Highway In Ohio

A roadtrip was in order for Christmas, so from Rochester NY to Houston, Texas I began.  Day One got me to Ohio after a late start to the journey yesterday.  Rime ice appeared just south of Columbus, Ohio, so I ventured off of Interstate 71, and took a few photos of the glistening ice on a farm.  

                                           Click on photo to enlarge: 

Photo ©Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo taken 52 miles south of Columbus, Ohio

Architecture In Nature

Architecture is not planned, but random; 

not structured, but chaotic; 

not contrived, but natural; 

not fixed, but fluid.  

Nature is the original architect. 

-RB 

Photos/Text ©2016 Rick Burnett Baker

There Is A Moment

                                        being grateful:  being


                                        there is a moment
                                        within each moment
                                        when elements of life
                                        meld into a scene:
                                        sky and cloud,
                                        water and fowl, a
                                        million dying leaves that
                                        offer fodder for the grave.

                                        these visions are there
                                        for the taking.  we
                                        are but one component
                                        of the greater good.
                                        (surely it is good.)
                                        if memory serves me,
                                        this fleeting is a reminder
                                        that life is just that.



©2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

Curvature And Season

path 


curvature of the Earth 
eliminates doubt.  there 
is no edge, no need 
for consternation; no 
one to tell, "hang on 
tight."  round are the 
seasons.  even stone 
walls we encounter 
guide us gently to our 
necessary conclusion. 




Photo/Poem ©2016 Rick Burnett Baker 
Photo taken by R. Baker at Letchworth State Park, NY

Walk In Early Morn

wooded walk in early morn 


define me as an outline of leaf, 
chlorophyll on sunlight, glowing 

jagged-edged, softened by breeze. 
dust and insects, ragweed and pine 

float the air, pierce the sky, darken 
on movement in and out of day shine. 

there is this fragrance we call life, 
a momentary wedded bliss between 

breath and exhale, truth and lies, 
the instant I took your hand in mine. 



Photo/Poem © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 
All Rights Reserved

Summer's Last Day 2016

the wake 

consumed, set free, summer season 

commits to posterity or something. 

cage this eagerness for dead leaves. 

futures are bound as anticipation. 

we celebrate dying with colors of fire. 

how to bundle our toes and fingertips 

will prevail against frostbite teeth bleached 

white, crystal - that translucent corpse. 

Photo/Poem © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Looking For The Moment

"Sometimes the most stunning, dramatic, and amazing scenes 

are found in the smallest, quietest, most fleeting moments." 

-Rick Burnett Baker 

Photos/Text © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Candy Apples At St. Laurence Market

I had the pleasure of hearing The Candy Apple Jazz Band 

play and perform at St. Laurence Market in Toronto this 

past Saturday.  If you happen on to Facebook, look them 

up!  Big fun!  Here are a few photos I took of the guys. 

Photos © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

"DREAM: Please Excuse Our Appearance..." ™

But for the grace of God 

and the gentle touch of a 

stranger, her dream becomes

a nightmare. 

Everything is relative, and everything is not.  Let's 

try to remember this each time we magnify our own

moments of trivial pursuits.  

Being grateful isn't as difficult as we make it out to be. 

Photos/Text ©2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved 

The Gulf Between Dreams And Reality

Once upon a time, 

we all dreamed of 

being young and rich. 

Photo © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved 

Photo taken in Toronto, Ontario

Medium Rare

                                       Click on image to enlarge:

medium rare


let some juice flow, the
knife glide effortless.

classy people turn
their forks upside-down,

take small bites with
heads slightly cocked.

warm, vulgar, sweet-meat
flavor is a life feast.

no need for grace, see, I take
life's banquet medium-rare.



Photo/Poem © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 
All Rights Reserved

Storm Divine (Redux)

storm divine


it's the
rain's
fragrance
we savor,

a break
in clouds
that makes
a storm
divine.




Photo ©2016 Rick Burnett Baker 
Poem ©2008 Rick Burnett Baker 
All Rights Reserved 

People (Who Need People)

But for this outward, physical shell, who are they?  Who are WE?

They are book covers of fiction, comedy, drama, dreams;  happenstance, pain, self-destruction; images of effort, knowledge, laughter, tears, creation.

We are living shells on this beach called earth, waiting to be plucked and held to someone's ear, listening for the sound of the sea.

These are stories often told, but longing to be read again.  Who are we to recoil from their telling, and judge the artist's rendering?

Photos © 2014, 2015, 2016 Rick Burnett Baker
All Rights Reserved

Here And Gone

"I dreamt I could fly, 

these wings of clouds.

color, breeze, silence - 

a sequence of vision 

mimics life; a wisp of season, 

gone." 

-Rick Burnett Baker

Photo/Poem © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

START SPREADIN' THE NEWS: NEW YORK NEW YORK

So yeah:  I live in New York.  Say that to folks back home in Texas and they tend to wrinkle-up their brows and flash a momentary look of hostility.  I'm Texan, born and raised.  I love that I'm from Texas.

But after over 30 years in New York, I'm constantly reminded of my home state.  My adopted state looks like a not so lost sibling.  Corn, soy beans, wheat, diary cows, vineyards, apple orchards, rolling hills, farms, and yes, big skies.

I'm a Texan in a New York state of mind.   

(Click on images to enlarge)

Photos © 2016 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

15th Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival

Today, July 2, 2016, marks the last day of nine for the 15th Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival.  During the past week, I tried to find a few uncommon shots around the festival, including a couple of 'people' photos.  (I'm not always comfortable taking 'people' shots!)  Below is a compilation of some of the photos I took during the past week. 

I only took in two shows this year.  One was a performance by Makoto Ozone and Tommy Smith.  The other show was Lizz Wright.  Both were wonderful performances!  Maybe next year I'll spring for a Club Pass, take the week off, and attend as many shows as I can!  

Photos ©2016 Rick Burnett Baker

All Rights Reserved