Reflections - Do You See What You Think You See?

By David J. Mackey

Reflections is a collection of photographs and writings by the author from his journeys in the northeast and northwest over several decades of his life. The author's visual and informational elements address artistic aspects, poetic inspirations and occasionally the characteristics of reflective light itself. The reader will likely find enjoyment form the varied photographic subjects as well as the respective descriptions. An addition to the book is a chapter of poetry and essays called "Thoughts, rants and rambles" written about the author's experience with retirement, aging and relocation by he and his wife from a near-decade of living on Harstine Island in South Puget Sound to West Olympia, Washington.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David J. Mackey
• Release date: Jul 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370326556

David J. Mackey

David John Mackey was born in Potsdam, NY, in the early 1940's,and raised beside the Racquette River in Saint Lawrence County. Those early years instilled reverence for nature and art that continues to this day. Cameras and pencils became tools of choice for his photography, art, and writing. David lived in the Adirondack region for most of his first forty-five years. He later moved to New England and then to the San Francisco area where his writing, photography, and outdoor adventures broadened. He is now living with his wife on the southern end of Puget Sound in Washington State. He continues his photography and writing from this Olympia, Washington home. David spent the first fifty years of his life in the northeastern United States. Now, he and his wife of twenty years, have lived in western Washington since 2005. Both are now retired, in their early eighties, happy and contented in their home in Olympia. David's career included architectural design, property management, retail ownership and management, graphic design, and professional photography. Enjoying his retirement, he now pursues avocational passions of writing, photography, art, and nature study. David has self-published several eBooks of his poetry and experience essays. His current writings are focused on his self-diagnosed experiences on the autism/Asperger's spectrum, life, and as always – more poetry. "It's all Rough Draft until you die" is about Earl, the protagonist, and his experiences of aging. Journal writings and narrative tell the story of the various physical and mental health aspects combined with the challenges of selling their home and downsizing into a smaller apartment in Olympia, Washington. Perhaps you will find inspiration to do your own journal writing as your life continues. This writer has published his third eBook entitled "Reflections, Do you see what you think you see?" about reflected light giving us visual experiences and also about our reflecting emotionally from image experiences. Reflections offers a mix of the science of light demonstrated in photographs, often mixed with the psychologies of our reactions. Reflections published July 1, 2017. David published his second eBook entitled "The Sixth Vortex" on March 29, 2016. This fictional story is about discovering a new energy vortex near Sedona, AZ. (A quick and entertaining read at 10,840 words.) David's first eBook is entitled "Ponder This" which is an invitation to...

Book preview

Reflections

Do you see what you think you see?

by David J. Mackey

Copyright 2017 David J. Mackey

Published by David J. Mackey

ISBN 9781370326556

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment or for your sharing with your friends. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover design by the author. The cover photo was taken by the author on Harstine Island in South Puget Sound, Washington.

Forward

If a man lives enough decades, wanders thoughtfully around the country far enough and long enough, does not merely look at where he is but tries to see where he is, and then tries to gain some wisdom from his seeing, he may finally, if we are fortunate, take the time to share with us the images of what he has seen and the feelings these images call up as he reflects on his journeys. This sharing is what David Mackey has generously accomplished in Reflections.

The photos in David’s book are sometimes stunning, sometimes soft and glowing, always heartfelt in the moment, always convincingly real. They can be reminiscent of other times and places or illustrative of a theme. But the photos are consistently relevant to light in its infinite forms and reflective possibilities. And they constantly revealed to me some aspect of light to which I had not been sensitive before I read David’s book.

The words that accompany the photos are David’s personal reflections in some cases, or philosophical and contemplative musings in other cases. In either case, they too work to illuminate what nature, or the force of nature, has provided for us to reflect on and to harvest meaning from. Combined, the photos and words in his book offer us the chance to journey along with David on a tour of the magic of light and awareness.

My thanks to David for enhancing my appreciation of images I might not have noticed, deepening my understanding of the light that surrounds my life, and helping me relish the many nuances of reflections.

Robert Scarola, author, Rim of the World, Poems for the Coast, 2014

About Robert’s book—A reviewer wrote: Robert Scarola's book explores the beauty of the Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts through poetry and photos. Scarola shows the connectedness of Nature and how we are a component of that connectedness. It is a lovely book full of joy and heart. Put it on your coffee table and sample it often. It will lift your spirits.

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Table of Contents

Note that this eBook length is limited by file size restraints due to internet download speed considerations for you the viewer. As such the images are small in size.

Introduction

Chapter 1.  The Promises of images

Chapter 2.  Reflections on light - the image

Chapter 3.  Reflections on the image - the emotions

Chapter 4.  The visual comforts of repetition

Chapter 5.  The visual joys of simplicity

Chapter 6.  Simple pleasures in black and white

Chapter 7.  Thoughts, rants and rambles

Parting thoughts

About the author

Acknowledgements

This collection would not be possible without inspirations from numerous friendships and experiences, known and cherished throughout my life. Special gratitude goes out to my partners and families, and the friends who have had significant influence on me as I have grown, learned, sometimes stumbled, and now reached this contented time of my