you. I sincerely hope we see each other again soon.

photo Eileen Descallar Ringwald

Part II

I really wanted to do some climbing when I went to JTree. Well, that was the point of the trip. I made a tick list of about 20 routes to hit. I really didn’t think I’d get all 20 but figured 8-10 wasn’t unreal. My one regret about the trip is not climbing more. I climbed about 4 routes and  did some bouldering, not bad. However, what was missed in quantity was made up for in another way.

I’ve been struggling to find my “leader head” since being injured some years ago (About). The grades in JTree are definitely old school grades. A 5.9 route has the potential to pose a problem and anything 5.10 is a guaranteed to be a challenge. I was probably being a bit optimistic with two-thirds of my tick-list 10a or harder. While I didn’t get to most of it, two routes on my list got ticked, “Poodles are People Too” and  “Heart and Sole.” Leading these two routes is noteworthy because they represent the negotiation of major mental hurdle.

Located on Hemingway Buttress “Poodles” is rated 10b. I’ve climbed harder stuff, but not in a while and not in JTree. I had warmed up on Feltoneon Physics (5.8) which went smoothly. The day moved slowly and I was run down from travel and lack of sleep. I got pretty chilled at the top of Feltoneon too. By the time I was ready to lead Poodles, I was almost bonked and came real close to not doing it. I remember being at the base lying on the rock with Luke in asking, “Well, you gonna do it?” I was hardly listening, being too involved in a conversation with myself.

Nina and me after completing Feltoneon Physics, photo Darren Lui

“I didn’t come all the way to JTree to lay here like a lizard,” I remember thinking. There was also the mental hurdle thing. At some point I got off my ass and announced my intent to lead, and I’m glad I did. Thin crack/face climbing on small gear felt sooo good. I hung once near the start crux, but on-sighted the rest. My celebration was absent at the top. I think it was the lack of sleep. Eileen followed me up the route. I should mention that Luke provided the necessary belay and encouragement. Having someone as psyched on climbing as Luke is an asset to any leader. That lead set the tone for the following day when I would lead Heart and Sole.

When I start talking about mental hurdles there are some things to understand. After I fell 25ft and got pretty busted up I couldn’t climb a ladder comfortably. I’d get so rushed with adrenaline at times that I’d almost pass out, and in fact did once. My heightened sense of mortality, fear of going zonk, and trouble with heights have all conspired to hamper my climbing. My ability to lead has not returned easily. This is where Heart and Sole comes in.

I was infused with some new confidence from doing Poodles. I also felt about 100 times better after some sleep. When we headed to Echo Rock on Saturday I was ready to climb. Looking over my tick list I chose H&S 10a. Thinking this would be a nice warmup, I headed over to it with Nina, my new climbing partner Remember expectations? Let me just say that what I found wasn’t what I expected. The guide says “a little funky to the first bolt.” From my perspective it was more than funky, it was run-out with groundfall potential.

The first move onto a flake was easy, but the small pro behind the flake wasn’t exactly inspiring. Even if it held I would need to fall to my left to avoid the block/slab directly below. Standing there, looking up to the first good bolt, uncertainty gripped me. It looked like a mile, and it intimidated me. This is where the leader head thing gets ugly. I could forget it and go somewhere else, or I could face it. I know I can climb 10a. If that was the grade, even in Josh, what was the big deal? No big deal, except all the crap I just mentioned, and that grounder.

I didn’t hesitate too long, but I did warn Nina of all the potential outcomes. She said something like, “You could fall from there?” “Yes … I… could…” So I started up got my pro behind the flake and moved onto the face. Staring up at my first bolt like a hawk on prey, I moved up. About one good move below the bolt I began to get seriously sketched (mentally). I actually down-climbed the face moves back to the flake. That was fun [snark].

Standing on the flake Nina reminded me to breath. Oh ya. It was this moment where my fear and doubt collided with my burning desire to regain my former climbing self. In my head [I can climb this mother#&$(!r] desire won out. Back up I went, climbed to my high point, and committed to the last move. I was pretty relieved when I clipped the bolt. From there on the climbing was more fun but the grade didn’t let up. Nothing was as mentally challenging as getting to the first clip. Even the crux move after the first bolt felt easier. I had no audience other than Nina who belayed. That was actually helpful because I was able to “deal” without the distractions of the “atta boys.” Not that I wouldn’t appreciate it, but right then I needed to face the demons on my own. I know Nina saw what was going on, but she just faithfully held the rope and reminded me to breath. Thanx Nina, I couldn’t have asked for a better partner at that moment.

One other thing. After I lead this Nina got on toprope. She was pretty intimidated by it and didn’t get far. I left the rope up for others to use and went on to the next area with Eileen. When I returned there was a grin from ear-to-ear on Nina’s face as she promptly informed me that she had climbed it clean. I was pretty thrilled for her, and still am. Way to go Nina! She’s got the spirit for sure.

At the anchor of Heart and Sole, photo Darren Lui

Despite the rating, it felt like a much harder lead than doing Poodles the day before. When I made the anchor I let out “whoo hoo” that made up for the prior day. I really feel like a barrier went down that day, a lot of my confidence was restored, and fears diluted. I’m still on a bit of a high from that lead. Looking back, I don’t think the climb was that hard. It was just  my leader-head that made it hard. Climbing has always been about finding new personal limits. In this case its about the restoration some. I couldn’t be happier, even if I only did a handful of routes.

Somewhat serendipitously, I later tried to climb a 10c with Eileen, Primal Scream. I had identified a 5.8  I wanted to climb, but got it wrong and ended up bailing the 10c. That’s actually a good thing. It reminded me that we can do stuff harder than we might otherwise choose to do, and even if we fail, it won’t be a disaster. Another confidence builder. All in all, I came home feeling more connected to people and more confident about climbing. Whew, talk about a road-trip.

Other Blogs about the JTree tweetup

Tales of an Adventuregrrl

Everyfrog’s Blog

The Rockgrrl.com Blog

Not Fearless

Idag den 24:e November är det 24 år sen min Mamma dog.  Jag vet att hon är nära mig. Ser ni leendet uppe i molnet?

Bilden togs för ett par veckor sen ute på Holmarna här i Järvsö. Kände mig starkt manad att åka ner på Holmarna fastän det var dimmigt. Men det är ju också vackert. Följde impulsen, kom ner och tog några bilder i dimman. Plötsligt öppnade sig himlen, ljuset silades ner, och det här är vad jag såg. Fast ansiktet såg jag inte förrän häromdagen.

En till bild från Stockholmsdagarna. Humlegården en vecka sen.

Hade en dag på mig att göra något. Hade tänkt mig att se Micke Bergs fotoutställning “Café del Mar”. Men helt tji att lyckas få reda på var den var. (Ingen dator, ingen “På Stan”) Det grämer mig……Men jag måste besluta mig kvickt -  hela centrum var välaffischerat med en bild av Helene Sjerfbeck. Hon har betytt mycket för mig, följt med under en lång period, så det var ett snabbt och lätt val att äntligen få se hennes verk i verkligheten. Närkontakt. Waldermarsudde alltså. Nu var det inte en separatutställning, hon hade bara ca åtta verk med. Men vilka verk! Hon är mästerlig. Gudomlig. Ja, det kändes sakralt när jag kom in det lilla rummet – och äntligen fick  “möta” henne.

Utställningen var om finska konstnärer ca 1880-1912. Överraskande……liknar de svenska samtida men ändå annat. Det var några kvinnliga konstnärer som berörde med mig mycket; det måste ha ansetts som “helspaceat” på sin tid. Hundra år före sin tid. En snubbe också, som målade som vissa läckra naturfotografer kan få till det nu för tiden. Han ansågs som en ren tokstolle. Fick inte med mig programmet, så har inga namn i minnet. Men gå dit!

Vädret är verkligen varierande så här års. Tur då att jag har gott om foton från dagar då det inte regnar stup i kvarten. Ytterst lite redigering på dessa tre bilder, tyckte att de var fina nog redan. I övrigt var dagens största bedrift en tacomåltid med väldigt mycket stark sås.

Naturlig omfamning.

Fredagsfrid,

går in i dimman

ett tag till

ha det gott

alla

.

.

.

.

Mitt i stan finns det trädväsen och skogsrå.

Det kändes som att den här parken var mycket medveten om sin roll som Natur mitt i Stockholms centrum. Varje träd var mycket personligt och liksom van vid människor, och tyckte om att vara där i parken.

Chose dite, chose faite. Fait avec une gomme savonnette et un crayon 2B Staedler tout pourri. Mon crayon de la mort qui tue me manque !! Bon plein de trucs ne vont, encore plus que d’habitude, mais bon …. tant pis tant pis. Car je me dois de partager avec le monde la joie immense dans laquelle m’a plongée ce concert génialissime. Et ce, à travers le fait que j’ai fait un “Gribouilli de Remerciements”. Que voici.

La prochaine fois, s’il y en a, j’emmène ma soeur.

Diese Zeichnung darstellt Till, Rammsteins Sänger (korrect ?).

ps: oui Mémé, Pépé le concert m’a plu. Merci pour le petit découpage.

ppps: David, tout d’abord merci de venir sur mon blog et de continuer à commenter. Hésite surtout pas à être méchant mais si ça te plait c’est super Ton commentaire a illuminé ma soirée . Ensuite, le voilà en vrai. Au lycée, c’était mon idole:

Bon, juste pour le plaisir : la meilleur photo du meilleur de R+

Petit mot pour mes parents: vos commentaires aussi ils me font plaisir mais j’arrête de le dire maintenant. Mais c’est toujours vrai.

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]]> http://makerblomma.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/lite-fran-fotomassan/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:54:20 +0000 maria åkerblom http://makerblomma.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/lite-fran-fotomassan/

Träd från Humlegården, förrgår.

Fotomässan. Var där måånga timmar. Ramlade lämpligt in på föredrag om Lightroom precis när jag kom. Det lutar nog åt det för mitt arkivsystem. Kollade fotopapper, klämde på Nikonkameror, fa Nikon D300S, suktade kring stativ (fick bäst mottagande hos en som sålde Giotto) och tittade på utställningar – de var fler än jag väntat mig. De som berörde mig var: Tim Flach med sina fantastiska hästbilder. Ångrar  så att jag inte köpte boken “Equus” för 350: – men den vägde nog minst 5 kg? Största överraskningen var Mark & Marianne Earthys brölloppsbilder, underfundigt, äkta och r o l i g t. Alltså, man blev glad och förtvivlad av dem. (Tyvärr verkar de bra bilderna inte finnas på nätet) Peter Erikssons “Penumbra” bilder påminde mig om farfars gamla 9 x 12 kamera som står och väntar, inspirerande. Thron Ullbergs porträtt tyckte jag också om.

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]]> http://mojjephoto.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/det-var-nagon/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:29:32 +0000 Morgan K http://mojjephoto.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/det-var-nagon/

Det var nog någon som väntade på nån som inte kom hem, även att man kört vägen hur många gånger som helst gäller det att vara beredd på det mesta.

Bientôt je mettrai un élément graphique pour illustrer le compte rendu, mais là comme je peux pas dormir, je me dois de pousser un cri virtuel : c’était trooooooooooooooooooooooooooop bien !! En dehors du fait que du dernier album je connaissais uniquement Pussy …

Ils ont joué Weisses Fleish, Sonne, Du hast,  Engel, Links 234, Seeman, Benzin, Keine Lust et puis je me rappelle plus les autres … Ah si bien sur, Ich will !! Et Feuer Frei !!Je trouvais que le public était pas très réactif, et pas très enthousiaste. Enfin pour certains titres comme Links 234 ça a bien marché mais des fois c’était mitigé. (la liste révèle mon ignorance en allemand)

Le spectacle était vraiment énorme : beau, chaud, original, varié, enflammé, pailleté, limite pour les petits enfants, long, passionant … 1h40 de concert génial. Je me demande si dans des meilleures conditions, ils ne font pas durer le plaisir plus longtemps ! (la liste révèle mon manque cruel de vocabulaire)

Enfin bref, conseillé à tous. Ils passent à Lyon bientôt, et puis à Paris le 8 et le 9  décembre ;  et à Londres en février. Après mars, je sais pas … (la liste révèle mon enthousiasme débordant : je viens de regarder si je pourrai y retourner dans une autre ville)

+:)

ps: promis je me mets à l’allemand

pps: merci aux gens qui ont mis mon blog dans leur favori (ou presque et qui y vont souvent )

ppps: groupie attitude totalement assumée

pppps: un vieux dessin pour la route, vieille photo toute pourrie d’un Till à l’aquarelle. Vive sa coiffure.

Eller “Kikar” ? Eller “På andra sidan trädet” ?
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]]> http://hannespatchwork.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/nu-kommer-det/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:20 +0000 "HANNES" http://hannespatchwork.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/nu-kommer-det/

Ja nu tror jeg det lykkes at sætte billeder på min blog og ja så skal i jo selvfølgelig se jeres største julegave ønske….

Startede jo med i fredag og fortælle om det, og så kunne jeg ikke sætte billeder på, så her kommer “ÆSKEN”.

Det er en æske med 64 ruller forskellige farvet quiltetråd, både ensfarvet og meleret. Æsken lige til at tage med på kursus eller når man sidder hjemme og sy eller drømmer om at sy en masse.

Og under hver tråd, kan du se hvilken nr du skal genbestille, smart ikk!!!

Jag har noterat att det för egen del blivit mycket fokus på träd och buskar i mina bilder på sistone. Det handlar nog mest om att det är dessa stillastående individer som har haft ödmjukheten att ställa upp som mina modeller, i motsats till deras mer mobila kusiner bland djuren. Det var i och för sig likadant i våras som denna buskbild bevisar. Alla har ju inte en situation där de vilda djuren springer efter en så fort man visar sig.

Vicklebyskogen, Öland, den 4 april 2009.

Sen är man tillbaka i dubbelexponeringsträsket för att försöka tillskapa bilder med fler än två dimensioner.

Avenbokens gyllene fruktsamlingar. Källstorp, Småland, den 3 november 2009.

Lägger genusbetänkligheter åt sidan och delar med mig av denna tokroliga version av “om ett träd faller i skogen…”:

“Om en man talar i skogen, och det inte finns någon kvinna i närheten som kan höra honom, har han då fortfarande fel?”

- Quiquid latine dictum sit altum viditur.