Bunny vs. world

<p>So I've been scanning since February, approximately, my old photos, many of which I've never seen.<br /><br />I came across these, one of my favourite people...with her bunny, of all things. I remember when she asked me to take these photographs, I thought, well, what can I do with bunny pics?<br /><br />Seems I was wrong.<br /><br />I've done over 15,000 scans so far, and so far, these are my favourite, in the sense that they show how innocent life can be. <br /><br />I miss that world. When I was younger, my hero was Gautama. My appreciation of beauty grew from that. I wish I was young again. I miss seeing beauty, even when it seems a little goofy. Goofy beauty is good, it makes us human.<br /><br />Less killing, more bunnies. Less gods, government, and false ideals. More bunnies.<br /><br />shawn<br /><br /><br>

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<p>Bunny love! I'm all for it. You're as old as you feel and think. I carry my little kid around with me where ever I go. Doesn't always work, but I'd much rather be thought of as immature than old. Beauty is all around us. It just needs to be seen (although moving to Florida sure put a lot of it at my doorstep). Those shots are really great.</p>

<p>Wow, 15,000 scans. My eyes would fall out. I usually develop a roll or three a week and scan them to use as proofs to see if any merit wet printing, and just those few rolls a week is like nails on a chalk board. I hate scanning.</p>

<p>Kids weigh more than bunnies. I have no idea how much Bugs Bunny weighed, but, at approx. human height, with skinny legs, probably 65 pounds.</p>

<p>Beauty is truly all around us. I may have given up on everything else in life, religion, people in general, intelligence (that other people have it), but I could never give up on Beauty, because it presents itself every day...every day, no matter what the world is going though.</p>

<p>My eyes fell out 10,000 scans ago. I'm going on instinct right now...and beer. Hopefully my silly photos will be done in 2013, or maybe 2014. I'm obsessed.</p>

<p>I'm not a very good photographer, but I learned very early from a couple of people, like Jeff Spirer, and Nan Golden, and Paolo Roversi...you shoot. Let the world decide from there. Your life is about living, being, it's not about caring about tomorrow.</p>

<p>Per Neil Peart:</p>

<p>All the same we take our chances<br /> Laughed at by time<br /> Tricked by circumstances<br /> Plus ca change<br /> Plus c'est la meme chose<br /> The more that things change<br /> The more they stay the same</p>

<p>Well I certainly don't see this kind of honesty and openness on Facebook. There's beauty in that for sure.</p>

<p>A refreshing post, Shawn. Glad you shared.</p>

<p>I think I have some old photos of similar folks maybe not as easy on the eyes as your lady and bunny shots that I'm no longer in contact with. I think the negatives are buried somewhere in my closet.</p>

<p>Not too sure I want to go dig them up because I'm afraid I'll get that longing for those folks and forget the reasons why we parted ways so long ago. Been there, done that, have the scars to show for it.</p>

<p>"I could never give up on Beauty, because it presents itself every day...".<br>

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Our ideas and ideals of beauty change, don't they? I find more "common" things beautiful now than I did when I was young: and I pay less attention to "beautiful" things.</p>

<p>Wonderful to see. As I discovered in my epic scan-o-thon (twice), there's a lot of benefit to going over these old images again. Personally, I mean.<br>

I wish I'd taken more "bunny" shots when I could.</p>

<p>I don't feel that my appreciation for beauty has diminished over the years. It's just that my awareness and experience of ugliness, meanness, poverty, and other opposites of beauty have increased. I suppose that's closer to the reality of life, but sometimes I don't mind simply being naive. Photographs of my son from 35 years ago are so wonderful.</p>

<p>Those photos are outstanding! Thanks Shawn</p>

<p>Shawn: Thanks for posting these images. I'm not sure which are softer, the bunny or the lines of the lady holding the bunny. In any case, they appear to have a successful relationship.<br>

By the way, based on your creating this thread, I'd say your hero still is Gautama.</p>

<p>Hey all, sorry for the delay.</p>

<p>Tim, yes I deleted my Facebook account long ago. I only posted several times, but quickly thought, what is this? Not for me. I bet if you look at those old negatives, they will be very easy on the eyes, because of the history involved. Anyone is beautiful when you see him or her that way. However, I spent almost 10 years being totally monogamous to one woman, and I've not scanned a single image of her...so I get it.</p>

<p>JDM, it's a lot of work, and I question it all. As I scan more, I learn more, and want to re-scan everything based on better principles, but if I did that, I'd be living in the past forever. I've settled on 2-3 scan per image, to bring into Nik HDR (just for the range, not to bake it) because that feels most like a well-exposed neg. Occasionally I aim for a really small micro contrast, but it looks more like LF to me...of course only until you blow it up lol.</p>

<p>Stephen, yes, I'm sorry, I should have said it like that. My appreciation has not dwindled, in fact it has grown, but only in the face of Life. So sometimes, it seems further away, but Beauty is always my awaited beacon. As Keats said, and in some sense I agree, Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty; that is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know. In fact, As I said to Tim, I've not scanned any of my ex, but I have put all of the images of her daughter whom I helped raise aside, as I want to be able to focus on them with no distractions. I miss her, carrying her on my shoulders, walking her to school and home, cooking her dinner, homework, getting my face painted in makeup, talks about everything she thought, chasing critters. All of it.</p>

<p>Ray thanks. I will only say that maybe the moments are awesome. I get lucky sometimes, though usually not lol.</p>

<p>Michael, yes, both were soft. The woman in the photos was probably not by any standard definition perfect, and to make matters worse, her roommate was a 'really hot' actress, but it was her I always gravitated to, because when she opened her mouth, she became infinitely beautiful. I hope that makes sense. Gautama (The Historical Buddha for those who may be wondering) is definitely one who has never failed me, his thoughts. But my true hero was always my Mom.<br /> Shawn</p>

<p>Mukul, sorry. Well, if anything has changed regarding what I find Beautiful, it has done so subtly. I don't think my ideals have changed that much. Maybe I find older women more Beautiful today than I did 20 years ago, but I still think mushrooms are gross.</p>

<p>Shawn - The Buddha teaches us that the way to enlightenment may be found through an encounter with a minor government official wearing a tattered uniform with tarnished brass buttons. But, I have no doubt that your Mother's life lessons were far more valuable. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, that happens all too often, in all countries, and to many people who believe, whatever they believe.</p>

<p>What is the difference between a Muslim who believes what he or she has been told, and a Buddhist who has aspired to something higher as well (because of Buddhism)? There is no difference. Religion always aims for the higher goal, but sometimes, the message gets lost (and unfortunately, that happens often in many religions, because of how they are written, and by whom). Unfortunately there are always "devils" in the world, so to speak. Some Chinese officials would rather watch self-immolation; the world's Islamic terrorists who would strap a bomb to a child. some priests would rather destroy a child.</p>

<p>After Egypt today, I have a good feeling, but only with trepidation. Egyptians wanted a second chance, and they got it. Best of luck, my friends!</p>

<p>I think we all need to spend more time worshiping bunnies. Well, not worshiping per se, but admitting that their cuteness is worthy of a new, rationally based, religion. Let's call it the Frozen Aisle, with dark meat being very healthy for you.</p>

<p>OK that was weird. And I didn't even try to invoke Dylan Thomas. </p>

<p>Great images Shawn. Thank you for sharing. Women cuddling with bunnies sure beat women cuddling with iPhones.</p>

<p>Great photos. When our dachshund died we were too hearbroken to get another dog. I had always had a pet and I wanted our children to have a pet because I think that pets are good for children. We ended up getting a dwarf rabbit who we named Shadow. He was a great companion animal. We had him for 12 years and we were heartbroken when he died.</p>

<p>BTW, we now have another dachshund. I always maintain that dogs (and cats and rabbits) are better than people. People kill people for the stupidest reasons, but there has never been a case of a dog killing another dog because it was a different breed or color.</p>