Remember when you were in elementary school and the teacher would show you a print of something and ask you what you saw? You might say a lady in a hat, and someone else might say an elephant, and the teacher tells you something completely out of your scope of thinking.

This video opens all those possibilities and more…

Two Men from Dominic Allen on Vimeo.

So what do you think the two men are doing?

Thanks to Dooce for introducing me to this video.

On any given week there are between 500 and 700 earthquakes in California and Nevada, and I will admit that I do have a bit of a fear every time I feel the ground shake just a bit. But in California and Nevada we are prepared for the quakes, we are accustomed to them, our buildings and infrastructure are for the most part built knowing the risk is out there. And than there is Haiti, a country that has survived so much since it’s inception, and yet again is put to the test with this latest tragedy.

When I was in fourth grade I became aware of the vast hunger in Africa, and I did what most kids do when they want to raise money, I put together a bake sale to send all the money I could to the people that were less fortunate than me. I watched Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder perform We are the World, and I hoped that my small effort would make some difference in the need that was so adamantly abundant.

Whether you are texting “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10, or calling in to George Clooney’s celebrity-full telethon, or buying the Haiti for Hope album, there are many ways to help.

The New York Times has created a Facebook page documenting the recovery efforts, let’s continue to hope that there are more and more surivors.

Image jordan benshea photography

I have always been an early riser. I would listen attentively to the early morning sounds, the crickets chirping diminishing with the sun lighting their path. Being the first awake meant I would be the first on the scene of anything that would happen that day. Whatever the day would hold, I would be first in line to be there, to see what was in store, to be prepared for all its glory. Morning to me means hope… the day is wide open and anything can happen. Before the sun rises the world is your oyster. It can be cloudy and offer rain to the parched fields, or it can be sunny and provide the security of warmth to a snow covered town. As the dark goes its own way, the sun starts to creep into the sky… and this is my favorite part, when each fraction of the sky lights up in its own unique way and I am there to take it all in. The sunlight pours into the crevasses of the mountains, and the shadows of the buildings. They day has yet to be cluttered with life’s intricate challenges, and for those few moments it is full of wonder. Wonder like you see in a child when they pull themselves up for the first time and feel like a superhero.

Life is work, I am no stranger to its daily challenges. But for the first few peaceful moments before the rest of my surroundings have woken… it is just me… just me and whatever hope I dream for the day. You hear it all the time “life is too short,” and yes, it is. Days and months and years go by in a flash, which is why these fleeting moments should be so cherished. Make sure the ones you love know that you do, and make the time to watch the sunrise. It could just be the missing link in your day.

Image jordan benshea photography

This is the full moon from last night, 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon will be for the rest of 2010. In the midst of everything going on in our world, it’s easy to forget we live our life on a ball spinning in space at roughly 1000 mph, just a reminder of how small we are.

The Most Trusted Man in America…
Walter Cronkite: 1916 – 2009

Like many people across this great country of ours, I grew up hearing the facts from “the most trusted man in America.” Today we lost not only a great anchor, but a great leader. In a world where our news comes from sources ranging from Twitter within seconds, to RSS feeds, Walter Cronkite would sit down each night and tell us what was going on in our world. Praised for never shooting off his mouth, he consistently exuded a realm of confidence and trust.

When Uncle Walter came back from visiting the Vietnam War, he went on the air in February 1968, and he said the United States is “mired in stalemate“. Later we learn that President Johnson said in response to his aides, “If I have lost Cronkite, I have lost middle America.” The strategy for Vietnam was therein changed. That is a power, and a respect, and a trust, that no other anchor was able to attain.

While he was forced to retire from being an anchor at CBS at 65 due to their statue of limitations on age, his passion and drive to tell the story never left him. As a journalism student in college, Cronkite was taught as a legend. Not only did he portray the confidence we were trying to learn in school, but he was trusted. He was a news anchor that was trusted. Above everything else, that was the most rare. For when Cronkite spoke, people listened, and people believed.

There is no one that will ever be able to replace his integrity, his respect, his honor, his devotion to always ensure the story was told. He will be greatly missed.

“And that’s the way it is.”

All images CNN

My brother’s girlfriend is always coming up with great ideas of things do, and recently she suggested a tour of Casa del Herrero in Montecito, Ca. I have always been a fan of Spanish architecture and for living on the West Coast, this estate is as close as it comes to the real thing. Designed by George W. Smith, this place is truly a work of art at every corner. I was not allowed to take photos inside, so unfortunately it is mostly outside shots except for the workshop which is simply amazing.
For more information about Casa del Herrero go here.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

12►

Image jordan benshea photography

Image jordan benshea photography

Santa Barbara is one of the places closest to my heart, and one of the things I so love about the area is the beautiful weather it gets from its unique position along the coast. Because of Point Conception, Santa Barbara usually sees a lot more rain than the Ventura County.

This shot is a perfect example of the dramatic weather in late winter.