Tuesday, August 26, 2008

registers




The registers at the tops of peaks are unique and interesting things. Sometimes they seem very official, on a waterproof tablet with the information about the peak. Its name, the date, altitude above sea level, and the person who placed it there, maybe from some mountain climbing club or something. Sometimes it is in a bomber pvc tube and cabled to a rock, and other times there is simply a little jar with a small note pad and a worn out stub of a pencil enclosed. it is kind of interesting what people will write in them when given this platform for expression after climbing a peak. Sometimes it is funny, or deep and philosophical, many entries are trivial and annoying, but I always look through them, if the weather is nice and leave a small sketch. Some registers have multiple entries from past years and it is enlightening to see the changes in my sketches from the past. Over the years many registers have disappeared. I wonder what happens to them.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

black and white


While hiking the other morning, I nearly stepped on this this amazing moth about the size of a quarter. It was enjoying the warmth of the brilliant day so much that I was able to get close enough to see the incredible details. The pattern and iridescent color in the black and white wings, the bright furry orange legs and a delicate beaded antenna... So much beauty in such a small space.