The Freedom of The Moon

Edgewood, Fine art photography, Photography, Texas

A handmade photo book inspired by a poem by Robert Frost, “The Freedom of the Moon”.

A poem helps me simplify and focus on creating a short moon photo essay. The book is designed as such so the photos and poem can be enjoyed together side by side.

SPECIFICATION: The 7.5″ x 9.5″ hardcover book is bound with hempleaf Japanese stab binding technique, wrapped in Golden Rod Italian bookcloth, paired with midnight blue Chiyogami paper for the inside cover. Photos are printed on Hahnemuhle fine art archival Rag Natural paper.

Seven moon photographs with a caption page presented side by side with a full quote of Robert Frost’s “The Freedom of the Moon.” Created in 2018.

“The color run, all sorts of wornder follows.”
The Freedom of The Moon, Robert Frost.

@Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Under the Canopy of Oaks and Gums

Black and White, Countryscape, Edgewood, Fine art photography, Nature, Photography, Upper East Texas

My second issue of photo essay periodicals is published! It is called “Under the Canopy of Oaks and Gums – Portrait of a County Road”, in the format of a 40-page magazine with premium papers fit to showcase photography works. They are currently available at 211 Art Gallery and will also be brought to the Edgewood Heritage Festival on November 11, 2017.

Excerpt

Broadening the way of seeing is exactly what this photography work sets out to do. Subjects found along a typical county road in East Texas were portrayed in “spotlights”.

Preview and purchase

Book details

Size US Letter, 8.5×11 in, 22×28 cm, 40 Pages, premium paper
ISBN: Softcover – 9781389545351

To see all issues go to: BOOKS

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©Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Magnolia – Photo Essay Periodical

Photography

The premier issue of my periodical photo essay has just been published this summer. It is available in soft cover premium magazine format and eBook for Amazon Kindle Fire®, Apple iPad®, Android devices, and Mac or PC computers.

“Magnolia grandiflora is native to the southeastern United States. During a close-up exploration of its blossom in an East Texas late spring, the author’s senses of sight, smell, and touch transport her to different places on the other side of the world, in southeast Asia.”

Available for preview and purchase at:

The soft cover premium magazine format, 40 pages.

Magnolia Grandiflora

The split-personality foliage. Undeniable is the love affair between them and the blossoms.

Photo Essay Premier Issue – MAGNOLIA

Photography

The premier issue of my periodical photo essay is now available.

Inegaleri Photo Essay – Premier Issue, Summer 2017 – MAGNOLIA

Magnolia grandiflora is native to the southeastern United States. During a close-up exploration of its blossom in an East Texas late spring, the author’s senses of sight, smell, and touch transport her to different places on the other side of the world, in southeast Asia.

Available in soft cover premium magazine format, US Letter size (8.5×11 in), 40 pages; also in eBook format for Amazon Kindle Fire®, Apple iPad®, Android devices, and Mac or PC computers. For preview and purchase go to my Blurb bookstore at:

Back to Fort Worth

Architecture, Beyond, Dallas, Museum, Photography, Travel, Winter

Fort Worth in late December.

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Fort Worth water garden plaza

fort-worth-water-garden-161222-l1000034-edit

A sock left behind by the aerating pond at the Fort Worth Water Garden

Sundance Square

Sundance Square

Fort Worth skyline viewed from the Amon Carter Museum of American Art

A corner of the Amon Carter Museum building

Fort Worth skyline viewed from inside the museum

Music from the border. A movie presentation of Border Cantos exhibition

An exhibit, spectator, and museum guide

Holiday Spirits

Beyond, Christmas, Edgewood, My Graphic Work, MySpread, Photography, Winter

Christmas season inspired photographs and graphic work.

Tea time with homemade baklava

The angel on high – Bass Performance Center, Fort Worth, Tx

Rainbow of Promise, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Tx

Border Cantos exhibition, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Tx

House Christmas light

Winter crescent moon

Supermoon and the Parade

Edgewood, Fall, Old Downtown, Photography, Skyscape, Upper East Texas

“This full moon will be not only the closest and brightest supermoon of 2016 but also the largest since 1948, Bob Berman, an astronomer at the Slooh Community Observatory, told Space.com. What’s more, the full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.” – Source

I captured the supermoon on November 14th, 2016, when it was just risen about 6.40PM (Central Time). It was bright, yellow and big. Our tree line was all we have to directly compare and showcase how big the moon was and that was not good enough. The next several nights, the moon was just as gorgeous as when it was on its peak. One of those nights, we drove through the old downtown Edgewood and witnessed the moon rising against the houses and buildings. It made a huge difference. The moon looked much larger. It was humongous! Of course, I didn’t have my camera then and the moon has passed its peak. But this gave me an idea to make my version of supermoon shot.

I took a picture of the Christmas Parade in downtown Edgewood in 2012. I have this picture in my third photobook, The Dancing Trees. I have always loved this picture – silhouette of horse riders in lighted downtown Edgewood on sunset. I thought it would be nice to superimpose this photo with the big yellow moon I took on November 14th, 2016. And here it is, my version of supermoon 2016 shot.

Superimposed photo of the November 2016 supermoon and Edgewood Christmas Parade 2012

Supermoon November 2016 in Edgewood, Tx. Taken with 400mm, no cropping.

Yellow Supermoon, November 2016

The First Day of Fall

Edgewood, Fall, Nature

The first day of fall, September 22, 2016.

Catalba Tree

Flowers of Century Plant

Food Vendors – A handmade book

Beyond, Fine art photography, Photography, Portrait, Travel

A photo essay consisting five portraits of food vendors from various cities in Indonesia:

Soybean curd dessert vendor on the street of North Bandung
Crackers vendor in her traditional kitchen in East Bandung
Chinese-style roast pork belly vendor in Belitung Island
Gudeg (traditional cuisine of Central Java) booth worker in Yogyakarta
Noodle vendor in front of her booth in East Bandung

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Book dimension 7″ x 10″ (closed) / 8 leaves of 7″ (opened), printed on premium archival fine art 300 gsm paper, digital inkjet printing, custom made red linen hardcover.

Available for pre-order. Email to inegaleri@gmail.com.

See The Making of My Handmade Photobooks.

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North Shore of Belitung Island – A handmade book

Beyond, Fine art photography, Photography

A photo essay exhibiting the pristine beaches on the north shore of Belitung Island, located at Karimata Strait, which connects the South China Sea and Java Sea, Indonesia. This book consists of 7 photographs from Tanjung Tinggi Beach, Batu Berlayar Island, Lengkuas Island, and Karimata Strait.

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Book dimension 10″ x 7″ (closed) / 10 leaves of 10″ (opened), printed on premium archival fine art 300 gsm paper, digital inkjet printing, custom made blue linen hardcover.

Available for pre-order. Email to inegaleri@gmail.com.

See The Making of My Handmade Photobooks.

The Making of My Handmade Photobooks

Beyond, Fine art photography, Photography, Travel

This year, I introduced my first handmade photobooks to the 40th Edgewood Heritage Festival and 211 Art Gallery “Around the World” show, both were held on November 12th, 2016.

An accordion photobook that consists of 5 to 7 photos is a perfect medium to present a short photo essay. It also serves as a nice display piece that can be stored like a book. After many researches on materials and how-tos, and a visit to Book Doctor in Dallas, Tx., to get materials for book cover, I went ahead with the production. I made two photobooks, “North Shore of Belitung Island” and “Food Vendors”, which photos were taken during a trip back home to Indonesia this summer.

“North Shore of Belitung Island” consists of 7 landscape photographs which leads to the decision to make a “landscape” orientation book (finished book dimension with cover is 10″ width x 7″ height). The “Food Vendors” exhibits 5 photographs of people in small food businesses in “portrait” orientation, thus the book orientation (finished book dimension with cover is 7″ width x 10″ height). They are now displayed at the 211 Art Gallery in Athens, Tx., and available for pre-order (email to inegaleri@gmail.com).

Here’s the steps I went through to produce my first handmade photobooks:

1. Print the content on 13″x19″ premium archival fine art and photographic digital paper.

2. Cut paper according to design dimension. What I have here are 19″ x 6.5″ pieces for the Belitung Island and 13″ x 9.5″ pieces for Food Vendors book.

3. Score the paper with bone folder accordingly to create a crease for neater and easier folding.

4. Make hinges to connect the papers with glue to create the accordion effect. Use pH neutral glue made for book binding and paper projects.

The accordion book formed.

5. Cut board and linen for the book covers. The board’s dimension is 0.5 inches bigger that the book’s width and height, the linen’s is slightly bigger than the board. Wrap and glue the linen to the boards.

6. Glue the content to the covers.

7. The finished accordion books.

Nonagenarians

Portrait, Way of Life

Portrait of The Nineties

A definition of nonagenarian in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “a person who is between 90 and 99 years old.”

My paternal grandmother lived for 100 years. I saw her transformation in her physical appearance over the years, yet her vibrant inner spirit, which illuminated her path in life, remained the same. I believe that one’s inner spirit leads to their perseverance in life and affects how they age.

This photo series consists of composite photos of nonagenarians, combining current images with images from their past. Some photos go back to their childhood. The transformation, perseverance, and memories are what I am trying to present in this body of work. I choose people in their nineties because they are the best to showcase these elements. I and my husband work together in visiting with and taking the current photographs of these inspiring nonagenarians. The past photographs are provided by the family. I pick, compose, and layer the images to make one connected composite between the past and current.

This is an ongoing project that is still growing.

Harold Staton, 94, Edgewood, Tx – World War II Veteran and former prisoner of war. Now an active church member. Here, he is portrayed with his own self when he was just joined the service, about 18 years old.

Jack Gilbert, 90, Edgewood, Tx – Retired school principal and coach. Now an active church choir member. Here, Mr. Gilbert is portrayed with his own self when he was an Elementary School Principal in New Mexico in the early 1980’s.

Dorothy Hall, 91, Edgewood, Tx – Ms. Hall, portrayed with her childhood photo (around 5 year old) in front of her family sharecropper house in Hillsboro, Tx. Now an active church and community member, plays bingo and bunco weekly.

Dorothy Hall, 91, Edgewood, Tx ~ Ms. Hall portrayed with her photo taken when she was around 18 years old.

Spring in Van Zandt County, Texas

Canton, Countryscape, Edgewood, Fruitvale, Grand Saline, Heritage Park, Nature, Redland, Spring, Travel, Upper East Texas, Wills Point

Spring sightings from various places in Van Zandt County, Texas – March/April 2016

Pear blossom and contented cows – Edgewood, Tx

A bird perching on a blossoming sassafras tree – Edgewood, Tx

Red bud trees by the railway – Fruitvale, Tx

Grand Saline Library – Grand Saline, Tx

Peach blossoms at a Peach Farm and Old Fashioned Ice Cream – Hwy 19, Edgewood, Tx

Hickenbach Texas a.k.a Jones Junction – US 80 & TX 19, Edgewood, Tx

Scott Cabin at the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas – Edgewood, Tx

A field of purple and gold by Side Pea Farm – Canton, Tx

Blooming azaleas – Canton, Tx

Canton Lake – Canton, Tx

Picnic Area on Hwy 64 – Canton, Tx

Indian Paintbrush and Crimson Clover on Hwy 64 – Redland, Tx

Crimson Clover – Redland, Tx

Indian paintbrush across the Tawakoni Spillway – Wills Point, Tx

Tawakoni Spillway Levee – Wills Point, Tx

Roses by the 1848 Will’s Cabin – Wills Point, Tx

The Best Kept Secret of East Texas

Beyond, Historic Parkway, Nature, Photography, Spring, Travel, Upper East Texas

Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden

Around 1954, over 1,000 acres of land near Gladewater, Texas, was transformed by the land lady, Mrs. Helen Lee, into a secret garden. Out of her love to the land, she converted what used to be a gravel pits into a daffodil retreat with a 5-acre lake and a 3-acre pond, called Lake Josephine – named after her mother. It took an entire boxcar load of daffodil bulbs from Holland and about 40 workers to make this daffodil garden. It is considered the best kept secret in East Texas. A replica of pioneer style log cabin was added to the site in 1954 overlooking Lake Josephine as a quiet place to enjoy the beauty of the land and its wildlife. Following her passing in 1984, at her request, the park has been opened to the public in spring.

Learn more about the park at http://www.daffodilgarden.com/daffodils_home.htm

Lake Josephine and Log Cabin Site

Photographs © Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Spring Sightings

Edgewood, Photography, Spring

Red buds and plum trees are blossoming, jonquils blooming at their peak. Evergreen palm leaves and turtle basking under the evening sun. End of February in East Texas.

7 Days of Nature Photo Challenge

Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Texas

This challenge was done on Facebook, January 25 to 31, 2016.

Day 1

Title: The Birds

Date: January, 2016

A massive flock of black birds is a common wintertime phenomenon in East Texas. It sounds and looks like scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller, The Birds. The massiveness of the flock against the silhouette of tree branches in this photograph is a reminiscent of oriental style painting.

Day 2

Title: Tangled

Date: July, 2015

A toad cobwebbed outside the kitchen window.

Day 3

Title: Wallflower, Wallflower, won’t you Dance with Me

Date: May, 2015

A colossal show of privet blossoms in the end of spring is another phenomenon to enjoy around pastures and woods of East Texas. Unlike “The Birds”, these walls of flowers are quiet, but they offer a very pleasant sweet odor, especially in the evening.

Day 4

Title: Mug Shot of a Snapping Turtle

Date: April, 2012

A prehistoric looking snapping turtle being transported to a nearby Crooked Creek from a county bridge construction site.

Day 5

Title: Camper’s Nature Trail

Date: February, 2014

A dense grove of ash tree along the Camper’s nature trail.

Day 6

Title: Fairy’s Stairway

Date: May, 2015

Mushrooms grow on a dead oak tree stump.

Day 7

Title: Misty

Date: January, 2015

All reaches out to the sun, wanting it to come out of the obscuring mist.

Welcome December (and sun)!

Edgewood, Fall, Nature, Photography

After a streak of wet and cloudy days, the clouds finally give in to sun.

Birds watching sunrise

Photograph © Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

A Walk to the Pond

Edgewood, Fall, Nature, Photography

What I see on a walk to the pond after the rain.

Weeds by the pond

Reflection of a tower crane

The edge of the pond

Breezy evening

Sandy soil after the rain

Fallen

Sandy soil meets black top

The First Frost

Edgewood, Fall, Nature

The first frost this season arrived on a Sunday morning, November 22.

Tabasco Pepper plant and the first frost

Sun-kissed apple tree top with frosty grasses on its foot

Sunset

Steaming creek in the cool morning

Steaming creek

My Exhibits at the Edgewood Heritage Festival 2015

Edgewood, Fall, Festivals, Fine art photography, Heritage Park, Photography

In case you missed it, and also by request from some of my guests, these are my exhibits that I presented at the 39th Edgewood Heritage Festival, November 14th, 2015.

They are all framed and ready to hang in various dimension, but also available in customized size if requested. Most of them are local, taken in Edgewood and surrounding areas. One of the exhibits was taken in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans. Thank you to all who had come and enjoyed my work. See you again soon, hopefully!

Majestic Texas Sky | Frame 16x20 | Giclee Print 11x14

Majestic Texas Sky, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 16 x 20 | Print 11 x 14

Curves of Magnolia Leaves, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 16 x 20 | Print 11 x 14

Coca Cola, Mineola, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x 10

Moon Pie & RC Cola, Ben Wheeler, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x 10

Mill Creek 1, Edgewood & Fruitvale, Tx | Frame 18 x 24 | Print 11 x 17

Mill Creek 2, Edgewood & Fruitvale, Tx | Frame 18 x 24 | Print 11 x 17

Rainbow over Pecan Tree, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x 10

Dog Town, Canton, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x10

Texan Theatre, Athens, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x 10

Shadows of Medicine Bottles, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 14 x 18 | Print 8 x 10

“A” Frame on Mill Creek, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 12 x 16 | Print 8 x 12

Golden Rods, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 12 x 16 | Print 8 x 12

Triptych of Cypress Tree, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 12 x 16 | Print 8 x 12

Magnolia Blossom, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 12 x 16 | Print 8 x 12

Lime Green, French Quarter, NOLA | Frame 17 x 20 | Print 11 x 14

Accorns & Nuts, Edgewood, Tx | | Frame 16 x 16 | Print 12 x 12

Sunrise 2, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 11 x 11 | Print 8 x 10

Pine Cones, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 11 x 14 | Print 8 x 10

County Road, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 16 x 20 | Print 11 x 14

Freshly Cut Hay, Edgewood, Tx | Frame 16 x 20 | Print 11 x 14

All photographs are © Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Edgewood Heritage Festival 2015

Edgewood, Fall, Festivals, My Graphic Work, MySpread, Photography

For the fourth time, I will be a part of the Edgewood Heritage Festival which will be held this coming Saturday, November 14th, 2015, 9AM – 4PM, in downtown Edgewood, Tx. What makes this festival very special is that it is nested right inside the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas that comprises of 22 historic buildings, fully restored and furnished. You will feel like you step back in time to the year of early 1900’s in a rural village of East Texas. The hosts, who are the members and volunteers of the Heritage Park Museum board, will dress in the period costumes. The main streets of the old downtown Edgewood will be covered with classic cars, antique tractors, and old engines. Not to mention the heritage entertainment brought by children of Edgewood, such as Cotton-Eyed Joe dance, and many others! It truly looks like the time when the cotton was booming in Edgewood and the farmer took their harvest to weigh and sell. You’ve got to come and see it for yourself! And visit my booth at The Section House, by the Murchison Train Depot! I will be presenting my latest photography works and new sets of note cards and small prints. See you there!

Fall on Water

Edgewood, Fall, Nature

Fallen willow and oak leaves on Mill Creek, Texas. These were taken before the heavy rain filled up the creeks. The water level was so low exposing fallen branches and limbs.

Photographs © Ine Burke 2015 | inegaleri.com

Fall Foliage along a County Road in Edgewood

Edgewood, Fall, Nature

Cedar leaves, American Beauty berries, and a type of vines brightened up a county road in Edgewood, Texas. Typically they are peak during the second and third week of November, but this year a lot of them are already knocked down by heavy down pour of rain. These were taken last year, except “Patricia Lane” which was photographed one day before the rain on October 29th this year.

Majestic Texas Sky

Edgewood, Fall, Skyscape

Once upon a morning in East Texas.

Fall in the Woods

Edgewood, Fall, Nature

The look of fall in the woods before the dry spell was broken this weekend.

Super Bloodmoon & Total Lunar Eclipse

Edgewood, Fall, Nature, Skyscape

Lat night, September 27th, 2015, we witnessed a rare supermoon eclipse, the first of its kind since 1982, and the last we’ll see until 2033. Those who live in North America were especially lucky to be able to watch this phenomenon between 8:00 PM to 11:00PM. Although it was a little bit hazy to start with, the sky was gorgeous as the moon reflected the reddish hue while Earth’s shadow passed over it. The sky turned really dark around the peak time of the eclipse and I had difficulty focusing on the disappearing moon. That explains blurriness on some of the red moon shots.

8:33 PM

8:49 PM

9:51 PM – the closes to total lunar eclipse’s peak

10:04 PM

10:08 PM

10:23 PM

10:36 PM

End of Summer

Edgewood, Nature, Summer

It’s the last week of summer. September 23rd, 2015, will be the day when night and day are about the same length of time, also known as “autumnal equinox” (“equinox” means “equal night”). From here on out, the days start to get shorter than the nights, and the temperature begin to cool down. Changes in nature are noticeable. Wild flowers are appearing everywhere, golden rods – one of the signs of the coming of autumn – included. Grasses are seeding. Berries, fruits, and nuts are forming. Duck weed and algae on the pond surface excite duck hunters. It’s time to clear out the path ways through the wood.

Mill Creek & Crooked Creek, Van Zandt County, Tx
Photographs © 2015 Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Pastel Palette in a Morning

Edgewood, Nature, Summer

Fog brings shades of pastel palette to a late summer morning in East Texas.

The Soft Side of Sunset

Nature, Summer, Travel, Wills Point

It’s the soft side of sunset at Holiday Marina, Lake Tawakoni, looking east towards the Iron Bridge Dam, spotlighted by the golden light of sunset.

Tawakoni Sunset

Nature, Skyscape, Summer, Travel, Wills Point

Labor Day weekend at Holiday Marina, Lake Tawakoni, Van Zandt County, Tx.

Flights of Hawks

Edgewood, Nature, Summer

A group of hawks (not sure what the exact species name is) occasionally glide playfully above us. They make synchronized flights in circle then suddenly break apart into a chaos burst. This event usually occurs when a cold front is coming to the area. They fly and glide as low as the tree tops, sometimes dive down even lower, another time very high up in the sky. Group of 30, and one time even maybe hundreds, seem to enjoy the cool air draft and glide along with it. It’s a quite a show.

Sturgeon Moon

Edgewood, Nature, Skyscape, Summer

The August full moon is here tonight. Some Native American fishing tribes called the August full moon as the “Sturgeon Moon” as the large fish sturgeon were most readily caught during this month. Other tribes call it Full Red Moon, because of its reddish shade when it rises. It was also called Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon

It’s exciting, but the best is yet to come. The next full moon (September 27, 2015) will be the closest on the calendar to the autumnal equinox (autumn will start September 22) and known as the Harvest Moon. It will also be the biggest full moon of 2015. To make this event more exciting, September 27 will also feature a total lunar eclipse. Keep watching! Source Space.com.

Where Sabine River Starts

Historic Parkway, Nature, Summer, Wills Point

Sabine River spans over 500 miles from the upper East Texas area to the Gulf of Mexico. It rises in northern Hunt County and eastern Collin and Rockwall County, then flows eastward to Texas and Louisiana border near Logansport, Louisiana, continues southward to the Gulf of Mexico by Orange, Texas. Lake Tawakoni and Iron Bridge Dam which lies partly in Van Zandt and Rains County, Texas, was constructed at the headwaters of the river to provide water for the City of Dallas after the infamous Seven Years Drought in in the late 1940’s to mid 1950’s. The construction was completed in 1960. Now, besides providing water, this historic area has become a highlighted recreation facility for the residents. It’s located on FM47, 10 miles northeast of Wills Point, see “Tawakoni Dam” sign. Source: Sabine River Authority of Texas.

Lake Tawakoni, by the Iron Bridge Dam, FM47 northeast of Wills Point

Sabine River, right on the other side of Lake Tawakoni and the Iron Bridge Dam Spillway.

Historic Recruitment and Training Camp Matthew F. Locke was established near this area in 1861.

Perseid Meteors and Milky Way over Edgewood, Tx

Edgewood, Nature, Skyscape, Summer

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower was at its best the past two days. Last night, the Milky Way was right on top of our farm house in Edgewood, TX, shifting from our South within five days. While watching the stars, occasional Perseid meteors left trails.

Looking Northeast, a Perseid meteor and Milky Way (and a jet trail on bottom left), August 13th, 2015, 11PM

Looking South, Milky Way and a short meteor trail, August 8th, 2015, 10PM

Link: Perseid Meteor Shower

The Canvas of East Texas Summer

Countryscape, Edgewood, Nature, Summer

Summer
Some say that Texas is unbearable in summer;
but I say, that one must offer some small sacrifice to the Sun Gods,
in order to bear witness to the beauty of the season.
Red and yellow and bronze and gold,
all have their place on this summer palette so bold,
that even the fiercest of Ra’s demons
could not dispel the radiance that emanates from the Artist’s brush.
As the emerald canvas fades to brown,
the days will mercifully grow shorter, and cooler,
until once again God’s festive palette bursts forth with the shades of Autumn.
Some say that Texas is unbearable in summer;
but I say, grab a glass of sweet tea
and sit in the shade of your favorite tree,
and bear witness to what may be,
the most wonderful season of the year.
Summer.

by Harold Burke, 2013

Embracing the 107F (41C) day today and triple-digit day in the fourteen days to come –not to mention triple-digit day in the past 9 days– I ponder upon a poem that my husband wrote in summer 2013.

The Forlorn Boat – A breezy morning by the creek, 2015

A view of the pond in a steamy-hot and still August evening

The poem was published in County Line Magazine, July/August 2013 issue, accompanied by my photograph, The Forlorn Boat

The Forlorn Boat – Golden Sunset, 2013

August 2015 observation and forecast for Edgewood, Texas

The beauty of August in East Texas.

Hay Season

Countryscape, Edgewood, Summer

White herons attracted by critters discovered by the mowing tractor. They fled as soon as the curious pet dog arrived.

The mower left behind a clump of Black Eyed Susan. Freshly mowed hay left to dry under the heat of summer.

Rolls and rolls of hay awaiting the cattlemen to haul them off and save them for the cold season to come. The beauty of August in East Texas.

The Crooked Creek has Dried

Edgewood, Nature, Summer

The creek that overflowed the county road in late spring has dried up.

A blue heron fishing on the county road overflowed by the Crooked Creek in spring

Dried up Crooked Creek in August

The water outlet under the county road, which was overloaded in spring, is now exposed.

Water crossing the county road as the outlet underneath overloaded, in spring

Now the outlet is exposed

Rippling water on the road is now replaced by yearning tree roots on the creek’s bank.

Water from the creek rippling on the road in spring

Tree roots on the creek’s bank yearning for water in August

Occasional entertainment in the sky has changed from spring rainbow shows to fleeing white herons above the hay field.

Spring shower rainbow

White herons fleeing the hay field

The nearby Mill Creek is receding, too.

Mill Creek in August

The beauty of August in East Texas.

Explore by Van Zandt Newspapers

Edgewood, My Graphic Work, MySpread, Spring

My photo is recently used as the cover for the annual publication of Van Zandt Newspapers, Explore 2015/2016. It’s a complimentary publication dedicated to Van Zandt County, Texas, and the surrounding area, its history, communities, businesses, and activities.

Wings of the City – El Tiempo

Architecture, Black and White, Texas

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(Time) – This highly detailed figure is incomplete. Despite his fractured body, he spreads his wings in the air and the expression on his face is full of determination. Consider the title of the work. What message does this piece have for you? – from Wings of the City, Self Guided Tour. This piece was exhibited at Fort Worth Water Gardens, overlooking the cascading water down the terraces and steps of the Active Pool and the Texas A&M University School of Law.

Photographs @ 2015 Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Wings of the City – Abrazo Monumental

Architecture, Black and White, Texas

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(Monumental Embrace) – This sculpture represents a winged man embracing a woman in a charged moment full of hope and compassion. Do you think art often evokes strong emotions in the viewer? Why or why not? Be sure to walk all the way around the piece to admire the detail in the wings. – from Wings of the City, Self Guided Tour. This one of three bronze sculptures by Jorge Marin which were exhibited at Fort Worth Water Garden, this summer. This part of the water garden is called The Mountain. #ShowyourWingsFW

Super Blue Moon over Edgewood, Tx

Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Skyscape, Summer

Blue Moon is a phenomenon that occurs when a second full moon happens in one calendar month. Last night, not only was it the blue moon, but it was also a supermoon (or perigee) which occurs when the moon is at its closest approach to the earth. The first full moon in the month of July 2015 was on July 1st. This is a rare occasion. The last blue moon happens in 2012 and the next one will be in 2018. The infrequent nature of this lunar event led to the phrase “once in a blue moon” to signify a rare occurrence. It does not actually mean the moon will be blue. (Telegraph.co.uk)

The blue moon over Edgewood, Tx – July 31st, 2015, 11pm

The moon and sky in the morning, August 1st, 2015, 6.30 am

Wings of the City – Archivaldo

Architecture, Black and White, Texas

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“(Archivaldo) – This winged figure fixes his gaze directly in front of him. Consider where this figure is placed, in front of the Fort Worth Convention center. What is this piece’s relationship with the architecture? Does he complement the space?” – from Wings of the City, Self Guided Tour. Archivaldo is placed in front of the Fort Worth Convention Center, North Entrance, by General Worth Square, downtown Fort Worth, Tx. It is gazing towards the direction of Alas de México (see the last photo).

Wings of the City – Bernardo Oriental Monumental

Architecture, Black and White, Texas

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“(Monumental Bernardo Oriental) – This seated figure rests his arms behind him while firmly placing his feet on the sphere. Notice the type of hat he wears and think about how it relates to the exhibition. Why do you think the artist chose to mask these figures?” from Wings of the City, Self Guided Tour. This second sculpture is placed at General Worth Square, near Fort Worth Convention Center. #ShowyourWingsFW

Wings of the City – Alas de México

Architecture, Black and White, Texas

Eight bronze figures created by the internationally acclaimed contemporary sculptor from Mexico, Jorge Marin, are now exhibited in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, until the end of August 2015. I captured five out of the eight sculptures. This one is titled “Alas de México” or “Wings of Mexico” and placed at the Sundance Square Plaza. “It encourages interaction by allowing visitors to see, touch and take pictures with the sculpture. Thousands of people around the world have had their portraits taken with the wings.” #ShowyourWingsFW

“Alas de México” with Tarrant County Courthouse on the background

Heritage Park Museum of East Texas’ new Brochure

Edgewood, Heritage Park, My Graphic Work, MySpread

My design and photograph for the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas new brochure. Printed 2,000 copies for museum’s marketing and promotion all around Texas and nationwide.

Moon Rising, Airplane Passing

Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Skyscape, Summer

Wednesday, in the vineyard, on the first of July.

9.02 PM

9.07 PM

9.14 PM

Moon Rising, Airplane passing on July 1st, 2015 - 9.31 PM

Airplane passing – 9.31 PM

“Clouds, clouds, are you mocking us?” say the trees

Black and White, Countryscape, Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Skyscape, Summer

It has been so alive and active up there, lately. Cold front from the North and warm air wave from the South were fighting for a place here in East Texas. It brought few scattered thunderstorms, cool temperature one day and very warm the next. But the best thing was these spreads of playful clouds on the skyscape. One cool-ish afternoon, close to the end of June, the clouds decided to mock the shape of the tree lines – at least according to my eyesight.

Curves of Leaves – Magnolia

Edgewood, Fine art photography, Nature, Photography, Spring, Still

Magnolia

Curves of Leaves – Canna Lily

Edgewood, Fine art photography, Nature, Photography, Spring, Still

Backlit Canna lily leaves:

Canna lily triptych 1:

Canna lily triptych 2:

The Bomars’ Climbing Rose

Edgewood, Historic Parkway, Nature, Photography, Spring

April 2015

This is a photo essay about a pine-tree-climbing rose, grown and loved by The Bomar family, in Edgewood, Tx. It becomes quite a landmark when in blooms. The road where it grows by is a part of The Old Dallas-Shreveport Historic Parkway in Van Zandt County (near the Barren Ridge historical marker). The photos were taken in early spring (April 2015). Click on the first photo and follow the ‘next/previous arrow’ to read the story in sequence.

This is a photo essay about a climbing rose and the garden where it grows, in Edgewood, Texas.

On a property along this road, which happens to be the Old Dallas – Shreveport Historic Parkway, a climbing rose and a pine tree grow together.

It was a serene April morning after a stormy night. Everything looked fresh and green.

The clouds were still thick with a chance for another storm.

This tree, which seems to be a white flowering tree, is actually a pine tree covered with the blooms of a climbing rose.

The rose bush is at least 76 years old. It was a birthday gift from a husband to his beloved wife when she gave birth to their daughter, 76 years ago.

The rose bush grew in Dallas. When the daughter and her family decided to move to Edgewood in the 1980’s, they brought along the bush. It was re-planted in the corner of the fence line by a small pine tree.